The art of photography: Know about the history of capturing memories and moments

When Ed Sheeran sang, “We keep this love in a photograph”, all of us got reminded of some photos, snaps and pictures that are close to our hearts. These precious pictures are memories in time that we hold tight. If there is anything close to a time capsule to revisit the past, it is these photographs that remind us of the times gone by, good and bad. How did photography become so popular? Who clicked the first picture? How did someone come up with the idea? Let us find out a little about the art of photography?

History of photography

The history of this fascinating art is a journey that spans centuries, marked by significant advancements in technology and artistic expression. The roots of photography can be traced back to ancient civilizations where basic principles of optics were observed. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that the first practical method of capturing and preserving images emerged.

In 1826, Joseph Niepce, a French inventor, successfully created the earliest known photograph using a process known as heliography. This involved exposing a pewter plate coated with bitumen of Judea to light, creating a permanent image. Niepce's partner, Louis Daguerre, further refined this process, introducing the daguerreotype in 1839, which became the first widely used photographic method, spreading across Europe and the United States.

The 1850s witnessed the development of the collodion process by Frederick Scott Archer, which involved coating glass plates with a mixture of collodion and chemicals. This method allowed for shorter exposure times and became the standard for professional photography during the mid-19th century. Concurrently, innovations such as stereoscopic photography and tintypes added new dimensions to the medium.

Modern advancements of photography

In 1888, George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, a revolutionary device that utilized roll film. This marked the advent of amateur photography, making the medium more accessible to the general public. The 20th century brought forth further innovations, including color photography, 35mm film, and the first commercially successful single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras.

The digital era emerged in the late 20th century, with the invention of the first digital camera by Kodak engineer Steven Sasson in 1975. This groundbreaking development paved the way for the digital revolution, transforming the way images are captured, processed, and shared. Digital photography's rise in the 21st century has made photography more democratic, enabling anyone with a smartphone to become a photographer and share their perspectives with the world.