MAIN Art & Culture Photography History of Photography

In the age of the digital camera, it can be a bit humbling to see the results that early photographers achieved with the simplest equipment.

Beginning in the early 19th century when French inventors (among them, Louis Daguerre, inventor of the daguerreotype), photographic images immediately captured the imagination.

If a picture was worth a thousand words, then the camera was the tool that magically made the world more personal and immediate.

The popularity of photography grew steadily throughout the 19th century to include advances in the first mass-produced box camera (pioneered by George Eastman), that eventually brought cameras into the mainstream.

The modern photographer owes a great debt to these pioneers who struggled to capture images and develop better techniques and cameras for those who followed.

There are many good photographic history sites online. These few will lead you to many more. Surf through them and prepare to be amazed at the beauty captured by both primitive cameras and more complicated processes.

also see -> Depression Era Photography

More about the history of photography around the Web:

The Photographic Historical Society - Have a field day rummaging through a huge list of resources and related photographic history societies, organizations, galleries.

History of Photography Timeline - Quick reference with information on major landmarks and photographers from the 16th century onwards, with related resources.

An Exhibition at The Museum of the History of Science, Oxford - From old cameras (hand-held camera obscura, c. 1700) or a woman pioneer photographer - to the equipment used by Lawrence of Arabia - this site offers a tour de force of photographic history and techniques not to be missed.

The American Museum of Photography - Loaded with photos and informationm but resist the temptation to jump right into the exhibits and see what else is offered first. Be sure to check the resources section before you leave.

SFMOMA - The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's Photography collection began in 1935 but the photos date back to the 1840's.

A History of Photography - Digging back to Leonardo in 1519, this history runs through the 1920's. Processes and people who were influential in the development of modern photography are covered.

Midley History of Photography - Solid info and references from R. Derek Wood’s articles on "The Early History of Photography, the Daguerreotype and Diorama."

Fratelli Alinari - An Italian archive founded in 1852 with more than 3,500,000 photographs dating from the invention of photography to the present. There's an annual fee to search - edu.alinari.it, but looking is free.

Motion Photography - From the Pieces of Science Series, this site discusses Eadweard Muybridge and the development of moving pictures. Examples of early animation and other learning tools are included.

also see -> Photo Basics | Cameras | Digital Photography

Portrait Photography | Stock Photos | Travel Photography

Underwater Photography | Photography Courses & Training