I am currently working my way through a book that my wife gave me for my birthday called Camera, by Todd Gustavson. It is a large, coffee table book that takes you through the evolution of the camera from the very first photograph made in 1826 to the modern digital cameras of today. It seems like a perfect book for any photographer to have on their bookshelf.
Not only were the early cameras quite large and bulky (made of wood), but there were some highly toxic, highly flammable chemicals used, all for the pursuit of the permanent image. It is a wonder why there weren’t shorter lifespans on some of these early photographers. Daguerre lived from 1787-1851, and the first photographer, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, from 1765-1833.
ca. 1826
The worlds first permanent photograph from nature was created by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 from his window in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, in France. And how’s this for an interesting juxtaposition – I am showing the first photograph to you here from a snapshot I took with my iPhone. Joseph’s photograph, recorded with an eight-hour exposure on a pewter plate coated with a light sensitive asphalt compound called bitumen of Judea, suspended in oil of lavender, copied with a device in a fraction of a second onto a micro sized, light sensitive computer chip. I can only wonder at his amazement, not only for the simplicity, but the ability to share the image around the world with a click.
The book reveals the interesting pursuit of reducing exposure times and producing higher quality images. From mercury vapors used to develop early Daguerretypes in 1839 to the toxic chemical collodion in 1852, you really get a sense of the passion these guys must have had in their willingness to try anything. The man who introduced collodion, Frederick Scott Archer, however only lived from 1813-1857 – a short 44 years. I have no idea if he died from using such chemicals, but it makes you wonder.
I am not finished with the book yet, but skimming the back (just to see how it ends… 😉 ) shows the author going into the first digital camera and taking a look at cameras as modern as 2007. It is a great compilation of history and seeing what the original photographers had to work with. The photographs of cameras are very well done, along with accompanying images produced from them. If nothing else, it helps develop a sense of appreciation for what we have today, and how relatively safe it is!
Thank you for this post, this book sounds very interesting. The development of technology in general, and photography in particular, has been amazing, and it is very interesting to follow it and see its influence on other areas. For instance, I am interested to know what is the correlation between the development of cameras and the development of modern art. Photography made the arts of portarait drawing, or landscape drawings, redundant, and I guess that pushed the art to the abstract paintings direction.
Sure sounds like a fascinating book. I’ll have to check it out. It’s truly amazing how far the technology has come, and I am soo relieved we don’t have to work with such harmful chemicals.
Thanks for the heads up on this one Mark.
Just so happens I will be heading to B&N later today, so I’ll check to see if they have it.
The history involved with cameras and the photographers who used them has always intrigued me.
Michael
Another entry on my wish list.
This sounds like an awesome book, Mark. I’m probably going to pick up a copy at some point. Thanks for the review.
I’ve seen this book on the shelves and looked at it a bit so was interested to hear your impression. Sounds like an interesting read and the quality of the book seems very high.
Taking a snap of the first photo with your iphone is some kind of genius! I share your amazement and admiration for the dedication of these early pioneers. I’m sure something is lost when things become easier to do – but I think other things are gained. Whose to say how we fare in balance?
But I am glad I don’t have to mess with chemicals anymore!
I received the book from my brother in law for Christmas this past year plus an antique camera that I found in the book. It made my day as I love the look and (my imagined version) of the history of the cameras I own as antiques. But being able to look them up and find when they were made and some details about them is perfect.
– Erik