Origin of Photography –

The potential of photography is to be able to convert the ordinary to the extraordinary.

In this essay I will go over the history of Photography. From its creation to its conceptual developments such as Framing and the decisive moment, key aspects in capturing an image. With Photography having such a diverse use to document, tell a story or just be able to capture something seen everyday so well-camouflaged into everyday life, it can be revitalised through a creatively composed photograph.

Camera Obscura & Pinhole Photography –

Even before the development of photography, the idea had existed much longer. Dating back through numerous periods such as the Ancient Greeks, the Romanticism era and Ancient China. Within these periods, ideas around the concept of photography, such as with Aristole or the Chinese philosopher, Mo-tzu (or Mozi) in 400BC all centred around the natural Phenomenon, Camera Obscura. Created through the projection of light into a small lens or opening into a dark box or room, the narrow source of light, projects the outdoor image upside down within the dark chamber. The practice of this has been used for years, becoming more confined and developed until it was implemented into the physical mechanisms of photography we have in modern times. Examples of its usage before Cameras can be seen with famous painters Canaletto and Rembrandt. These artists used this to help achieve the incredible detail they have within their works of a reflected reality.

(Illustrated demonstration from the 1800s of how the phenomena occurs).

(Modern day re-creation of the phenomenon).

Nicephore Niepce & Heliography –

Photography’s origins, unlike other subjects, are highly debated to an exact date of time. Estimated to have began in the early 19th century. The oldest surviving photo dating back to 1826 or 1827, was made by Nicéphore Niépce.

(View from the Window at Le Gras – Nicéphore Niépce, 1826 – 1827).

Taken in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, France, this was a heliographic image. Experimenting since 1811, Niépce’s aim was to create a photo-etched printing technique.

Having experimented before with acid-resistant Bitumen of Judea, which he had used in etching, he saw that it hardened with exposure to a light source. In experiments to create the printing technique he used zinc, copper and silver surfaced copper as well as pewter and limestone. As a result he found that when the surface was exposed the. Most light resisted was in the dissolution in oil of lavender and petroleum. Here the shadow areas could then treated also through acid etching a print the image in black ink. 11 years after this development he then produced the first light-resistant heliographic copy of an engraving. Without the use of a lens, he placed the print in contact with a light-sensitive plate. Through developments and experimentation with these pewters plates, he would find that due to their reflective surface this made his image more clearly visible.

Calotypes and Daguerreotypes –

Henry Fox Talbot, (1800 – 1877)

In 1839, The proper development of photography began with 2 processes. Henry Fox Talbot, an English Scientist, developed the first, and published his invention. By fixing images through the action of light and silver chloride coated on paper, the process of how this Produced a ‘Negative’, was revolutionary. by using a brief exposure of light, over a short period of time these would then darken and become a ‘negative’ image due to their reversed areas of light. From this ‘developing’ process, a ‘developing out’ process was also used to converse these latent images into a clear image through an additional use of chemicals on paper. from this method, negative images could be used as a template to then create prints, which then could be made numerously. From this invention he would name it Calotypes.

(Example made by Henry Fox Talbot)

Louis Daguerre, 1787 – 1851)

The second type, based upon Nicéphore Niépce’s work using heliography, created by Louis Daguerre used iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapour. Naming it after himself, he called this ‘The Daguerreotype’. Within this method, it created an interesting effect as through the process of making the photo, its appearance looked more like a 3D effect unlike the flat texture paper effect of Talbots Calotype. Despite the interesting process of the Daguerreotype, Talbots would ultimately be the more popular method due to its simplicity of processing images. Through Talbert’s work, the functioning of his system would soon become even more simplified and as a result the development of the film camera would be made.

(Examples of the daguerreotype photos)

Richard Maddox –

Richard Maddox, 1816 – 1902

In England, 1871, Dr Richard Maddox, a physician suggested that sensitising chemicals, calcium bromide and silver nitrate, should be coated on a glass plate in gelatin. From this suggestion, Charles Bennett, made the first gelatin dry plates for sale, soon after the emulsion of these chemicals could then be placed onto celluloid roll film.

These lightweight, gelatin negative plates revolutionised photography at the time. Through a commercial market these dry plates bought off a shelf, saved photographers from having to prepare their own emulsions in a dark room, instead these didn’t have to developed straight away and could be stored for later development. His work also would later go onto the construction of small enough, hand-held cameras.

(An example of the smaller hand-held cameras Maddox’s work would go onto create).

George Eastman –

George Eastman, 1843 – 1932

Born in New York, Eastman was an American entrepreneur and inventor who developed the first Kodak Camera. In the lead up to this his contributions can be seen beginning in 1880 when he perfected the process of making dry plates for photography, a process first made by Richard Maddox. Operating in London, he manufactured these dry plates from a factory and established the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company. Applying the perfected process of the dry plates onto film, Eastman was able to make the first ‘Kodak’, which in 1888 he placed on the market.

In 1889, George Eastman and his company made their largest contribution to Photography with the introduction of roll film. Produced on a transparent base, this has since remained standard for film.

The Kodak Brownie –

With Kodak’s developments with photography one of their most important inventions, ‘The Brownie’, created to take images easily and quickly, allowed for amateurs within photography take their own ‘snapshots’. Due to the nature of photography being quite costly it was useful reserved for those of a higher class, however this let the middle class into the art too. Invented in 1900, its marketing was highly popular and saw their ownership on a massive scale.

(“Clearing Winter storm, Yosemite National Park” – Ansel Adams, 1937).

With famous photographers such as Ansel Adman’s using Brownies, their impact on the world of photography had shown they had made their mark.

From to Digital photography –

With Film photography, being used throughout the whole 20th century through George Eastmans invention of film rolls. The modern era of photography came about in 1975, with Steve Sasson’s invention of the first self-contained digital camera for Kodak. With this invention, it began another revolution in the world of photography. Using a 32 x 32 metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, which was modified with an Mos dynamic RAM memory chip, Sasson was able to build his invention.

(Side by side image of a film photograph vs ‘film-less’ digital image taken on Sasson’s camera).

From this point onward the development of photography has since grown rapidly, to its compaction into everyday life nowadays in mobile phones.

Jersey’s significance on the history of photography –

Thomas Sutton, 1819 – 1875

Sutton, a renowned figure not only in his local story but also his story in photography is most known for being the first photographer to take a coloured photograph. Establishing a studio in St Brelade in 1848 here he worked alongside another photographer, Frenchman L.D. Blanquart-Evrard were they had a printing establishment. In 1850 this studio was advertised as “founded at the suggestion of, and patronised by, H R H Prince Albert” who was known to be a keen collector of photographs. Suttons work of notoriety can be seen with his early experimental contributions to the patenting of a panoramic lens. His main contribution to photography however, was being the first photographer to take a coloured photograph. Under James clerk Maxwells pioneering work of creating colour photography, through a multi-coloured ribbon and a blue, red and green filter (similar to a computers RGB’s), this allowed Sutton to take the photograph in colour.

(The First permanent colour photograph, taken by Thomas Sutton in 1881, using the method produced by James Clerk Maxwell).

The Société Jersiaise is an academic charity that’s concerned with the history, language, culture and environment of the island of Jersey. The SJPA serves this purpose by preserving and providing access to records. The archive is a unique and important cultural heritage asset for Jersey, documenting our archaeology, geology, ecology, economy, community, architecture and culture through 150 years of producing and collecting photographic materials.

The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive contains over 125,000 items dating from the mid-1840s to the present day. It is the Island’s principal collection of nineteenth and early twentieth-century photography and reflects a rich history generated from our geographical and cultural position between Britain and France, two nations that were prominent in developing the medium.

It was founded in 1873 for the study of Jersey archaeology, history, natural history and the ancient language of Jèrriais. They have special events and the Lord Coutanche Library supports the work of the Société Jersiaise by collecting and preserving material relating to Jersey’s history. They are important resources holding family archives, local newspapers and almanacs, photographs, prints, maps and genealogical material. Visitors of the Société Jersiase may use the library by purchasing a Reader’s Ticket. As well as that they also have a photographic archive containing over 80,000 images, which can be searched via the Société website.

They “aim to promote the study of Jersey’s archaeology, history, natural history, the ancient language and the conservation of the environment”. Many of Jersey’s prehistoric sites are owned by the Société and are free for visitors to enjoy. It also owns many of the items on display in Jersey’s museums.

Société Jersiaise holds exhibitions and displays, collects artefacts and other items of interest, and also coordinates art scholarships which encourage the development of contemporary art by young Islanders. 

In the time I was there, my class and I listened to a worker present what role she taken on when working for Jersey Heritages, Socitete Jersisaise. He film pphotographers used to develop photographers and what kind of photogroahers round the world decided to come to jersey during the perriod of time.

She mentioned that many photographers at the time photography was being more widespread and popular, it was a cheaper alternative to produce photographs in Jersey therefore known film photographers took photographs on the island as well e.g. Henry Mullins, Albert Smith etc.

St Helier’s Harbour has undergone significant changes from the mid-19th century to today. In the mid-19th century the harbour was mainly used for fishing and trading activities. Over periods of time, the harbour had expanded to accommodate later vessels and increased maritime traffic. In the 20th century, modernization efforts improved the infrastructure of the harbour making it a key for both commercial and leisure purposes. Today it stands as a bustling centre for various maritime activities including ferries e.g. day trip to St Malo, Southampton etc., fishing boats and yachts, contributing to the island’s economy and tourism sector as well as events such as the “Boat Show” presenting Jersey’s boat and yachts taking place annually which is important keeping the fun element of the Island.

The early developed harbour brings out a sense of nostalgia and history whereas the more modern day brings forth leisure and more environmental awarness as society becomes more aware with problems with water supply shortage and changes of the ocean.

When looking at the layout of the marina has gone through some changes as displayed here:

After the South Pier was completed in the 1820s, work began on the North Pier. This 2nd major pier had extended the protection of the harbour. It had provided a more sheltered area for mooring larger vessels.

The overall changes made over the years have been varied. In 1855 there were constructions made to improve docking space for ships (named after Queen Victoria). In the late 1800s the pier was enhanced for larger ships, as well as added facilities for easier loading and unloading.

In terms of post-WW2 they were repaired and updated for passenger ferries after damage during the German occupation and in the late 20th century, they shifted focus to leisure and tourism which includes modernised ferry terminals and yacht berths. In the present day in terms of development of the south pier is primarily serves as for ferry passengers and tourists as well as being upgraded for modern maritime needs.

The Albert Pier was built in 1874 to increase cargo capacity (named after Prince Albert).

In the early 20th century the pier was equipped with cranes and more modern equipment for efficient cargo handling. Secondly with the post-WW2 it was repaired after wartime use, as well as adapted to handle both cargo and some passenger traffic. In terms of recent years, the pier continues to focus on commercial shipping but also accommodates modern port activities and tourism.

Overall, both of their piers have differentiated and evolved from purely commercial uses to a blend of trade, tourism and modern port functions.

In the mood board I wanted to present the development of the Harbour and how it has changed through the different time periods, in the photographs presented. In terms of taking photographs in the specific location I want to focus on taking photographs that overview the harbour as a whole that presents the different types of boat and vessels that are positioned there. As well as taking photographs of different textures and different colours such as rough textures for the early industrial period like representing sand, stone etc which shifts later on to more smoother materials like e.g glass for the more modern period of time.

When displaying my work I want to search for old dated photos and compare them with most recently dated photos I’ve taken to see if there are any visible changes to do anything with the layout of the marina etc.

It is obvious that the St Helier harbour looks dated in the series of pictures on the left as colour yet wasn’t developed and the layout of the harbour was slightly different as well as the type of boats and larger vessels that would come in and out, out of the port.

Therefore in my mood board I wanted to start with muted sepia like and black/white tones for early phases from the left corner to transitioning into more vibrant colour themes as modernization and tourism especially plays a role.

Looking at my mood board I want to include a bigger picture of the harbour as well as individual pictures on a smaller scale to show a significance of a particular details of patterns, materials, colour palette as well as lifestyle.