Camera Obscura

The camera obscura is a darkened box with a convex lens that projects the image of an external object to a screen inside. The way it works is when its bright outside light enters through the hole and projects an upside down image onto a wall opposite the hole, therefore only focusing and reflecting light instead of capturing it. This was the starting point leading to all photography. In the 1600’s the camera obscura was developed with larger openings, allowing more light available to come through which created brighter, higher quality images. This was useful for capturing perspective such as accurately representing the 3D world into a 2D flat surface.

Henry Fox Talbot

Henry was well known for being the inventor of the calotype. In 1884 henry discovered that images could be made through the action of light and chemistry on paper. He discovered that from the use of different silver salt and a developing agent brings out an invisibility slight on exposed paper. This photographic process made it possible to obtain multiple positive images on paper from a single paper negative. This was a step up from the camera obscura as images could now be captured. However, this still had some downsides due to  the paper fibres blurring the printed image.

Daguerreotype Process

The daguerreotype process was invented in 1837 by Louis Jacques Daguerre. The daguerreotype process links back to the camera obscura as it allowed the image seen inside a camera obscura to be captured and preserved as an object. This process is a direct positive process which means no negative is made unlike the calotype discovery. The process of making a daguerreotype is by plating a thin sheet of silver onto a copper sheet. Then it is sensitized into a lightbox containing iodine and bromine vapours until its surface turns yellow creating a reaction producing light sensitive silver iodine. it is then inserted into a camera where the exposure is made and then development happens when the plate is placed face down over a source of heated mercury fumes until the image appears. This made it possible for a portrait to be made with exposure in around a minute. However, this process meant the daguerreotypes were mirrors images of their subjects.

Richard Maddox

Richard Maddox was an English physician who is known for inventing lightweight gelatin negatives plates for photography in 1871. There were many advantages to this dry plate such as making it easier for photographers. This is because it allowed photographers to use dry plates off the shelf instead of having to prepare their own emulsions in a mobile darkroom. In addition to this, cameras were small enough to be handheld.  These dry plates is what led to cinematography from snapshot photography.

George Eastman

George Eastman, an American entrepreneur who was born in 1854 and founded in the Eastman Kodak company. In the 1880’s, made improvement leading to flexible, roll film and photo processing and printing done by mail order. He created a convenient method of preparing ready to use plates. Eastman His business had 4 basic principles which included focusing on the customer, creating mass production at low cost, achieving worldwide distribution and extensive advertising. He achieved this with the help of his slogan ‘you press the button, we do the rest’. His first camera the ‘Kodak’ was first offered for sale in 1888. The Kodak is considered the first camera brand and was so successful due to the company heavily investing in campaigns creating widespread awareness of the Kodak

Kodak Brownie

The kodak brownie was a popular series of cameras formed by the Eastman Kodak company. This camera ultimately revolutionised photography due to the cameras being affordable and simple to use. Also, the kodak enabled anybody to create photography with a press of a button.