Even though we take pictures or photographs for fun most people associate them with documenting important events in someone’s life. These are typically special moments like when you win a prize, graduate school, get married, have a baby, etc.
However, before those there was an art form of recording images that were not meant to be seen by anyone but yourself. These self-portraits where you use your camera as a tool to capture yourself is at least 5,000 years old!
The earliest known example of this comes from ancient China around 3000 BC. They referred to it as “taking the picture within a picture.”
Over time, artists began using their own likenesses as compositions instead of just being the composition. Many still do today.
Color photography was invented in the 20th century
Technically, recording images using chemicals to create pictures goes back much earlier than we often think. Archaeologists have discovered painted clay discs that date back 5,000 years with pictorial representations! Some even describe these as being like modern day photographs before there were no cameras.
We know this because some of these ancient paintings still hold up well over hundreds or even thousands of years later. These are not necessarily portraits though; they could be scenes depicting landscapes, people, or anything else. It is interesting to note however that none of them show any kind of technology used for taking photos at the time.
It wasn’t until the late 19th century when photographers started experimenting with color by adding three different colors of light (red, green, and blue) onto one plate to make one finished image.
This process was difficult to do without creating very hard edges where one part of an object ended and another began, so most early photoplates only had two colors — black and white.
Digital photography was invented in the 1970s
Before the invention of digital cameras, most photographs were created using silver halide film. Developing these films used chemical processes that required exposure to light or dark environments, as well as time.
Once exposed, the photographer would have to wait several minutes for the film to be processed before being able to view their work. This process could take anywhere from one to many hours, even days depending on how quickly you wanted your photos back!
With the advent of digital imaging technology though, this is no longer the case. Technicians can access and edit images instantly, which has made taking, editing, and sharing pictures much simpler.
However, while having access to every photo immediately may seem like a benefit, it also creates issues when someone wants to share an image but does not have a device capable of displaying them. There are now ways to create high quality photographic prints without requiring expensive equipment or expertise.
This article will talk about some historical uses of photography, what types of devices exist today, and how professionals make use of both technologies.
Instant photography was invented in the 19th century
Prior to the invention of instant photographs, capturing an image required you to be close by the subject or use long exposure times which could not always work due to moving subjects.
A second problem with long exposures is that they needed to be done under artificial light which did not exist or was unreliable at night. This made it very difficult to take pictures during these time periods.
With the advent of chemical film, photographers were able to create what we know as instantaneous photos; however, doing so limited your creativity as only still images were possible! It took another few decades before engineers figured out how to make digital cameras that captured motion photos too.
Since then, taking mobile photo opportunities has become much easier. Now anyone can pick up their phone and capture fun moments without having to rely on natural light or expensive professional gear.
Polaroid photography was invented in the 1950s
Before there were cameras with built-in photobooth features, we had to either use a prehensile hand or make frequent trips outside to take pictures of ourselves or others. With the advent of digital technology today, this is no longer necessary!
In fact, many people now prefer having camera apps that include such features because they feel more comfortable using them than doing it manually.
Polaroids are an interesting way to add some unique flavor to your photos. By limiting yourself to only twenty exposures per roll, you can really focus on what makes each photo special. These special touches can be something like holding up a napkin with your drink for a water drop picture, or going out during sunset time to capture beautiful colors.
There are several types of polaroids you can create. You can do classic black and white ones, sepia toned images, or even colorized ones! The number of settings varies between app versions, so look around to see if any have been discussed online.
High-speed photography was invented in the 20th century
Before 1900, most people took pictures with large objects they had or materials that could be exposed multiple times to create an image.
Photos taken before the mid-20th century are mostly still images; there are few moving photographs. This is because early cameras needed long exposure times to take a picture, which made fast action impossible.
Only very expensive equipment allowed for short exposures, so most people didn’t have access to it. The ones who did usually used only one photo per camera. – Andy Powell
In order to make something happen faster, you need to use light more quickly. Modern digital technology uses electronics to accomplish this task, but back when film was used, exposing longer required using chemicals that reacted with light. This process always takes time!
Camera speeds improved dramatically after Eadweard Muybridge created his first photographic series of horses running in 1899. He would set up several hundred consecutive photos within a second of each other, creating a smooth motion effect.
Some people called these “ghost” or “futuristic” images due to their similarity to what we now call a photograph (a single frame). Others labeled them as “living” or “moving” records, since they seem like normal recordings of events.
A few years later, Paul Guyenor developed a way to capture three separate frames in quick succession, making full length movie shooting possible.
Motion-picture photography was invented in the 1890s
Before this, photographs were mostly still pictures or recordings you could not make moving. Some early experiments used continuous rolling film to create what we now call motion photos, but it took quite a while for people to figure out how to take manual control of the camera so that you could have more creative freedom with your images.
It is important to note that most pre-motion picture photography was done without using light; instead, photographers would expose paper or glass plates directly (think old fashioned daguerreotypes). Only later did technology emerge to use lenses and sources of light to achieve more detailed and higher quality pictures.
These earlier photographic technologies are interesting to look into, however they are not considered part of the initial invention of photography because they do not fit our definition.
Photojournalism was invented in the 1970s
Before this, most people took pictures with large format cameras that were heavy to use even once. These pre-digital camera devices needed developing films which could sometimes be expensive or hard to find.
Mostly, only rich people had access to taking photographs before the invention of photography. This is because investing in a good camera can cost around $1,000 – 1,500 dollars!
Since being able to take your own photos has become almost a human right, there have been many ways to do so. Starting with using smartphone apps to take still images and then moving onto recording videos, we now have a way to capture all types of media quickly and easily.
Photojournalists are part of this growing field that uses photographic skills to tell stories and get reactions from watchers. A lot of famous photographers like Bruce Weber, George Mendoza, and Ronny Kohlhaas are considered photo journalists.
They each use their artistic talents to create interesting pictures that leave an effect on the viewer.
Photo editing was invented in the 1980s
While there are some reports that claim someone took their first picture more than 10,000 years ago, most agree that photography as we know it was actually invented in China around 2,500 BCE. Before then, people painted pictures on surfaces to preserve memories or create art pieces.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that anyone thought to use photographs as decorations or to capture actual events. At this time, however, people were already creating fake photographic images, so it seems like a logical next step.
In the 1880s, two separate individuals created modes of altering photos beyond just adding borders and/or changing the background. These include photo manipulation tools such as photoshopping and retouching.
Photoshop is an easy way to edit your pictures. You can add different textures, change colors, remove things, and even shape yourself or others! It has become very popular to do these types of edits to make your pictures look better or influence how people perceive other people and situations.
There are many ways to manipulate a photograph. Some focus more heavily on color changes while others shift the tone or texture of an object. A few simply take away parts of the image to reduce clutter. All of these effects help give your pictures a more polished feel.