What is the history of photography?

The history of photography dates back to the early 19th century when the first permanent photograph was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. This photograph, known as "View from the Window at Le Gras," was captured using a process called heliography, which involved exposing a pewter plate coated with bitumen to light for several hours.

In the following years, several advancements were made in the field of photography, including the development of the daguerreotype by Louis Daguerre and the calotype by William Henry Fox Talbot. These processes allowed for the creation of more detailed and high-quality images, leading to the popularization of photography as an art form and a means of documentation.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, photography continued to evolve with the introduction of new technologies such as roll film, color photography, and digital imaging. Photographers like Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Henri Cartier-Bresson pushed the boundaries of the medium, using it to capture important moments in history, convey emotions, and explore artistic expression.

Today, photography is a ubiquitous part of everyday life, with billions of images being captured and shared around the world every day. The advent of digital photography and smartphones has made it easier than ever for people to take and share photographs, leading to a democratization of the medium and a proliferation of visual storytelling.

16th Century:

- Camera Obscura: Developed by Arabian scientist Alhazen around 1000 AD, the camera obscura is a darkened room with a tiny hole that projects an image of the outside world onto an opposite wall.

18th Century:

- Silver Halide Sensitivity: German chemist Johann Heinrich Schulze discovers that silver halides darken when exposed to light.
- Photogaph: Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a French inventor, creates the first permanent photograph in 1826.

19th Century:

1830s:

- Daguerreotype: Louis Daguerre develops the daguerreotype, the first practical photographic process. It uses a silver-coated copper plate to capture images.
- Talbotype (Calotype): Henry Fox Talbot, an English inventor, develops a different photographic process using paper coated with silver halides. It allows for multiple copies to be made.

1840s:

- Wet Plate Collodion Process: Frederick Scott Archer develops the wet plate collodion process, which improves image quality and reduces exposure times.

1850s:

- Stereography: Oliver Wendell Holmes introduces stereography, which uses two slightly different photographs taken from slightly different angles to create a 3D effect.
- Ambrotype: A variant of the wet plate process that creates an image on a glass plate backed by a black surface.

1860s:

- Dry Plate Process: Richard Maddox develops the dry plate process, which allows photographers to expose and develop plates later, making photography more convenient.

Late 19th Century:

- Gelatin-Silver Process: This process, developed by Richard Leach Maddox, becomes the dominant photographic technology. It uses gelatin as the binder for silver halides.
- Film Base: In 1884, George Eastman introduces roll film, making photography more portable and accessible.

20th Century:

- Kodachrome: In 1935, Kodak introduces Kodachrome, the first widely available color film.
- SLR Cameras: Single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, which allow photographers to view the scene through the same lens that takes the picture, become popular.
- Digital Photography: In the 1980s, digital cameras emerge, using an electronic sensor to capture images.

21st Century:

- Smartphones: Smartphones with built-in cameras become widespread, making photography accessible to everyone.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is used to enhance image quality, automate editing, and provide real-time feedback to photographers.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR): VR and AR technologies allow for immersive and interactive photography experiences.