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Development of camera obscura
^EXAMPLE OF CAMERA OBSCURA PROCESS^ Small wooden box with a lens at one end that projected an image via a mirror onto a sheet of ground glass on top of the box. One of the major inventions that led to the creation of photography -
The oldest surviving photograph is captured
Using a sliding wooden camera box, Joseph Nicephore Niepce captures a photo of Le Gras from a bedroom window. In 1826, through a process of trial and error, he finally came upon the combination of bitumen of Judea (a form of asphalt) spread over a pewter plate. When he let this petroleum-based substance sit in a camera obscura for eight hours without interruption, the light gradually hardened the bitumen where it hit, thus creating a rudimentary photo. -
The Gift of the Daguerrotype
The daguerreotype process used a polished sheet of silver-plated copper, treated with iodine to make it light-sensitive, which was exposed (for several minutes or more) under a lens, then “fixed” using mercury vapor. On August 19, 1839, the details of the new daguerreotype process were presented to the public as a gift to the world from France. It was the first time in history that Americans could see themselves "true to life" and paved way for sharper, accurate, and high quality photography. -
Calotype photography
In this technique, a sheet of paper coated with silver chloride was exposed to light in a camera obscura; those areas hit by light became dark in tone, yielding a negative image. The revolutionary aspect of the process lay in Talbot’s discovery of a chemical (gallic acid) that could be used to “develop” the image on the paper. The developing process permitted much shorter exposure times in the camera, down from one hour to one minute. -
First camera using Single Lens Reflex
Single len cameras uses a mirror and prism system to allow photographers to accurately see the image that will be captured. This system uses one optical light path whereas previous cameras had two, one through the lens to the film and the other to the viewfinder. With the invention of the SLR camera, users can see what exactly the lens sees and allows for more versatility in capturing photos -
First Kodak camera offered for sale
The first Kodak that was on the market in 1888 was loaded with film for 100 exposures and cost $25. the Kodak was a simple box camera that came loaded with a 100-exposure roll of film. When the roll was finished, the entire machine was sent back to the factory in Rochester, where it was reloaded and returned to the customer while the first roll was being processed. This process created a new phenomon for how photos were developed. -
Birth of Kodak - "you press the button, we do the rest"
George Eastman began researching how to make photography more enjoyable for the average person. He formulated a gelatin paper film and a device for coating dry plates. By simplifying the apparatus and even processing the film for the consumer, he made photography accessible to millions of casual amateurs with no particular professional training, technical expertise, or aesthetic credentials. By 1954, more than 70% of the country's 53 million people owned a camera. -
More Brownies
^A CHILD HOLDING A BROWNIE CAMERA^
A simple, black, rectangular box covered in imitation leather with nickeled fittings accessible to all age groups. No longer was taking photographs just for the professionals, the Brownie camera allowed the capturing of birthdays and other family events. In just the first year, the Eastman Kodak Company sold over a quarter of a million Brownies, forever changing the future of photography due to it's simple functioning and easy accessibility. -
Oskar Barnack invents the "Ur-Leica"
Revolutionary camera the captures still photos while using 35 mm perforated film. Barnack invented the 35 mm camera when he noticed photographers carrying their heavy plate cameras. He took an instrument that was used for taking cinema film exposure samples, doubled the cinema film, and turned it into the 35mm camera -
"Flash" photography
The creation of flashbulbs gave users the ability to photograph regardless of lighting. In the early days of photography, photographers were dependent on the sun for capturing the perfect photo. Flashbulbs were a big step forward. They weighed little, were easily fired electrically and were extremely powerful and, therefore, convenient. Another important aspect of the technique was that it was extremely safe, especially compared to the widely used before flash powder. -
Polaroid cameras hit the market
Known as the land camera, Polaroid releases the Model 95 and launched the phenomenon known as instant photography. All users had to do was press the shutter button, remove the negative from the back, wait for one minute, tear off a strip of protective paper, and a fully formed photograph was revealed. It caused a near riot in stores and sold out immediately. -
The birth of disposable cameras
Used cheap material, 35mm film with no metal spool or winding device which sold for $1.29 per box. After taking 8 photos, the entire camera was mailed in and delivered back in a week. The disposable camera was innovative because normal cameras were too expensive, so it was common for owners to leave cameras at home where they wouldn't be lost or damaged. A.D. Weir wanted a camera that you can take anywhere and any time. -
Introduction of Polaroid Model 20 Swinger
One of the top-selling cameras of all time. Successful due to its cheap price and stylish appearance. The Swinger used Polaroid's 20-Series roll film, which was the first Polaroid roll film to develop outside the camera. -
Arrival of digital cameras
Invented by Steve Sasson in 1975 who was a worker at Kodak. Digital cameras are able to record videos, sounds, and most importantly capture high quality photography. By the mid-2000s digital cameras had largely replaced film cameras, and eventually digital cameras would be integrated into cell phones. -
First photograph shared via smartphone camera
Phillipe Kahn shares a photo of his daughter to more than 2,000 friends and family. Kahn's wireless sharing through his camera within his smartphone created instant visual communcation
