-
Thomas Wedgewood and Humphrey Davy: Shadow Images
Wedgewood and Davy, both well known in scientific circles in their times, reported discovery of impermanent shadow images in 1802. Even though they were well known in scientific communities, their work did not end up influencing subsequent attempts to stabilize images. This is important because although Florence discovered something similar, they were recognized in 1802 and Florence was recognized in 1970. It shows that the origin of photography revolved around who you knew, not what you knew. -
Louisiana Purchase
France sold the Louisiana territory to the United States, relinquishing their last claim to North America. This event is important because it illustrates the ties that America had with Europe, but also the progression of distancing with Europe and eventually becoming behind the curve in many inventions and artistic movements that began in France and England. -
Jospeh Nicephore Niepce: Camera Obsura / Engraving Plate
Niepce invented the camera obscura and engraving plate that produced a negative that he was able to make a direct positive image from. This invention is important because it created the world's first permanent photograph. He tried to sell it to people, but concealed the exact technique for making these photos and subsequently got little interest or attention. -
Jospeh Niepce and Louis Daguerre: Contract Signed for Daguerre to Improve Niepce's Process
Niepce and Daguerre signed a contract that allowed Daguerre to improve Niepce's technical process. Daguerre was outgoing and had a strong desire to succeed, unlike Niepce who was more reserved and untrusting of people. Daguerre was able to take advantage of the social climate of the decade and get traction and publicity for this invention. This historical photographic event is important because the shift of rights for this invention propelled it permanently into photographic history. -
William Henry Fox Talbot: Photomicrograph
Talbot captured the world's first photomicrograph that could capture details of small scientific objects. This discovery is important because it shows the dual nature of photography almost from the beginning when it was announced to the world. Photography can be scientific and it can be artistic. -
Samuel Morse: Telegraph
People likened the telegraph to photography because they were both major modern inventions. The telegraph, while not a photographic invention, was important to the history of photography because they both change the way in which people communicate — both in speed and in accuracy. -
Queen Victoria Begins Reign
This historical and cultural event is important because Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were the first reigning monarchs of Britain to have the photos taken. -
Louis Daguerre: Announced the Daguerrotype
In 1835, Daguerre created a latent image that he could treat to become sharper before making it eventually appear. In 1837, he discovered that salt and hot water would stop light sensitive photographs from continuing to react, thus creating a stable photo. In 1839, he announced the Daguerrotype. These photographic events are important because Daguerre "invented" photography and was the first to widely publicize a detailed, stable photo with shorter exposure time and higher quality than Talbot's. -
Hippolyte Bayard: Developed Another Photographic Method
After hearing rumblings of the Daguerrotype, Bayard rushed to develop a photographic method. He did not receive official recognition or Daguerre's celebrity status and created a satirical self portrait in response. This is important because he was the first photographer to experiment with blatantly not representing objective truth in his photos. -
Andreas Ritter von Ettingshausen: Microscopic Daguerrotype
After seeing Daguerre's photographic invention presentation, Ettingshausen created startlingly detailed microscopic images. This invention is important because it demonstrates the always evolving nature of photography as a medium. Even though Daguerre's photographic method did not end up being the basis for photography later in history it did evolve and spark other inventions and discoveries like this one. -
William Henry Fox Talbot: Invented Calotype
The calotype produced a single negative that could produce copies, unlike the Daguerrotype. It was not as high quality of a photo as the Daguerrotypes. This photographic invention is important because it became the basis for modern photographic reproduction. -
John Herschel: Cyanotype Invented
Herschel invented the cyanotype and although it never became a major form of photography, it had great commercial success because it was used by architects for blue prints and scientists as well. This photographic invention was important because Herschel was the first to champion the democratic potential of photography. He stated that everyone with a cyanotype could become a printer and a publisher. -
David Octavious Hill and Robert Adamson: Calotype Photography Partnership
Their partnership lasted for four years and Adamson was executed the technical photos while Hill gave artistic direction because he was trained in art and painting. This partnership was important for the history of photography because, alongside the invention of scientific things like the microscope Daguerrotype, photography was also proving that it had a place in the world of art. -
Mexican-American War
This war lasted from 1846 to 1848 and coincided with the rise of American newspapers. Although it is not specifically connected with photography, it is important for the history of photography because the war brought about a change in journalism that affected photography and also fostered an appetite for up-to-date news. -
Frederick Scott Archer: Collodian Process
The collodian or wet plate photographic process had greater sensitivity and shorter exposure times than other existing photographic techniques and inventions. This is important because it demonstrates that photography was rapidly evolving within the first few decades after it was announced to the public. -
The Great Exhibition Opens
The Great Exhibition was held in England and housed in a glass and wrought iron structure called the Crystal Palace. Tourists from all over gathered and many new inventions and items of cultural value were displayed. This cultural event is important because it symbolizes a new wave of cultural appreciation for art, technology and inventions. -
United Kingdom Patent Office Established
A British law established the UK Patent Office. This historical event is important because it symbolizes a shift in culture and a new wave of inventions to come in the next half of the century. -
Crimean War
This war lasted from 1853 to 1856 and was Britain and France against Russia. Topical images of the war were displayed for viewing and sale. This war is important for the history of photography because it was a catalyst for American photography and journalism to flourish and proliferate. -
James Ambrose Cutting: Ambrotype
This method of photography was named after the Greek word "ambro" meaning immortality and Cutting's middle name, Ambrose. The Ambrotype created one of a kind photos like the Daguerrotype, but unlike the Daguerreotype, they were very cheap. This invention is important because it was so cheap that it began to make photography more accessible and democratic. -
American Civil War
This war lasted from 1861 to 1865. It was important for the history of photography because about 1 million images were documented during this war. Soldiers got photos of themselves taken for their families and brought photos of their families with them to war. Photographers also took and staged photos of the aftermath of the battles. These photos are invaluable for historians. -
Matthew Brady and Alexander Gardner: Petitioning Congress to Purchase War Negatives
Brady and Gardner petitioned Congress to purchase and preserve negatives from the American Civil War, but they were denied. The negatives were sold around and eventually collected by the Library of Congress. This is important because with the newly prolific nature of photography, people and institutions began to realize that there was no infrastructure for storing photos and it was a new challenge to figure out. -
Ernest Edwards: Heliotype
The heliotype was an invention that used printing press plates to reproduce photographs and keep down the prices of mass produced books. It was important because it was a big step in making progress towards the democratic and accessible disseminating of accurate information to a large number of people. -
Charles Darwin: Published "The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals"
This book was important for the history of photography because it is an example of how many people of the time period used photography for anthropological studies and experiments, many of which were unethical or inhumane. The subject of emotional expression was very popular at the time. -
Peter Mawdsley: Gelatin Silver Print
This invention was extremely important because this process did not require that the image be immediately processed in a dark room after it was taken. There was no longer a need to bring a portable darkroom. Photography could go more places, less hindered. This method became the only photographic process moving forward. -
George Eastman: Kodak Camera
The invention of the Kodak camera was important because it allowed the common, albeit rich or upper middle class, person to take photos with no need to understand chemistry or complex equipment. The slogan was, "You press the button, we do the rest." This invention was essential for the proliferation of photography, but it made it easier for critics to argue that photography was not art because anyone could just push the button -
Eiffel Tower Opened to the Public
This cultural event is very important because the Eiffel Tower can be considered a cultural symbol of new invention and progress. -
William Conrad Roentgen: Invention of X-rays
Photographers using double exposures were believed to have contact with the other side and the invention of x-rays deepened the belief in unseen spiritual activity. This is important because it shows that people in this time period did not yet know how to interpret the photography or x-rays they were seeing and distinguish fact from fiction in images.
