Photography as we know it began in the late 1830s, giving us the first recorded image that didn’t fade away after it had been processed. Since then, the world of photography has undergone revolutionary change and progress, while remaining an artistic way to express yourself.
Being able to take photos is truly a blessing, with many of us now being able to capture memories and good times on camera to look back on in years to come. In business, more advanced 360° photography (which is offered by companies like Pro Photo Studio) is also used to give customers a more vivid and detailed picture of different products.
Photography can bring a lot of joy to the world, especially when it comes to capturing beautiful scenery, family memories and heart-warming moments. However, it’s also important as it can bring the news and current affairs to light, making sure that the world’s issues become known and talked about.
You’ll find all of these kinds of images on online photo sharing websites, giving you access to beautiful, impactful and eye-catching photography from around the world.
But how did photography start, and how has it got to where we are today? Let’s take a closer look at how photography has changed over the years.
Where did it all start?
There are mentions of the ‘camera obsurca’ that can be traced back to the 4th century BCE, which means dark chamber in Latin and was often used to refer to the camera we know today. The first photo was taken in the Burgundy region of France, with a name taking a photo out of his window.
What followed during the 1830s and beyond were investigations and discovery of photography and how to develop images that lasted. Some of the first images were of simple landscapes in France, capturing one or two people in them on the way. These images were direct positives and were not re-printable.
By the 1850s, new methods were developed to help photographers produce images in a matter of minutes from start to end, with a much more durable finished product.
The introduction of colour photographs
Photographs in colour posed a challenge to photographers in the late 1800s as the images were incredibly sensitive to light and would begin to fade when exposed. A physician who solved this problem won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1908.
Decades later in the 1950s and colour photography was incredibly sought after and readily available too. It was around this time that Polaroid was born.
Soon after this, the development of photography began at rapid speed with new innovations emerging to help improve the equipment and the quality of the images. By the 1980s, digital photography has been introduced.
The emergence of digital photography
Digital photography gave way to much more compact and portable cameras that made it much easier to capture incredible images. Brands like Canon, Sony, Nikon and more began creating better and better cameras over the years, not to mention a whole range of additional equipment designed to help the photographer achieve incredible shots.
What’s more, the invention of camera phones gave way to a whole new era of photography and allowed everyone to get involved whether they were professionals or not.
Photography became a way of capturing memories as well as taking amazing photos of the world around us. Its progression as an art form as well as a way of expressing ourselves has also meant that images are shared online and in exhibitions across the world, making photography truly inclusive no matter what side of the lens you are on.
