Photography: A Brief History

Camera Obscura Effect

The concept of photography began with idea of Camera Obscura. Aristotle (384-322 BC) had spoken about it as a philosophical idea, but never went on to build one.

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Pinhole Camera

The first photographic equipment was the pinhole camera. It is a simple camera/box/chamber (light=proof box) without a lens but with a tiny aperture/opening. Invented in the 10^th century, by Ibn al-Haitham (Egyptian Scientist). Here the Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known as the camera obscura effect.

Camera Obscura

A pinhole camera with a lens for its tiny opening. Artists used it to get the shape and proportion of images right. Scientists kept discovering and using better optics and lenses to manipulate the image. Images kept improving, but not able to retain images permanently.

First Recorded, and Surviving Photograph

Best History of Photography, Pinhole camera, camera obscura, DSLR cameras, DSLM cameras

The First Photograph

The first recorded Heliograph (photograph) was by Nicéphore Niépce (1826), France. The exposure took about 8 hours. He used a chemically coated metal plate to capture and retain the image. In 1833, Louis Daguerre also used a metal plate but with reduced exposure time, called, the Daguerreotype. It took about half an hour for exposure. It was William Fox Talbot who first used translucent negative for capturing and retaining the image in 1835, and in 1841 he got it patented. It was called Talbotype/Calotype. It first produced the camera negative, and from it a positive image could subsequently be printed, and make many copies. Talbot’s negative-positive process dominated photography up to the digital age.

In 1888, Kodak commercial cameras came in market, with dry, transparent, flexible photographic film that came in a roll. It was invented by invented by George Eastman. Polaroid Instant Image Camera made its appearance in 1848. It was discovered by Edwin H. Land.

Modern SLR Cameras

Single-lens reflex camera (SLR) began with the use of a reflex mirror in a camera obscura but it took a long time for the design to succeed for photographic cameras. In mid 19^th century onwards there serious attempts. Some succeeded but were very complex in practice. By 1960s the SLR camera became the preferred design for high-end cameras. Eastman Kodak Company made the first Digital Camera in 1970s. Steven Sasson was the engineer behind. The Nikon QV-1000C was the first commercial DSLR camera, introduced in 1988. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 was the first mirrorless camera, introduced in 2008. Now all brands have DSLR and DSLM cameras; and every professional photographers use them.

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Visual Culture

Visual culture is a multifaceted field that examines the pervasive role of visuals in shaping human understanding, beliefs, and behaviours. It posits that visuals are not merely reflections of reality but rather " constructed realities " that actively influence our perception of the world. At its heart, visual culture positions visuals as the reference and data for knowledge, beliefs, thinking, creations, behaviour, etc.; which in turn further shapes current beliefs, thinking, creations, behaviour, etc. Visuals are images/collection of images that are made to be seen. Framed (made) and put out. This highlights that visuals are not spontaneous occurrences but deliberate constructions, detached from the place and time in which it first made its appearance, says, John Berger . Examples like the contrasting Newsweek and TIME magazine covers of O.J. Simpson illustrate how different framings of the same event can convey distinct messages and narratives, underscoring the idea ...

Visual Analysis: SEMIOTICS

Visual analysis is a systematic and scientific approach to examining visual materials that goes far beyond casual observation. In our visually saturated world, images have become a inescapable universal language that shapes our perceptions, attitudes, and experiences. From the artworks adorning gallery walls to the advertisements lining city streets, visuals communicate narratives, evoke emotions, and reflect sociocultural ideologies . However, the process of seeing and interpreting visuals is not as spontaneous or natural as we often assume. As John Berger notably stated, " seeing is an active decision ," suggesting that the process of interpreting visuals is neither spontaneous nor natural, but rather requires conscious effort and critical thinking. The way we perceive and interpret visual content is heavily influenced by habits, conventions, and our individual perspectives. Serious visual analyses requires conscious effort and critical analysis to unravel the ...

Screenplay/Script Writing: Ideas, Stories, and the Script

Stories are Character/s, imaginary or real, aspiring and moving towards a need/goal through adversaries (achieving it with a big idea / super powers) will make one a hero). More elaborately, Character/s, imaginary or real, faced with a conflict/problem/issue/situation and trying to understand/overcome/change it in spite of difficulties / limitations / oppositions from within or without (overcoming/changing it with a big idea / super powers) will make one a hero). Please study the PDF below (only for academic use) Stories and Film Scripting PDF Stories have Shapes Storytelling is an art form that has captivated humans since the dawn of civilisation. Whether through oral traditions, written literature, or visual media, stories have the power to entertain, educate, and inspire. At the heart of every great story lies a carefully constructed narrative that engages the audience and conveys a meaningful message. According to Kurt Vonnegut, stories have shapes, the main ones are Man in th...

The Male Gaze and the Construction of Gender in Visual Culture

Visual culture encompasses the totality of images, visuals, and visual practices that shape our lived experience. It manifests through art, photography, cinema, design, and countless other forms, representing the ideas, customs, and social behaviours that revolve around visual materials. Visual culture is not merely decorative or informational; it is a powerful force that produces, circulates, and interprets visual forms to construct meanings, shape beliefs, and convey power within specific cultural contexts. From traditional artworks such as paintings and sculptures to mass media like film, television, and advertising, from digital platforms including websites, apps, and video games to everyday objects like fashion, logos, and packaging—all these elements communicate meaning and fundamentally shape our understanding of the world. The quality and impact of visual culture depend on two critical factors: the quality of the visual content created and the nature of the act of see...

Early History of Cinema

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed the birth and rapid evolution of cinema as a new artistic and technological medium. Lets us examine the key innovations, pioneers, and early milestones that shaped the beginnings of cinema, from its precursors in motion photography to the establishment of narrative filmmaking techniques. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) History of Cinema PDF The foundations of cinema can be traced to experiments in capturing and displaying motion through photography. In 1878, Eadweard Muybridge 's groundbreaking " The Horse in Motion " used multiple cameras to decompose the movement of a galloping horse into a sequence of still images. This technique presaged the fundamental principle of cinema - the illusion of motion created by rapidly displaying a series of static images. A pivotal moment came in 1888 with Louis Le Prince's " Roundhay Garden Scene ." At just 2.11 seconds long, it is recognised by the Guinness B...

Visual Analysis: INTRODUCTION

Visual analysis is a systematic and scientific examination of visual materials that explores their communicative meaning, aesthetic qualities, and functional impact. As Susan Sontag noted, humans tend to linger in " mere images of the truth ," making it crucial to develop a deeper understanding of visual interpretation. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) Introduction to Visual Analysis PDF The Nature of Seeing: The process of seeing is not as spontaneous or natural as commonly believed. According to John Berger , our way of seeing art has historically been influenced by privileged minorities to maintain social and economic dominance. Visual perception requires conscious effort and is heavily influenced by habits and conventions. The visual faculty consumes approximately two-third of a person’s used energy, highlighting its significance in human experience. The Framework of Visual Analysis: Visual analysis could be traced back to communication models, for exampl...

PHOTOGRAPHY Composition

Photography composition or framing is the process of Selection of a subject, placement of the subject, and choice of background. Photography composition Study the PDF below (to be used for educational purposes only) Photography Composition PDF Composition is the result of a series of aesthetic decisions that a photographer makes 1. Selection of subject What is the Focal point? Where do you want the eyes of the viewers to repeatedly come back to? Where do you want the eyes of the viewers to rest? What is the element you don’t want your viewers to miss? What do you want the viewers to call your image? 2. Choice of background Background enhances the subject. Background simplifies the frame. Background minimalises the frame. Background qualifies the subject. 3. Placement of subject There are ample guidelines to make the placement magical. Rule of Thirds/One Third line Middle li...

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