May is National Photography Month, a time to recognize the significant impact photography has had on our world since its invention. Evolving from a concept discussed by ancient philosophers into an essential tool for documentation and artistic expression, photography impacts how we preserve history, share experiences, and express ourselves.
Although photography as we know it began much later, the camera obscura phenomenon, which involves the projection of an image through a small hole, was first discussed in ancient philosophical texts during the 4th century BCE and may have been used even earlier to inspire paleolithic cave paintings. It was not until 1826, however, that Joseph Nicéphore Niépce captured the first permanent image using a bitumen-coated pewter plate. His partnership with Louis Daguerre led to the daguerreotype in 1839, which made it possible to produce much sharper images with shorter exposure times. This marked the beginning of photography as a practical tool for capturing real-world pictures.
As new techniques emerged, photography became more efficient and accessible. William Henry Fox Talbot introduced the calotype, which used paper negatives and allowed for multiple copies of a photo. Later, the wet collodion process and gelatin dry plates improved image quality and simplified the workflow. The invention of roll film and the rise of Kodak cameras in the late 19th century helped bring photography to the general public. What was once a complicated, scientific process became a common hobby and creative outlet. In recent years, digital cameras and smartphones have made it possible for almost anyone to take high-quality pictures anytime, anywhere.
To learn more about the history of photography as well as see the artistic work of some of the world’s great photographers, please visit the book display on the main floor of the library.