Birth of PhotographyBirth of Photography1837 by Louis M. Daguerre invented the first practical 1837 by Louis M. Daguerre invented the first practical

process of photographyprocess of photography

To take the first portraits, the subject had to sit dead still for twenty minutes. The subject’s neck was clamped in a vise hidden from the camera’s sight. Daguerreotypes were wildly popular.

War photographyWar photography Matthew Brady 1823-96 Matthew Brady 1823-96

brought home the horrors of brought home the horrors of the Civil Warthe Civil War

Wagonload of camera Wagonload of camera equipment became a target equipment became a target

It took 3 minutes to make an It took 3 minutes to make an impressionimpression

Confined to pictures of Confined to pictures of posed soldiers, camp posed soldiers, camp pictures, corpsespictures, corpses

The new medium claimed to The new medium claimed to be a mirror with a memorybe a mirror with a memory

Documentary PhotographyDocumentary Photography

Jacob Riis (1849-1914) Jacob Riis (1849-1914) was a New York police was a New York police reporter reporter

He invaded robber’s He invaded robber’s hangouts, sweatshops, hangouts, sweatshops, and squalid conditionsand squalid conditions

His graphic images led His graphic images led to the 1to the 1stst legislation to legislation to reform housing codes reform housing codes and labor lawsand labor laws

Portrait PhotographyPortrait Photography

Nadar did portraits of Nadar did portraits of artistic figures of Paris artistic figures of Paris in 1853in 1853

He posed figures and He posed figures and used dramatic lighting used dramatic lighting for photographsfor photographs

This photo is of Sarah This photo is of Sarah Bernhardt 1859, Bernhardt 1859, showing her in a showing her in a dramatic sweep of dramatic sweep of draperydrapery

Art PhotographyArt Photography

Julia Cameron (1815-Julia Cameron (1815-79) wanted to capture 79) wanted to capture ideal beautyideal beauty

She was the first to have She was the first to have lenses built for a soft-lenses built for a soft-focus effect in her focus effect in her sentimental picturessentimental pictures

Photography’s impactPhotography’s impact

The art of painting miniature portraits was The art of painting miniature portraits was doomeddoomed

Daguerreotypes could be ready in 15 minutes Daguerreotypes could be ready in 15 minutes for 12 centsfor 12 cents

Some painters proclaimed “From this day, Some painters proclaimed “From this day, painting is dead.”painting is dead.”

Painters who did painstakingly detailed scenes Painters who did painstakingly detailed scenes were threatenedwere threatened

Some artists viewed photography as helpfulSome artists viewed photography as helpful Delacroix used them as studies for hard- to- hold posesDelacroix used them as studies for hard- to- hold poses

Some painters used photos for portraits instead of long sittingsSome painters used photos for portraits instead of long sittings

Bierstadt used photos for his panoramic landscapesBierstadt used photos for his panoramic landscapes

Degas used photos for unusual poses and unconventional compositionsDegas used photos for unusual poses and unconventional compositions

Within 3 generations after the invention of photography, painters Within 3 generations after the invention of photography, painters abandoned the image for abstractionabandoned the image for abstraction

Photographers insisted their craft was more than snapping a picture, but fine Photographers insisted their craft was more than snapping a picture, but fine art in itselfart in itself

The camera excelled at reproducing images realistically but photographers The camera excelled at reproducing images realistically but photographers aspired to imitate paintingaspired to imitate painting

Photographers manipulated the mechanically produced images by Photographers manipulated the mechanically produced images by retouching the negative, painting the prints, superimposing the negativesretouching the negative, painting the prints, superimposing the negatives