The Birth of the Image (1826–1888)

The camera obscura, Niépce's first surviving photograph, the daguerreotype, the calotype negative, wet plate — humanity learns to fix light.

Part of Cameras

86 moments in this segment.

1. 1700-06-01 — Camera obscura (1700). Camera obscura — the camera itself, 1700. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
2. 1700-06-01 — Camera obscura (1700). Camera obscura — the camera itself, 1700. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
3. 1700-06-01 — Camera obscura (1700). Camera obscura — the camera itself, 1700. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
4. 1700-06-01 — Camera obscura (1700). Camera obscura — the camera itself, 1700. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
5. 1826-01-01 — The First Photographer: The Photographs of Nicéphore Niépce. Niepce First Photograph (1826). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
6. 1826-01-01 — The First Photograph: Scientific Analysis. Niepce View from the Window at Le Gras 1826 (1826). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
7. 1826-01-01 — The World’s Earliest Photograph | Episode 42: View from the Window at Le Gras, Joseph Niépce. Niepce First Photograph (1826). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
8. 1826-01-01 — The 1st Photographer - Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. Niepce First Photograph (1826). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
9. 1826-06-01 — Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826). Niépce's first photograph (1826) — an image made in 1826. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
10. 1826-06-01 — Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826). Niépce's first photograph (1826) — an image made in 1826. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
11. 1826-06-01 — Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826). Niépce's first photograph (1826) — an image made in 1826. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
12. 1826-06-01 — Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826). Niépce's first photograph (1826) — an image made in 1826. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
13. 1826-06-01 — Niépce's first photograph (1826). Niépce's first photograph — an image made in 1826. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
14. 1838-01-01 — The Shoe Shiner and the Inventor | Episode 36: Boulevard Du Temple, Louis Daguerre. Boulevard du Temple (first photo of a person) (1838). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
15. 1838-01-01 — The Oldest Photographs in the World. Oldest photographs history (1838). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
16. 1838-06-01 — First photo of a human (1838) (1838). First photo of a human (1838) — an image made in 1838. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
17. 1838-06-01 — First photo of a human (1838) (1838). First photo of a human (1838) — an image made in 1838. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
18. 1838-06-01 — First photo of a human (1838) (1838). First photo of a human (1838) — an image made in 1838. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
19. 1838-06-01 — First photo of a human (1838) (1838). First photo of a human (1838) — an image made in 1838. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
20. 1839-01-01 — The Oldest Portrait Photographs - Part 1. Earliest portrait photographs (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
21. 1839-01-01 — Sun Pictures: Henry Fox Talbot and the First Photographs. Talbot Calotype (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
22. 1839-01-01 — The Daguerreotype - Photographic Processes Series - Chapter 2 of 12. Daguerreotype process (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
23. 1839-01-07 — Photographic processes | The Daguerreotype. Daguerreotype (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
24. 1839-01-07 — The science of making a daguerreotype. Daguerreotype (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
25. 1839-01-07 — Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes. Daguerreotype (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
26. 1839-01-07 — How was it made? The Daguerreotype | V&A. Daguerreotype (1839). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
27. 1839-06-01 — The daguerreotype camera (1839). The daguerreotype camera — the camera itself, 1839. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
28. 1839-06-01 — The daguerreotype camera (1839). The daguerreotype camera — the camera itself, 1839. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
29. 1839-06-01 — The daguerreotype camera (1839). The daguerreotype camera — the camera itself, 1839. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
30. 1839-06-01 — The daguerreotype camera (1839). The daguerreotype camera — the camera itself, 1839. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
31. 1840-03-23 — OTD in Space – March 23: First Photo of the Moon. First Photograph of the Moon (1840). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
32. 1840-06-01 — Bayard's staged photo (1840) (1840). Bayard's staged photo (1840) — an image made in 1840. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
33. 1840-06-01 — Bayard's staged photo (1840) (1840). Bayard's staged photo (1840) — an image made in 1840. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
34. 1840-06-01 — Bayard's staged photo (1840) (1840). Bayard's staged photo (1840) — an image made in 1840. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
35. 1840-06-01 — Bayard's staged photo (1840) (1840). Bayard's staged photo (1840) — an image made in 1840. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
36. 1841-01-01 — William Henry Fox Talbot - Scientist, Inventor and Photography Pioneer. Talbot Calotype (1841). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
37. 1841-01-01 — Photographic Processes | The Calotype. Talbot calotype negative (1841). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
38. 1841-01-01 — How was it made? Calotypes | V&A. Talbot Calotype (1841). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
39. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype negative (1843). Talbot's calotype negative — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
40. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype negative (1843). Talbot's calotype negative — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
41. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype (1843). Talbot's calotype — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
42. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype negative (1843). Talbot's calotype negative — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
43. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype (1843). Talbot's calotype — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
44. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype negative (1843). Talbot's calotype negative — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
45. 1843-06-01 — Talbot's calotype (1843). Talbot's calotype — an image made in 1843. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
46. 1845-04-02 — FIRST EVER Photo of the Sun Revealed 180 Years Ago Today!. First Photograph of the Sun (1845). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
47. 1845-06-01 — Early daguerreotype portrait (1845). Early daguerreotype portrait — an image made in 1845. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
48. 1845-06-01 — Early daguerreotype portrait (1845). Early daguerreotype portrait — an image made in 1845. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
49. 1845-06-01 — Early daguerreotype portrait (1845). Early daguerreotype portrait — an image made in 1845. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
50. 1845-06-01 — Early daguerreotype portrait (1845). Early daguerreotype portrait — an image made in 1845. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
51. 1850-01-01 — Victorian Virtual Reality: How does stereoscopy work?. Stereograph / Stereoscope (1850). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
52. 1850-01-01 — Stereoscope and Stereographs. Stereograph / Stereoscope (1850). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
53. 1851-01-01 — The Collodion - Photographic Processes Series - Chapter 5 of 12. Wet-plate Collodion (1851). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
54. 1851-01-01 — Photography: A Victorian Sensation – Stereography. Stereograph / Stereoscope (1851). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
55. 1851-01-01 — How was it made? Wet Collodion | V&A. Wet-plate Collodion (1851). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
56. 1851-01-01 — The Wet Collodion Process. Wet-plate Collodion (1851). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
57. 1851-06-01 — First photo of the moon (1851). First photo of the moon — an image made in 1851. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
58. 1851-06-01 — First photo of the moon (1851). First photo of the moon — an image made in 1851. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
59. 1855-01-01 — Digitising Ambrotypes and Daguerreotypes. Ambrotype & Daguerreotype (1855). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
60. 1856-01-01 — TinType Photography Process HD. Tintype photography process (1856). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
61. 1860-06-01 — The stereoscope (1860). The stereoscope — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
62. 1860-06-01 — The stereoscope (1860). The stereoscope — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
63. 1860-06-01 — Nadar's portraits (1860). Nadar's portraits — an image made in 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
64. 1860-06-01 — Nadar's portraits (1860). Nadar's portraits — an image made in 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
65. 1860-06-01 — Nadar's portraits (1860). Nadar's portraits — an image made in 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
66. 1860-06-01 — Nadar's portraits (1860). Nadar's portraits — an image made in 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
67. 1861-06-01 — First colour photo (Maxwell 1861) (1861). First colour photo (Maxwell 1861) — an image made in 1861. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
68. 1862-01-01 — Mathew Brady's Vision. Mathew Brady / Civil War Photography (1862). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
69. 1863-06-01 — Civil War photography (Brady) (1863). Civil War photography (Brady) — an image made in 1863. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
70. 1863-06-01 — Civil War photography (Brady) (1863). Civil War photography (Brady) — an image made in 1863. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
71. 1863-06-01 — Civil War photography (Brady) (1863). Civil War photography (Brady) — an image made in 1863. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
72. 1863-06-01 — Civil War photography (Brady) (1863). Civil War photography (Brady) — an image made in 1863. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
73. 1865-06-01 — Early landscape photography (1865). Early landscape photography — an image made in 1865. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
74. 1865-06-01 — Early landscape photography (1865). Early landscape photography — an image made in 1865. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
75. 1865-06-01 — Early landscape photography (1865). Early landscape photography — an image made in 1865. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
76. 1865-06-01 — Early landscape photography (1865). Early landscape photography — an image made in 1865. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
77. 1870-06-01 — A tintype (1870). A tintype — an image made in 1870. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
78. 1870-06-01 — A tintype (1870). A tintype — an image made in 1870. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
79. 1870-06-01 — A tintype (1870). A tintype — an image made in 1870. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
80. 1870-06-01 — A tintype (1870). A tintype — an image made in 1870. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
81. 1888-06-01 — ADVANCED EMULSION: Silver Halide Crystals, Imaging Couplers, Orange Masks and Processing. How film photography chemistry works (1888). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
82. 2018 — Wet-plate field camera (1860). Wet-plate field camera — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light. The subject dates from 1860; this photograph was taken in 2018.
83. 2018 — Wet-plate field camera (1860). Wet-plate field camera — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light. The subject dates from 1860; this photograph was taken in 2018.
84. 2021 — Wet-plate field camera (1860). Wet-plate field camera — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light. The subject dates from 1860; this photograph was taken in 2021.
85. 2022-06-15 — Art exhibition reveals Vermeer's secrets using technology to look under paintings. Camera obscura art history Vermeer (1660). In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light.
86. 2024 — Wet-plate field camera (1860). Wet-plate field camera — the camera itself, 1860. In the first age of photography, exposures took hours and every image was a small miracle of chemistry and light. The subject dates from 1860; this photograph was taken in 2024.