Photographic Processes

How a picture was fixed before film. The camera obscura, Niépce's heliograph and Daguerre's mirror-polished plate, Talbot's paper negative, wet collodion carried into the field in a portable darkroom, tintypes made while you waited, and the stereoscope that put two slightly different views into one apparent solid.

Part of Cameras

82 moments in this segment.

1. 1700-06-01 - Camera obscura (1700) (3 of 4). 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) (1 of 4). 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) (2 of 4). 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) (4 of 4). 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 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 1826-06-01 - Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826) (2 of 4). 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) (3 of 4). 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). 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.
12. 1826-06-01 - Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826) (4 of 4). 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) (1826) (1 of 4). 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 1838-06-01 - First photo of a human (1838) (1838) (2 of 4). 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) (1 of 4). 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) (3 of 4). 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) (4 of 4). 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 - 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 1839-06-01 - The daguerreotype camera (1839) (3 of 4). 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) (4 of 4). 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) (1 of 4). 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) (2 of 4). 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. 1839 - The Birth of Photography: Drawing With Light. Photography / film chemistry explainer (1839). Colour, instant prints and home movies brought the camera into everyday life, and one rode to the Moon.
32. 1840-06-01 - Bayard's staged photo (1840) (1840) (1 of 4). 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) (2 of 4). 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) (3 of 4). 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) (4 of 4). 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 - 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype (1843) (1 of 3). 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.
40. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype negative (1843) (3 of 4). 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 negative (1843) (2 of 4). 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.
42. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype (1843) (2 of 3). 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.
43. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype (1843) (3 of 3). 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) (1 of 4). 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 negative (1843) (4 of 4). 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.
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) (1 of 4). 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) (2 of 4). 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) (3 of 4). 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) (4 of 4). 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 - 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.
52. 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.
53. 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.
54. 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.
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 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.
57. 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.
58. 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.
59. 1858 - The First Aerial Photographs. First aerial photography (1858). Colour, instant prints and home movies brought the camera into everyday life, and one rode to the Moon.
60. 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.
61. 1860-06-01 - Nadar's portraits (1860) (1 of 4). 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.
62. 1860-06-01 - Nadar's portraits (1860) (4 of 4). 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.
63. 1860-06-01 - Nadar's portraits (1860) (3 of 4). 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 - 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.
65. 1860-06-01 - Nadar's portraits (1860) (2 of 4). 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 - Almanac: America's First Aerial Photograph. First aerial photograph (USA) (1860). Colour, instant prints and home movies brought the camera into everyday life, and one rode to the Moon.
67. 1865-06-01 - Early landscape photography (1865) (4 of 4). 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.
68. 1865-06-01 - Early landscape photography (1865) (1 of 4). 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.
69. 1865-06-01 - Early landscape photography (1865) (2 of 4). 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.
70. 1865-06-01 - Early landscape photography (1865) (3 of 4). 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.
71. 1870-06-01 - A tintype (1870) (2 of 4). 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.
72. 1870-06-01 - A tintype (1870) (3 of 4). 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.
73. 1870-06-01 - A tintype (1870) (1 of 4). 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.
74. 1870-06-01 - A tintype (1870) (4 of 4). 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.
75. 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.
76. 2013-06-15 - Albert Kahn (1860-1940) - Photography for a Vision of World Peace. Albert Kahn Archives of the Planet (1909). Colour, instant prints and home movies brought the camera into everyday life, and one rode to the Moon.
77. 2018 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (2 of 4). 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.
78. 2018 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (1 of 4). 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.
79. 2021 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (4 of 4). 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.
80. 2022-05-07 - The Oldest Color Portrait Photographs - Part 2. Autochrome Lumiere 1907 (1907). Colour, instant prints and home movies brought the camera into everyday life, and one rode to the Moon.
81. 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.
82. 2024 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (3 of 4). 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.