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) (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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
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. 1826-06-01 - 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.
6. 1826-06-01 - Niépce's first photograph (1826) (1826) (1 of 4). Enhanced version by the Swiss, Helmut Gersheim (1913-1995) performed ca. 1952 of Niépce's View from the Window at Le Gras, (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin) the first successful permanent photograph created by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827, in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 1838-06-01 - First photo of a human (1838) (1838) (1 of 4). This is "Boulevard du Temple", the first ever photograph of a person. The photo was taken by Louis Daguerre in late 1838 or early 1839 in Paris. It is of a busy street, but because exposure time was over ten minutes, the city traffic was moving too much to appear.
11. 1838-06-01 - First photo of a human (1838) (1838) (2 of 4). Boulevard du Temple, Paris, 3rd arrondissement, Daguerreotype. Made in 1838 by inventor Louis Daguerre, this is believed to be the earliest photograph showing a living person.
12. 1838-06-01 - First photo of a human (1838) (1838) (3 of 4). Boulevard du Temple, Paris, IIIe arrondissement, Daguerreotype. The first surviving picture of a living person, taken in 1838 or possibly 1837. The image shows a busy street, but due to exposure time of more than ten minutes, the traffic was moving too much fast to appear.
13. 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.
14. 1839-06-01 - The daguerreotype camera (1839) (1 of 4). Patient: Francis Manuel. According to Rowley (2022), the view captures an exploratory and intervention surgery for a young Portuguese sailor's diseased fibula. Although Manuel was Townsend's patient, Warren was the lead surgeon who prosecuted the operation on July 3, 1847.
15. 1839-06-01 - The daguerreotype camera (1839) (2 of 4). I was asked if I had any good pictures of cased images, and realised that the existing images I had online of this wonderful piece - www.flickr.com/photos/whatsthatpicture/sets/7215762621801... - did not show it in its case, so this is just rectifying that omission.
16. 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.
17. 1839-06-01 - The daguerreotype camera (1839) (4 of 4). Exhibit in the Tekniska museet, Stockholm, Sweden. This work is old enough so that it is in the public domain. Photography was permitted in the museum without restriction.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype negative (1843) (2 of 4). Westbound view from a window of the hotel "Russischer Hof" at the Zeil towards the Hauptwache, calotype.Notice: Talbot's original print is most likely mirror-sided. Hence, for comparison this at 180° horizontally rotated image had been created (however the original description was not mirrored).
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 1843-06-01 - Talbot's calotype negative (1843) (4 of 4). John Moffat (Scottish, 1819–1894). William Henry Fox Talbot, 1864. Carbon print, printed 1948 by Harold White. George Eastman Museum, gift of Mrs. Alden Scott Boyer.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. 1860-06-01 - The stereoscope (1860). Appears In: Rainforth, Selden Irwin, 1879-1960. Stereoscopic skin clinic Image Description: Image of a handheld stereoscope, made of copper, wood, and iron hinges with glass lenses and felt lining included in the box with viewing cards. Stereoscopic skin clinic. NLM Hidden treasure p.
35. 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.
36. 1860-06-01 - The stereoscope (1860). From Cincinnati Public Library: "Children viewing images from the Library’s stereograph collection at Old Main. Prior to the advent of motion pictures, stereographs were a popular form of entertainment. Stereographs were created by placing two slight variations of the same scene side-by-side on a card.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. 1870-06-01 - A tintype (1870) (2 of 4). Date: ca. 1875 Part of: African-American Collection Physical Description: 1 photograph tintype Folder or box number: Folder 82 Genre/Form: Tintypes Cite as: Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository: Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University Bibliogr...
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. 2010-11-17 - 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.
48. 2012-02-02 - 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.
49. 2012-02-07 - 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.
50. 2013 - 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.
51. 2013-11-04 - 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.
52. 2014-12-12 - 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.
53. 2014-12-12 - 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. 2015-07-01 - 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. 2015-10-15 - 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.
56. 2016-01-13 - 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.
57. 2016-05-03 - 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.
58. 2017-07-10 - 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.
59. 2018 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (1 of 4). This collaboration was inspired by the painting at the Louvre "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugène Delacroix. This wet plate shoot could not have come at a more poignant time in this nation's history. Fifty-three collaborators came together for no other reason than to create this image together.
60. 2018 - Wet-plate field camera (1860) (2 of 4). Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Natural Light Studio, Shane Balkowitsch (Ambrotypist), 2703 Big Sky Circle, Bismarck, North Dakota, Panoramic of 60 images stitched together by Tom Wirtz. Shane Balkowitsch pictured near window.
61. 2018-11-12 - 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.
62. 2018-11-12 - 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.
63. 2018-11-22 - How was it made? The Daguerreotype | V&A. Today only a handful of specialists create daguerreotypes, as the chemicals involved should not be used without the proper training and safety protocols. In this film Dr Mike Robinson creates a portrait using his own version of the technique.
64. 2018-11-22 - 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.
65. 2018-12-07 - 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.
66. 2019-09-05 - 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.
67. 2019-10-13 - 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.
68. 2020-03-24 - Stereoscope and Stereographs. Learn about the stereoscope that enabled people to view photographs in 3D in the 1890s to early 1900s. View stereographs from the personal collection of a NSW teacher.
69. 2021-02-26 - 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.
70. 2021-06-14 - 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.
71. 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.
72. 2021-10-07 - 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.
73. 2021-10-23 - 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.
74. 2021-11-27 - 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.
75. 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.
76. 2022 - 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.
77. 2022-12-01 - 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.
78. 2023-06-26 - 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.
79. 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.
80. 2024-09-07 - 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.
81. 2024-10-19 - 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.
82. 2025-04-06 - 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.