Tomorrow is National Camera Day and I thought it might be kind of fun to take a look at the history of cameras. Ever since the advent of the cell phone that also included a camera, humans, and frogs the world over have become obsessed with taking photos of everything, especially themselves, as well as video-recording everything from their dining experiences to routine traffic stops. And, of course, all these pics and videos then get posted on social media. I, for one, recently purchased a new cell phone and made my decision based almost 100% on the quality of its camera.
The camera's early beginnings can actually be traced back to the fifth century B.C....the "camera obscura." This "dark chamber consisted of an enclosed box with a small opening through which sunlight passed, projecting temporary images of the outside world on a wall." Aristotle and others who knew of the "camera obscura" didn't use it to take pictures. The actual mechanism of the camera was lost until the 11th century when astronomers started to used similar devices to protect their vision while observing the sun. It would be many, many years until the technology started to really evolve.
Fast-forward to 1827. It took a lot of centuries but eventually, the "camera obscura" was developed to the point where taking photographs became possible. The French inventor, Nicéphore Niépce, took the first known photograph in 1827. The title of this first photo is View from the Window at Le Gras. "He captured the image by focusing a camera obscura onto a 6.4x8.0 inch pewter plate coated with asphalt. Thus, the asphalt hardened in the brightly lit areas but could still be easily washed away in the darkened areas." That first image survives today.
Although Niépce's contribution was brilliant, it had its limitations. It took eight hours for the image to be fully exposed. Capturing a lasting image required a very complex chemical process; for, without immediate treatment, the image would be lost. Along came another French inventor named Louis Daguerre who had also been working on ideas to capture and preserve photographic images. So he and Niépce decided to team up. Together they discovered a solution. Their partnership lasted until Niépce's death in 1839. Daguerre introduced a new method of photography – the daguerreotype. This is the giant leap that modern camera technology pays homage to.
It wasn't until the 1940's that the camera as we know it came to be. "The first electronic camera emerged from the labs of Eastman Kodak in 1975, partially inspired by Jet Propulsion Laboratory research dating to 1961." Consumer digital camera technology began making an impact in the 1980's. Sony was the first to market a digital camera. And today's smartphones mean that everyone, including a few of us frogs, has digital camera technology with us most of the time, as close as our shirt pocket.
Don't forget that tomorrow is National Camera Day. And Saturday is Social Media Day. You can take your photos tomorrow and post them on Saturday...you'll have both "holidays" covered. Until tomorrow, I wish you all
PEACE.
The camera's early beginnings can actually be traced back to the fifth century B.C....the "camera obscura." This "dark chamber consisted of an enclosed box with a small opening through which sunlight passed, projecting temporary images of the outside world on a wall." Aristotle and others who knew of the "camera obscura" didn't use it to take pictures. The actual mechanism of the camera was lost until the 11th century when astronomers started to used similar devices to protect their vision while observing the sun. It would be many, many years until the technology started to really evolve.
Fast-forward to 1827. It took a lot of centuries but eventually, the "camera obscura" was developed to the point where taking photographs became possible. The French inventor, Nicéphore Niépce, took the first known photograph in 1827. The title of this first photo is View from the Window at Le Gras. "He captured the image by focusing a camera obscura onto a 6.4x8.0 inch pewter plate coated with asphalt. Thus, the asphalt hardened in the brightly lit areas but could still be easily washed away in the darkened areas." That first image survives today.
Although Niépce's contribution was brilliant, it had its limitations. It took eight hours for the image to be fully exposed. Capturing a lasting image required a very complex chemical process; for, without immediate treatment, the image would be lost. Along came another French inventor named Louis Daguerre who had also been working on ideas to capture and preserve photographic images. So he and Niépce decided to team up. Together they discovered a solution. Their partnership lasted until Niépce's death in 1839. Daguerre introduced a new method of photography – the daguerreotype. This is the giant leap that modern camera technology pays homage to.
It wasn't until the 1940's that the camera as we know it came to be. "The first electronic camera emerged from the labs of Eastman Kodak in 1975, partially inspired by Jet Propulsion Laboratory research dating to 1961." Consumer digital camera technology began making an impact in the 1980's. Sony was the first to market a digital camera. And today's smartphones mean that everyone, including a few of us frogs, has digital camera technology with us most of the time, as close as our shirt pocket.
Don't forget that tomorrow is National Camera Day. And Saturday is Social Media Day. You can take your photos tomorrow and post them on Saturday...you'll have both "holidays" covered. Until tomorrow, I wish you all
PEACE.
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