Louis Daguerre – bwuphoto.com

History, Significance, and 9 Types of Photography

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In today’s fast-paced world, where moments pass in the blink of an eye, photography is a timeless art form, freezing fragments of time for us to revisit and treasure. World Photography Day, celebrated annually on August 19, honours the invention of the daguerreotype, one of the earliest forms of the photographic process, by Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce, in 1837. It was a turning point in the lives of many photographers of that time and paved the way for the development of many different types of photography.

On January 9, 1839, the French Academy of Sciences officially approved the daguerreotype. Seven months after this, the French government purchased the patent for the device on August 19, 1839. The invention of the daguerreotype was called “a gift to the world” and was made freely available to all.

This day is not only a tribute to the technological advances that have revolutionised how we capture photos and share moments of our lives but also a celebration of the art and creativity behind the lens.

First-Ever World Photography Day

The origin of World Photography Day dates back to August 19, 2010, when Australian photographers Korske Ara and Tim Harvey launched the initiative—this day hosted its first global online gallery. More than 270 photographers shared their photos, and photo enthusiasts from over a hundred countries visited the official website, marking the first official World Photo Day to hit the global stage.

The aim was to encourage people to share their world through a lens and appreciate the impact of photography on society. Since then, the day has gathered momentum, with enthusiasts, professionals, and hobbyists taking part in exhibitions, competitions, and workshops worldwide.

According to the World Photography Day website, it’s the worldwide celebration of all kinds of photography, but each year, people also have an optional theme to focus on. The theme of World Photography Day 2023 is “LANDSCAPES”.

Exploring Different Types of Photography

Photography is a diverse field, encompassing various genres that suit different artistic pursuits and practices. While it’s extremely difficult to divide the art of photography into specific categories based on a single factor, here are some of the more prominent types of photography:

1. Portrait photography

Capturing the essence and personality of individuals or groups, portrait photography seeks to convey emotions and stories through human expression.

2. Landscape photography

From panoramic vistas to intimate scenes of nature, landscape photography focuses on capturing the beauty of the natural world.

3. Street photography

This genre documents everyday life in public spaces, often highlighting candid, unposed moments of people and their surroundings.

4. Macro photography

Macro photography delves into miniatures, showing intricate details of tiny subjects such as insects, flowers, and textures.

5. Fashion photography

Fashion photography combines style, aesthetics, and storytelling, often associated with glamorous images of models and couture.

6. Wildlife photography

Wildlife photographers defy nature to capture stunning images of animals in their natural habitats, raising awareness of biodiversity and conservation.

7. Architectural photography

Focusing on buildings, structures, and urban landscapes, architectural photography emphasises form, lines, and visual design.

8. Documentary photography

Documentation photographers aim to raise awareness of important issues and events by documenting reality and conveying social messages.

9. Astrophotography

By capturing celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and galaxies, astrophotography reveals the beauty of the cosmos.

Digital Era and Beyond

In recent years, the advent of smartphones with high-quality cameras has democratised photography, making it accessible to almost everyone. Social media platforms have also been critical in shaping how we share and interact with visual content. As technology continues to evolve, innovations like drone photography, virtual reality, and AI-assisted image editing are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

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World Photography Day 2023: Date, history, significance and celebration

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World Photography Day commemorates the invention of the daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre in 1837 that marked a significant milestone in the history of photography. The day is dedicated to the art and science of photography.

Date:

World Photography Day is celebrated every year on August 19.

History:

World Photography Day commemorates the announcement of the daguerreotype process to the public on August 19, 1839, by the French Academy of Sciences. The daguerreotype process was one of the earliest methods of capturing permanent images on a light-sensitive surface.

The day traces its origins to 1837 when the first ever photographic process, the ‘Daguerreotype’ was developed by the Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce. On January 9, 1839, the French Academy of Sciences announced this process, and later in the same year, the French government purchased the patent for the invention and gave it as a gift, “free to the world.”

However, the first durable colour photograph was taken in the year 1861 and there is even speculation about the first digital photograph being invented in 1957, 20 years before the invention of the first digital camera.

Significance:

World Photography Day highlights photography as a legitimate form of art, encouraging photographers to experiment with different techniques, compositions and styles. It encourages people to appreciate the power of photography in telling stories, capturing emotions and preserving memories.

It is a day to discuss the technical aspects of photography, advancements in equipment and the evolution of photographic techniques when photographers and enthusiasts often share their favourite photos, stories behind the images and insights into their creative process.

Celebration:

Photographers and photography enthusiasts around the world celebrate the day by taking photos, sharing their work on social media platforms and participating in photography-related events. Many photography exhibitions, workshops and contests are organised on World Photography Day to showcase the talents of photographers, reflect on the significance of their craft and the role that photography plays in documenting history, culture and personal experiences.

This day, people from all walks of life come together to appreciate the visual storytelling that photography offers and celebrate the photographers who capture moments that inspire, inform and provoke emotions while recognising the impact that their work has on the world.

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One of Photography’s Earliest Inventors Had an Ingenious Trick to Stop His Images From Over-Developing, Scholars Say

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A pioneer of photography may have used urine to create his historical images.

That was one of the revelations a group of conservation experts from Brazil, Portugal, and the U.S. took away upon re-examining a series of what are believed to be among the oldest surviving photographic artifacts in the Americas, all created by the 19th-century artist, adventurer, and inventor Hercule Florence.

A man of French-Italian-Monegasque origin who settled in Brazil, Florence was one of the first to permanently fix images onto paper using chemicals. His innovations in this area preceded those of Louis Daguerre and Henry Fox Talbot, two scientists widely credited with developing photographic technology, but came after the ground-breaking innovations of Nicéphore Niépce.

Unlike those two scientists, who were internationally heralded in their time, Florence went comparatively unrecognized for his work. Fortunately, his achievements are getting an even greater shine now.

Working out of the HERCULES Laboratory at the University of Évora in Portugal, the researchers recently applied a number of analytical techniques to three surviving graphic prints made by Florence: a decorative border for a masonic diploma and two design templates made for pharmacy labels. All three objects are nearly two centuries old.

Photomicrography revealed that the paper Florence used to create the images was similar to that found in previous experiments of his. X-ray fluorescence, meanwhile, showed that silver nitrate or silver chloride was used for the diploma design and gold chloride was used for pharmacy labels. These materials proved crucial in the inventor’s quest to not only capture light, but to record it permanently.

The early studies of Thomas Wedgwood and others likely led Florence to use papers coated with light-sensitive chemicals. On top of these he placed blackened pieces of glass with designs etched into them.

This process created a positive image, but he still needed a way to stop the picture from continuing to darken when exposed to light. For this solution, he experimented with some unconventional materials.

Through a technique called ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, the researchers identified a greater amount of protein in the pharmacy labels—a finding that suggests the presence of urine. In other words, to stop his pictures from developing, Florence peed on them.

For the conservation experts, the finding speaks to the ingenuity of the 19th-century scientist, who worked without the resources of his European contemporaries.

“What Hercule Florence accomplished is really a prehistory of photography,” said Art Kaplan, an associate scientist at the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles, who co-led the research effort with António Candeias of the HERCULES Laboratory. “He was one step ahead, employing certain elements that were commonly used in the photographic process.”

The analyzed photographs, Kaplan added, “are believed to be the only survivors of that time period.”

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