Photography Lecture: What was and is Photography

Today I would like to mention and write about the topics effectively! 

I want to mention numerous topics I was introduced to at my 1st "Theory Photography" lecture, like:

• Wodgewood and Davey
• Niepce
• Daguerre
• Fox Talbot

I will write about them topics in historical order, this is because I would like to start from the very beginning and end on everything else. 

1826-1827: Joseph Niepce take what's is regarded as the earliest known photograph. View from his window at Saint -Loup-de Verennes

A Photograph of Joseph Niepce (1765 –1833)

Joseph Niepce was a French inventor of the very first photograph made in 1826 called "View from the window at Le Gras". It is the earliest surviving photograph, although there could be more photographs that were taken by others , however they haven't survived or never been discovered.  Niepce was experimenting with lithographic printmaking and then he discovered heliography. His interest to those subjects was caused by his ability to draft images by hand. While experimenting with his lithography he also had a go to play with light-sensitive varnishes and then images produced in camera, unfortunately he was unable to prevent images from fading.  After experimenting with solution of bitumen of Judea, he have realised this solution make the best effort. That solution was dated back to the ancient Egyptians but continued to be used for making lithographic engravings in the 1800's. 

Niepce has produced great piece of work with his lithographic skills and experience. In 1822 he made heliograph from an engraving of Pope Pius VII, unfortunately this piece was destroyed during an attempt to copy it some years later.  In 1826-1827 Joseph coated a pewter plate with the same solution from his previous experiments and placed the plate into a camera that was looking out from an upstairs window oh his house. The exposure was about 8 hours long (at least), but after the exposure the plate was washed with a mixture of oil lavender and white petroleum, dissolving away the parts of the bitumen that had not been hardened by light. The final result came as a permanent positive photograph on pewter. The photograph represents view of outbuildings, courtyard, trees and landscapes. Because Niépce could produce only a singular photograph with any exposure he made, the object on view is the unique original; the creator could not make duplicates of it.

The reason why the very first photograph is very difficult to read is because the chemical and physical characteristics of the heliographic process and the reflective nature of the pewter plate. Later a special enclosure have been made to create an environment that gives maximum lighting and positioning for viewing the plate. Most visitors who would like to see this photograph in real life must view the plate at an angle. Viewing from the back corners of the display case allow us to see the image most effectively!. 

Enhanced version of Niépce's View from the Window at Le Gras made in 1826 or 1827.
Made with camera obscura.

One of the three earliest known photographic artifacts, created by Nicéphore Niépce in 1825. It is an ink-on-paper print, but the printing plate used to make it.

The images source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nic%C3%A9phore_Ni%C3%A9pce