Major technological advances since 1851 have greatly assisted photojournalists. The wet collodion process in 1851 allowed photographers to develop images in the field. The 35mm Leica camera introduced in 1925 was small and discreet, allowing photographers to work without heavy equipment. SLR cameras with motor drives in the 1960s provided faster shooting and the ability to "see through the lens." More recent innovations like online newspapers, wireless transmitters, cell phones, satellite phones, and drones have enabled near-instant publication and new photographic perspectives. These changes have made the work of photojournalists faster, less restricted, and more accessible to worldwide audiences.

1. Major Changes in
Photographic Technology
Significantly Assisting in the Jobs of
Photojournalists since 1851
~ Steven DaCosta

2. The Evolution of Photographic Technology!
eces of technology that has GREATLY impacted both Photojournalism & Phot
• Wet Collodion Process
• 35mm Leica Camera
• 35mm SLR Camera w/ Motor Drive
• Online Newspapers
• Wireless Transmitters
• Transmitting via Cell Phone
• Satellite Phones
• Drones

3. Wet Collodion Process
published in 1851
ss picture will come out to be. When the collodion is finished, the plate is placed into a bath of silver nit

4. Photo By: Quinn Jacobsen
Image Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2478802/Modern-America-Civil-
War-lens-Photographer-uses-150-year-old-dark-room-technique-arresting-photos-
designed-capture-Americas-real-soul.html

5. 35mm Leica Camera
published in 1925
Made in Germany, this camera was the next step in achieving excellence for photojournalists!
This camera was the first camera that would keep you secretive in taking photos. This was huge
for photojournalists as they can snap photographs without being vulnerable in the scene. Leica
Cameras are small and easy to use, which was a huge deal for photojournalists considering that
they had to carry around a van of multiple equipment to take and process a photograph. These
cameras held a non-refillable roll film inside the camera that stored up to about 36 photos. When
taking a photograph with this piece of technology, you wouldn’t necessarily get what you see
through the lens which made it a little challenging to take a photo. However, for photojournalists,
they no longer held themselves with the challenges of strolling a van of photographic equipment
with them and no means for a wet collodion process for issuing a photographic print.

6. Photo By: Ken Rockwell
Image Source: http://kenrockwell.com/leica/135mm-
f4.htm
Taken
With A
Leica
Camer
a!

7. SLR Camera with Motor Drive
Talk about a huge change in photojournalism! This piece of technology exemplifies the meaning
of, “What you see is what you get!” SLR stands for, Single Lens Reflex. This camera allows for
interchangeable lens. Photojournalists were allowed this time to take photographs in unusually
darker areas. With the interchangeable lenses, some may be wide angled so if you were in a
tight space you can still take a picture. Some may have very long lenses specifically for sports &
wildlife photography or even if you aren’t able to get close enough to the target. The lens would
allow you to take a picture from far. With the motor drive on the camera, you can take a series of
pictures that will get you about 10 pictures per second! This was very convenient for
photojournalists that were covering a fast pace event like the olympics for say. A very cool
feature with the motor drive is that photojournalists were able to freeze the motion of their target.
This technological piece came very important for the sports enthusiasts.

8. Photo By: Russ
PulvermacherImage Source: http://www.photosbyruss.com/sports.php

9. Online NewspapersOnline newspapers are literally what they sound like. These
newspapers are a digital edition of printed versions of newspapers. You
can thank the rise of the web for this one. If you were to click on a news
article from the CNN’s website page, that will be an example of an
online newspapers. Printed versions of newspapers are known for
being discontinued and transferred to an online source. The reason
being is because of its convenience to the public and the rest of the
world. Online newspapers have made the photojournalism process
easier. Photojournalists can directly publish their work into their online
source. There is no longer a need for a printing process to be done.
Once the work has been published as an online newspaper, anyone
with access to the internet can see the new headline. With this
technological process, printed versions of newspapers will one day, no
longer exist.

10. Wireless TransmittersTo begin, a transmitter is a small device that is attached to the camera. It
contains a small antenna that is used to reach signals for such
transmission of photographs from the camera to a cellular device. In such
cases, photographs transmitted from a wireless transmitter to a cell
phone, they will contain much higher quality than of a picture taken
directly form the cell phone. This was a great change for photojournalists.
With this, they can send photographs to their agency without the help of
their runners. Also, this meant that the photojournalists can stay in their
desired spot without having to lose it. Photojournalists are always fighting
for the best picture which is why you can see how this is such an
important deal. Just another technological device that is convenient and
easy to use!

11. Transmitting via Cell Phone
In the works of a smartphone, you can take a picture and the device will leave you
with options after you finished taking the photo. You can simply leave it as a saved
picture to your smartphone storage. One thing that has an amazing feature to it is
that you can send the picture to someone or somewhere! Photojournalists can
send the picture they take with their cell phone to their agency via email
attachment. All they need is the email that the picture will be sent to and access to
the internet from their cell phone. The beauty of this process is that it only takes
seconds! This was another great change for photojournalists as they can get their
work published sooner rather than later. Crucial, as everyone in the field of
photojournalism competes with one another to be the ones to publish the story
first.

12. Satellite PhonesSatellite phones are devices that work better in certain places rather
than cell phones. Examples of places are deserts and war zones.
Picture a photojournalist taking pictures of the wars in Afghanistan. This
photojournalist may not have cell phone service due to the rarity that
there will be a tower supporting the internet service of a cell phone.
Instead there is a much higher chance of a satellite tower in existence.
Therefore, satellite phones are much more a help than a cell phone in
this circumstance. Without these phones, there wouldn’t be immediate
photojournalistic work coming from war zones in such places. In this
type of transmission, photojournalists no long have to rely on a pigeon
to send information over to their agencies like times from the past.

13. Drones
otojournalists as they can take aerial pictures that have never been seen before. Drones c

14. Photo By: Dirk Dallas
Image Source: http://fromwhereidrone.com/8-tips-better-
drone-photography/

15. Resources
Slide 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ4JfnPkgcA
https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/getty-museum/getty-
photographs-films/photographic-processes/a/understanding-the-wet-
collodion-process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyf8fQOdvDs
Slide 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqZ1mv3ngS0
Slide 7 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ4JfnPkgcA
Slide 9 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqZ1mv3ngS0
Slide 10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqZ1mv3ngS0
Slide 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqZ1mv3ngS0
Slide 13 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ErTtYzkqw