The document provides an overview of the history and basics of photography. It discusses early pioneers like Nicéphore Niépce, Louis Daguerre, and others who developed early photographic processes. It also explains how photography has evolved from early film techniques to modern digital photography. Key events mentioned include the invention of the daguerreotype, calotype, and the coining of the term "photography." The document also provides brief summaries of different historic and modern photographic techniques and formats.

1. Basics of Photography
BA-FTNMP (TCSC)

2. History of Photography
 Nicéphore Niépce and Daguerre
 The first photographic process — heliography — was invented around 1824 by
Nicéphore Niépce. Images were obtained with bitumen of Judea spread on a
silver plate after an exposure time of several days.
 In 1829, Niépce associated Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre to his research.
In 1832, they put the last touches, using a residue of lavender oil distillation,
by means of a second process producing images in a one day exposure time.

3.  In 1833, Niépce died, and Daguerre invented, in 1838, on his own the
daguerreotype, the first process including a development stage. A silver plate
coated with a very thin silver iodide layer was exposed in a camera obscura,
then exposed to mercury vapors that induced the apparition of the invisible
latent image that had been formed during the exposure to light.
 This development was in fact such an amplification of the effect of light that
the exposure time was hardly more than 30 minutes. Fixing was done by
immersing the plate in sea salted water.

4. Hippolyte Bayard
 Hippolyte Bayard
 In July 1839, another Frenchman, Hippolyte Bayard, discovered the way to
obtain positive images directly on paper. A sheet of paper covered with silver
chloride was blackened by light, then exposed in a camera obscura after
having been sensitized in silver iodide.
The exposure time was from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

5. William Henry Fox Talbot
 William Henry Fox Talbot
 Still in 1839 , the announcement of the daguerreotype invention incited an
Englishman, William Henry Fox Talbot, to resume interrupted research, the
beginning of which was in 1834. In 1841, he patented the calotype, the first
negative-positive process that made it possible to multiply the same image,
by means of an intermediate negative on a silver chloride paper made
translucid with wax. As for the daguerreotype, the latent image was
developed by a chemical agent, the developer: a solution of gallic acid and
silver nitate. A second sheet of paper also covered with silver chloride was
then exposed through the translucid negative, to give the final positive.

6. Retouched version of the earliest surviving camera photograph, 1826 or 1827, known
as View from the Window at Le Gras.

7. Photo + graphy = Photography
 The coining of the word "photography" is usually attributed to Sir John
Herschel in 1839. It is based on the Greek φῶς (phōs), (genitive: phōtós)
meaning "light", and γραφή (graphê), meaning "drawing, writing", together
meaning "drawing with light".
 The art or practice of taking and processing photographs.
 The art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and
especially light on a sensitive surface (such as film or an optical sensor).

8. Photography is explained as :-
 Photography is the art, application and practice of creating durable images
by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by
means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive
material such as photographic film.
 Photography is the skill , job , or process of producing photographs.
 A picture made using a camera, in which an image is focused on to light-
sensitive material and then made visible and permanent by chemical
treatment, or stored digitally.
 Photography is, the process or art of producing images of objects on
sensitized surfaces by the chemical action of light or of other forms of radiant
energy.

9. Early Photography Methods
 Since the first photo was taken in the early 1800s, many photography
techniques have been attempted. Some have been successful and shaped the
future of photography, while some have been outlawed or forgotten.
 These old, failed photography methods teach us a lot about where
photography culture has come from, and where it’s going.

10. Here are 10 old photography methods that have fallen out of the
mainstream today:-
 Camera Obscura
The Camera Obscura was created in the ancient times and was the device the led to
the development of the camera. This device uses a small lens to project an image
from the outside onto a flat surface. This was used for things like watching solar
eclipses and drawing, but the image could not be permanently transferred on its own.
It wasn’t until the use of Silver Chloride that photographs came to be.
 Wet Plate Photography
Wet plate photography, or Collodion Process, replaced the daguerreotype during the
1850s. Basically, the wet plate method was inconvenient and time-consuming
requiring the photographer to coat the material, sensitize, expose, and develop it in a
short amount of time. Although this technique is uncommon today, many still practice
it to achieve a historic look.

11.  “Watch the Birdie”
Another one of these forgotten photography methods include the famous “watch
the birdie” phrase which originates from photographing kids. When young kids
got distracted, photographers would hold a small brass bird. When the
photographer was prepared to take the photo, he would squeak the bird to make
to kids look in a particular direction. This phrase still exists today for getting
attention!
 Flashlight Powder
Flashlight powder was used as a flash in dimly-lit locations. It was a potent mix
of chemicals that burned brightly, creating an immediate “flash.” The powder lit
so quickly that many photographers received burns and the technique was
discontinued.
 No Smiling
Ever wonder why people never smile in old photographs? In the first photos, the
exposure time was so long that people couldn’t hold smiles. Additionally, having
your photo taken was a luxury and honor, and people wanted to appear proud
and stoic. Another theory is that their teeth were not so nice-looking!

12.  “Hidden” Cameras
Private investigators have been using cameras since they were first invented, but that doesn’t make them
stealthy. The first secret cameras were large bulky wooden boxes that were hidden inside large trench
coats. During the early 1900s, they became pistol cameras, pocket watch cameras, and cane cameras.
These were high-tech then, but compared to today’s secret technology, they are obsolete.
 Photograms
A Photogram is an image transferred onto paper without a camera. By setting objects on photographic film
or paper and exposing it to light, the negative shadows of images remain. Photograms transformed 3-
dimensional objects into flat images, with high contrast. It was a new artistic way to explore photographic
images on a gradient scale, but the hype was short-lived.
 Nitrate Film
This highly-flammable film was the first widely available film for photographers. Its use led to photobooth
fires, many deaths, and decline in production. Unfortunately the remaining film decomposed into a
flammable gas, leaving no one safe from it’s fragility and danger. In 1978, almost a century after it was
initially produced, The US National Archives and Records Administration’s nitrate vault automatically
ignited, burning over 300 original film negatives. Today, average citizens must be issued a special license to
store and transport.

13.  Polaroids
When we say polaroid, we are speaking of the instant film made famous by Polaroid in 1948. What it
essentially did was combine a camera and a darkroom in a single device. Once the picture was snapped,
the film was pulled from the camera and allowed to develop, taking about 3 minutes. Polaroids have seen a
resurgence in popularity from nostalgic photographers and pop culture. OutKast, a rap duo, famously coined
the phrase “shake it like a Polaroid picture” in their 2003 hit song, making a huge comeback for the world
of instant film.
 Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras were once a necessity on a summer vacation or camping trip. Introduced in the late
1980s, they were an inexpensive, easy way to document a trip or event. Unfortunately for these
disposables, digital cameras have become more affordable since 2000, and its rare to find consumers using
these disposables. You can still find them in local grocery stores, but they will never be as popular as they
once were.
Currently in the photography industry, we are seeing a rise in popularity of these old photography processes
and practices. Low-quality photos are promoting nostalgia, clearly seen from Instagrams rise in fame. This
shows us how important it is to remember these older photography methods, and understand how they
came to be.

14. Film to Digital

15. Digital Photography vs Film Photography
 The sensor: The sensor is built from tiny light
sensitive sensors each representing a pixel.
When the shutter opens light hits the sensor
and each pixel gets its "value". Put together
all the pixels comprise one photo. To take a
new photo the photo is saved on a digital
media and the CCD is electronically emptied.
 The cost of a photo: Photos taken with a
digital camera literally cost nothing. The
photos are kept in erasable memory and thus
can always be discarded at no cost. Also the
photos you would like to keep can be copied
to digital media such as a computer's hard
disk. With storage prices going down the cost
of saving a photo on disk is practically zero.
 The sensor: The sensor used to take the
photo. With film cameras a film sensitive to
light is placed behind the lens. When a
photo is taken the shutter opens for a
predetermined period of time and light hits
the film. The result is a photo "printed" on
the film. To take a new photo the film has to
be rolled and a fresh "clean" film is place
behind the lens.
 Film does cost money. With a film camera
you have to pay for the roll of film, for
developing the negative and for printing the
photo. Every time you press the shutter
button you spend money.

16. Digital Photography vs Film Photography
 The capacity: With ever growing
storage capacities digital cameras today
can hold hundreds and sometimes
thousands of photos on a single media.
You can always have a few more in your
pocket and changing is very fast. The
result is that a digital camera has
practically infinite capacity. You can
shoot as many photos as you want and
at the end of the day just dump them
on your computer's disk.
 The feedback: One of the most
important features of the digital
camera is instant feedback. Almost all
digital cameras include a small LCD
screen. Once a photo is shot you can go
back and watch it on that screen. The
ability to see how the photo looks like
results in better photos. If the photo is
not good you can take another one.
 The capacity: Film cameras' capacity
is very limited. A roll of 36 photos can
only hold 36 photos. After a roll is used
changing to a new roll can take time
and is not easy to do in scenarios such
as darkness or a harsh environment.
For that reason many professional
journalists carry a few cameras on
them and instead of changing rolls
they turn and use another camera just
so that they do not miss a shooting
opportunity.
 The Feedback :With film cameras
there is no way to know how the photo
on the film will look like when printed.

17. Digital Photography vs Film Photography
 With digital cameras the
characteristics of the sensor can be
changed instantly for each photo
taken. With a click of a button the
camera can be put in an indoor or
outdoor mode, low light, night
photography etc. Some cameras
will automatically sense the
scenario and set the sensor mode
accordingly.
 Changing conditions: Every roll of
film is designed for best results in
a specific environment. For
example there are indoor and
outdoor films or films with
different light sensitivity. If
conditions change rapidly a film
camera user will have to either
shoot with the wrong film, change
the roll (and usually lose photos
that were not used in the current
roll) or use another camera with a
different film in it. The results of
shooting with the wrong film can
be distorted colors (reddish photos
for example), a grainy photo and
more.

18. How Camera works ?

23. Types of Digital Format
 There are many different types of file formats, which can be retrieved and
edited using a photo editing software. The most commonly used ones are:-
 JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
 TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
 PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
 GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
 BMP (Bitmap)
 PSD (Photoshop Document)
 DNG(Digital negative format)
 RAW