Technology Timeline

1. Photojournalistic Technology
Alison Pariseau
History of Photojournalism
23 October 2018
1871-2018

2. 1871: Richard Maddox
Gelatin Process
• Richard Maddox was originally interested in
Medicine and the science behind it which led him to
take a look further into microphotography.
• He was a very sick man and saw that the wet
collodion process was very detrimental to his health
so he decided to come up with a process of dry
plate/gelatin to develop photos
• These chemicals were usually gelatin and bromide
which made for shorter exposure times and more
detailed images
Image Source: Library of Congress

3. Gelatin Impact on
Photojournalism
• With shorter exposure times it made for
photographers more time to spend with
their pictures and meant that they did not
have to develop the picture milliseconds
after it was taken
• The gelatin and bromide combination was
also easier to obtain which made for more
accessible pictures for the public to view
and of course then being much more
detailed for people to see
Image Source: Leonard Dakin 1887

4. 1888: George
Eastman “Kodak”
• George Eastman was experimenting with
the dry plate process when he discovered
he could take that emulsion and apply it
on contact paper and roll it into a spool
• This first formed negatives and
essentially film
• He then designed the first simple camera
which he named the “Kodak”
• It was easy to carry and eliminated
focusing and lighting
Image Source: Eastman Museum

5. Impact of the Kodak
Camera
• The Kodak camera made it easier for the photos to
develop and made photographers much more
interested in photography knowing all they had to
do was snap the button
• This technology also was able to store more pictures
rather than one creating more of a photography
base for local newspapers and easier for people to
view
Image Source: George Eastman Britannica

6. 1936: The First 35mm SLR
Camera
• The first single lens reflex camera emerged which
included a focal plane shutter and removable lens
• It was named the Kine Exakta
• This camera allowed the user to accurately focus
and frame the image that they wanted to take
Image
Source: Jussi

7. Impact of the 35mm
Camera
• This camera made it easier for
photographers to capture photos they
wanted to all around the world
• People were finally able to see what it was
like in different places
• The camera was lightweight and film could
be switched on the go
Image Source: Laszlo Gerencser

8. 1975: The First Digital Camera
• A man by the name Mr. Sasson
invented the first ever digital
camera when he came to work
at Eastman Kodak
• He decided that there was a
need for “digitalization” to opt
for better photos and for
better storage
• He decided to “to turn electric
impulses into numbers” which
then could be stored on a RAM
memory
• The final result was “a Rube
Goldberg device with a lens
scavenged from a used Super 8
movie Camera; a portable
digital cassette recorder and
batteries… all wired together
on half a dozen circuit boards
Image Source: McGray 70

9. Impact of the First
Digital Camera
• This technology advance made for much
shorter capturing times and made it
possible for the recording of the tape to
process in only 23 seconds
• It also changed the way people could
view the photos were now they could be
seen on a little television instead of in
print.
• Most people though were not thrilled
with the idea that you could see them on
the screen instead of on paper
Image Source: David Duprey

10. 1994: Olympus Deltis
VC1100
• A huge step in photography technology was
having a camera that could now transmit photos
over a phone line
• The Olympus had a built in transmitter that you
could hook up to a modem and could upload the
images via phone line.
• This meant the photos could now be viewed on a
personal computer and the transmitting time
required was only six minutes per picture
Image Source: Mike Collette

11. Impact of the Olympus Deltis VC1100
• This technology made it easier
for photojournalists to go
someplace far away and capture
pictures and still be able to send
them back home
• This also made it easier for the
editors to look at the pictures
right then and there and see
what the photographer can
improve on rather than coming
all the way back home just to
hear something that you cannot
change
Image Source: Digicammuseum

12. 1999: Nikon D1
• In 1999 Nikon came out with a new digital camera
that made photojournalists actually switch from
film to digital photos
• This camera was much more inexpensive with
great features like the shutter speed and
resolution
• The camera was also very light and portable
making it easier for on the go
• The feature that got photographers talking was
how durable the camera ended up being
Image Source:The Caidoz

13. Impact of the Nikon D1
• All photographers had known was the Kodak
but this “home-grown” camera made entirely
by Nikon made photographers branch out and
try new things
• Photojournalists now actually had something
that was very lightweight and was able to be
taken anywhere without other equipment
• Storage of course was increased and so was
the flash in order to keep up with the Pros that
are using the camera
Image Source:
Shawn Michienzi

14. 2016: Cannon 5D Mark IV
• For a long time photographers
wanted to show something more
than just pictures. They wanted
the ability to capture a short video
or clip that made for people to
view news and media in another
way
• The Cannon 5D made its possible
for the video to finally be shot with
such great quality
• The 5D had built in Wifi and GPS so
it was so much faster to send over
images to the personal computer
without a phone line!
Image Source: Albert Palmer

15. Impact of the 5D
• The 5D made it possible for photographers to
capture something much more meaningful
• It made it easier for people to actually see what is
going on instead of just a bunch of photos being
thrown at them
• The technology related to the resolution made it
easier for people to see the detail in the photos
• While photographers were still upset that 35mm
resolution was not being reached now they did
not have to worry with the Cannon 5D
Image Source: Tomasz Kosiba

16. 2018: The iPhone X
and XS
• Apple has always been known for making technology
better and better each September
• In September Apple released the iPhone XS with amazing
picture quality
• The iPhone now has a dual camera system which makes
it like you have two of the best cameras all in a handheld
system
• The camera includes smart HDR which brings more color
and shadows into the pictures to make it more natural
• The depth of field can also be adjusted right at your
fingertips
• And of course you cannot forget how great the picture
quality is even in the lowest light situation
Image Source: Phone Arena

17. Impact of the iPhone XS
• Apple has created some of the
greatest technology and it
keeps on advancing
• Photojournalist are now able
to go on their missions
without a really expensive
camera with 300 different lens
• This is technology at the
fingertips right then and there
where photos can be shared
within milliseconds
• Not only does this affect
photojournalists but now
people of the public can share
what is going on in their crisp
pictures they post in the media
Image Source: Charlie Sorrel