The Daguerreotype - Photographic Processes Series - Chapter 2 of 12

Summary

This script explores the revolutionary impact of photography on society, starting with Niepce's discovery of light-sensitive asphalt in the early 1800s. It details the evolution to Daguerre's fully realized daguerreotype process, which involved a copper plate coated with silver, iodine fuming, and mercury vapor to develop images. The script highlights the daguerreotype's unique properties, such as its permanence and intimate viewing experience, and notes the significance of the George Eastman House's extensive collection, reflecting photography's profound effect on how people perceive and remember their past.

Takeaways

• 📸 The invention of photography was a groundbreaking revelation, allowing people to see images that looked just like reality.
• 🔬 In 1814-1815, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce discovered that asphalt was light-sensitive, leading to the creation of the earliest known photograph.
• 🎨 Niépce's process involved using a light-sensitive solution on glass and exposing it to create an image.
• 🏛️ The first permanent photograph was a view from a window, made on a piece of pewter by Niépce in the 1820s.
• 🤝 Niépce partnered with Louis Daguerre, who continued the experiments after Niépce's death, leading to the development of the daguerreotype process.
• 🛠️ The daguerreotype process involved a copper plate coated with silver, polished, and fumed with iodine to create a light-sensitive surface.
• 🌆 The daguerreotype plate was exposed in a camera obscura, and the image was developed using mercury fumes, then fixed to prevent further changes.
• 🏛️ Daguerreotype cameras, like the Giroux model, were the first commercially manufactured cameras designed for this specific photographic process.
• 🌐 The daguerreotype process was given to the French government, which made it freely available worldwide except in England, where a fee was required.
• 🌟 The daguerreotype is both a negative and positive image, offering infinite detail and a permanent record of the subject's energy and time.
• 🏛️ George Eastman House holds one of the world's largest collections of daguerreotypes, including a significant number of French examples.

Q & A

What was the significance of the first photographs to people?

The first photographs were a revelation, as they were mirrors with a memory that could record images that looked just like what people saw. This changed people's ideas of time, allowing them to see what their grandparents looked like even if they had died before they were born.

Who discovered that asphalt was sensitive to light?

A man named Joseph Nicéphore Niépce discovered in 1814-1815 that asphalt was sensitive to light.

How did Niépce's early photographic process work?

Niépce painted a light-sensitive asphalt solution on a piece of glass, placed an engraving on top of it, and exposed it to light. The asphalt hardened where the light shone through, and when the glass was put into a solvent, it removed the unhardened areas.

What is the earliest known photograph and what is it a view of?

The earliest known photograph is a view from a window, made by Niépce on a piece of pewter in the 1820s.

Who was Louis Daguerre's partner, and what was his contribution to the development of photography?

Louis Daguerre's partner was Louis de Gorre. He was well-known in Paris and understood how a camera obscura worked. He continued the experiments on his own after Niépce's death.

What was the daguerreotype process, and how did it work?

The daguerreotype process involved a piece of copper coated with silver, which was polished and fumed with iodine to create a silver iodide coating. The plate was then exposed in a camera obscura, and the image was developed using mercury fumes. The image was fixed using a solution to prevent further changes.

Why did Daguerre give the daguerreotype process to the government?

Daguerre gave the process to the government so that it could be made available to anyone in the world, except England, without the need for a fee.

What is the significance of the Giroux daguerreotype camera in the history of photography?

The Giroux daguerreotype camera was the world's first commercially manufactured camera system, including the camera and the necessary processing equipment for sensitizing and processing the images.

Why did the daguerreotype become particularly popular in America?

The daguerreotype became popular in America because it allowed people who were moving further west to have something to remember their loved ones by, as it provided a permanent and detailed record of their appearance.

What is unique about the daguerreotype as a photographic medium?

The daguerreotype is unique because it is both a negative and a positive image at the same time, offering infinite detail and a permanent record of the subject. It is also reflective, making the viewing experience intimate and sometimes including the viewer's reflection.

Where is the largest collection of daguerreotypes located, and what is significant about it?

The largest collection of daguerreotypes, including the largest collection of French daguerreotypes outside of France, is located at the George Eastman House. It contains over 3,500 daguerreotypes, showcasing the early history and diversity of photography.