The forerunner of the camera: The Camera Obscura Translates to “dark room” A dark chamber or room with a hole (later a lens) in one wall, through which.

The forerunner of the camera:The Camera Obscura

• Translates to “dark room”• A dark chamber or room with a hole

(later a lens) in one wall, through which images of objects outside the room were projected on the opposite wall.

The camera obscura was initially used as a drawing aid:

Camera Obscura Diagram:

Camera Obscura concept used in a room in a house:

The dilemna…

Although the camera obscura was a great tool for projecting an image, the problem was that there was not a solution for making the image permanent.

Who’s Who?

Photography contributors and their advancements in the field

of photography…

Joseph Niepce

• Joseph Niepce was credited for producing the world’s first photograph in 1826

• An 8-hour exposure was needed to create the photograph

• Although far from perfect, this represented a milestone in the advancement of art

The World’s First PhotographJoseph Niepce - 1826

Louis Daguerre

1837

• 1837- Recorded an image that was clear and sharp

• Exposure lasted 10 – 20 minutes

• Used methods others could easily duplicate

• Named his process: Daguerreotype

One drawback: the image is a POSITIVE- and only one print can be made

Mathew Brady• Worked with a “negative” image with a reverse of

white and black values• This allowed for unlimited multiples to be printed!• Famous for his portrait of Abraham Lincoln

Julia Margaret Cameron• Use of strong contrast of dark and light• Emphasis on the head and face• A soft – faintly blurred – focus• Fondness for a profile view – as we see in the

portraits below:

George Eastman• Founded the Kodak company, which was once widely

recognized for quality photographic supplies • In 1888 introduced roll film, which revolutionized the

photo process. This meant that instead of plates and sheets, film could be bought in rolls and made more accessible to the general public

Working with film- The Darkroom

• A “dark” space generally set up with yellow or red lights.

• Enlargers are used to hold film, and project an image onto light sensitive paper.

• When light filters through the “negative” of the film and hits light sensitive paper, a “positive” print is created.

• Paper passes through a set of chemicals- and “voila!”, a print is made!

Dorothea Lange• Worked for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) to

record conditions across the nation• Devoted her attention to migrants who had been

uprooted from their farms during the Depression• Created a photograph that touched the hearts of the

world:

Migrant Mother (1936)

Henry Robinson• Experimented with artistic capabilities of photography• Used photographs with his audience in mind• Created a scene by creating a composite of five

separate negatives• Wanted to tell a story through the use of actors

Alfred Stieglitz• Applied an approach of “pure” or “straight” photography• Considered it a point of honor not to crop or manipulate a photo• Emphasis on formal values and faithfulness to the essence of

the medium

Ansel Adams• Known for his photos of nature• Stressed the need to consider the finished

composition in advance• Practiced photography as an art

Advancements with cameras:

“Instant Photography” with the Polaroid Camera that produced prints

from the camera in 60 seconds

The age of the small camera- Precision German Cameras

The electronic flash- the beginning of an era of ultra

high-speed exposures

Color Film

The Digital Revolution…

• Introduction of CCD sensors to record an image- replacing film and changing the process of photography.

• Based on the revelation of taking a picture and seeing it immediately on the camera.

• Began to work with image editing programs- most significantly- Photoshop.

• Further challenged the idea of image editing vs. the photographers ability to capture the image without the need for manipulation.

And now- something kinda funky- Darkroom Process Combined

with Digital Process:

• Photographers with the “Indiegogo project” are coming up with creative methods of producing images using a smartphone that are developed with traditional darkroom techniques.

• Check out this cool video:

• http://vimeo.com/73611579

Photo Activity!• We will be making PHOTOGRAMS in

the darkroom!

• Follow the sheet- and work with your table to come up with a creative composition with various materials!

PHOTOGRAM set-up:

• Half the class will do this today, half tomorrow. If you are not in the darkroom: either work on your journal, or review the PowerPoint and chapter on photography- as we will have a 10 point quiz tomorrow!

• Pair up and set up a random mix of objects on a 5 x 7 sheet of paper.

• Consider a variety of shapes, materials (some transparent, some not), and size.

• Follow the steps in the packet.• After you make a “negative” print, I will show

you the process of making a “positive” print.