From Black and White to Living Color
The third and final part of our 'History of Photography' series
Photography has been a part of human history for nearly two centuries. It has played an essential role in capturing snapshots of moments in time, recording history, and communicating stories.
In our 'History of Photography’ series, we've already explored the remarkable contributions of Nicéphore Niépce and Louis Daguerre with their innovative techniques - heliography and daguerreotype. Today, in this final post of the series, we'll be talking about Frederick Scott Archer and the collodion process, and George Eastman's breakthroughs with the Kodachrome in the late nineteenth century. We'll also explore how photography became increasingly popular, and how the introduction of color photography changed the game forever.
As we come to the end of this series, it's important to recognize that the history of photography is a vast and complex subject that cannot be fully covered in just a few posts. However, by examining the work of some of the most important figures in the field, we've gained a greater appreciation for the medium's rich history and enduring significance.
Whether you're a professional photographer or simply a fan of the art form, there's no denying that photography has had an immense impact on human culture and will continue to do so for generations to come.
From Paintings to Photographs
The invention of photography was a major milestone.
Prior to its creation, capturing a moment in time was a laborious and expensive process. Paintings, sketches, and engravings were often used to preserve a record of people and events, but these methods were time-consuming and often lacked accuracy. The ability to produce a photographic image, however, revolutionized the way we view history, allowing us to capture moments in time that would have otherwise been lost forever. Nicéphore Niépce, for instance, is credited with creating the heliography process, a technique he used to create the world's oldest surviving product of a photographic process; and Louis Daguerre's daguerreotype process produced incredibly detailed and lifelike images that were unmatched by any other medium at the time.
The 19th century was a time of great transformation, marked by numerous technological advancements that reshaped society. Along with the growth of transportation, communication, and industrialization, the development of railroads, steamships, telegraph lines, factories, and mass production made a profound impact. The abundance of goods and increased mobility brought about by these advancements meant that people were living in a rapidly changing world.
Amidst these changes, photography emerged as an essential tool for capturing and preserving moments in time. By providing a visual record of the past, it allowed people to better understand how the world was being transformed around them and to document the impact of these changes on different societies and cultures. It also allowed people to see and appreciate the world in new ways, and to communicate their experiences with others.
In a sense, photography was both a reflection of the societal changes that were taking place and a driving force behind them.
Today, it continues to be a powerful tool for documenting history and sharing stories, reminding us of the importance of understanding our past in order to navigate our future.
The Legacy of Frederick Scott Archer
Born in London in 1813, Frederick Scott Archer was a successful sculptor who turned his attention to photography, driven by a desire to create a more practical and effective photographic process than the daguerreotype. He drew inspiration from the work of William Henry Fox Talbot, another pioneering photographer of the time who invented the calotype paper negative process in 1841.
Archer's experimentations led him to develop the wet collodion process, which involved coating a glass plate with a solution of collodion - a newly discovered substance that was originally used as a medical dressing - to create a light-sensitive surface. The plates were then exposed to light and developed using a combination of different chemicals, resulting in images that were incredibly detailed and clear. Most important, perhaps, was the fact that these images were produced by exposures of only a few seconds.
The wet collodion process dominated photography for the next 30 years (though it was not without its challenges, since it required a great deal of skill and practice to master), making it possible for people to capture more detailed and accurate images than ever before.
Sadly, Archer's life was marked by financial struggle, and he died in poverty in 1857, just a few years after the collodion process had gained widespread popularity.
New Frontiers
As photography technology continued to advance, new applications for the medium emerged. Large-format cameras became popular among photographers, enabling them to capture panoramic images of landscapes and cityscapes. These immersive images offered viewers a sense of being fully immersed in the scene, providing a new way of understanding the world.
William Henry Jackson was a notable pioneer of this type of photography, documenting the American West for the United States Geological Survey in the late 19th century. His breathtaking images of rugged landscapes and natural wonders continue to inspire awe and wonder.
At the same time, the souvenir industry emerged, selling photographs as mementos of famous landmarks, events, and people.
Despite the many advancements, however, the medium was still limited by its reliance on cumbersome equipment and complex processes.
This would soon begin to change.
A Colorful Revolution
One of the most remarkable early color photographers was Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, a Russian chemist and photographer who lived from 1863 to 1944. His stunning work provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into life in Russia in the early 20th century.
Prokudin-Gorsky's photographic process involved using a special camera that captured three separate black-and-white images of the same subject, each through a different colored filter (red, green, and blue). These three images were then projected onto a screen using colored light, recombining them to produce a full-color image. Talk about technology ahead of its time!
Using this method, Prokudin-Gorsky captured a wide range of subjects, from portraits of local people to sweeping landscapes and architectural marvels. His images were renowned for their vivid colors and exceptional clarity, making them truly one-of-a-kind pieces of art. It's amazing to see how a simple change in perspective can reveal a world and beauty that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Of course, working with color photographs wasn't easy. The development of practical methods for producing such images proved to be a significant challenge, and it wasn't until the invention of the Autochrome process by the Lumière brothers in France in 1903 that a successful solution was found.
The process involved using a mosaic of microscopic grains of potato starch, dyed in red, green, and blue, to produce a color image. These grains were coated onto a glass plate, which was then covered with a layer of black-and-white emulsion. When the plate was exposed to light, the grains acted as tiny color filters, allowing only certain wavelengths of light to reach the emulsion.
The Autochrome process produced beautiful and unique color images. It was widely used for several decades, until it was eventually superseded by more efficient and practical color film technologies, such as Kodachrome, invented by George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Company, in 1935.
A Camera for the Masses
Born in New York, George Eastman began his career in the early 1880s as a bookkeeper at the Rochester Savings Bank. After several years in banking, he started experimenting with photography and soon developed a passion for the craft. In 1888, he founded the Eastman Dry Plate Company, which manufactured and sold photographic plates. In the same year, he introduced the first simple and affordable camera, the Kodak - a breakthrough in the world of photography, making photography accessible to the masses.
The Kodak used roll film, which made it much more convenient than earlier cameras that used plates. It was small and lightweight enough to be carried anywhere.
Eastman continued to innovate and improve his camera technology, and in 1900 he introduced the Brownie, an even simpler and more affordable camera.
In the 1930s, his team developed 'Kodachrome’, the first successful color film to be mass-produced. The Kodachrome process involved using a three-layered film, each layer sensitive to one of the primary colors of light. The film was then developed using specialized chemicals that produced a color image with exceptional accuracy and stability. Kodachrome was a game-changer, and quickly became the standard for color photography. It was widely used for a variety of purposes, from family snapshots to professional photography and advertising.
Over time, newer and more efficient color film technologies were developed, and Kodachrome eventually fell out of favor. Eastman Kodak Company ceased production of Kodachrome in 2009, marking the end of an era in the history of photography.
Despite his many accomplishments, Eastman suffered from depression in his later years and took his own life in 1932, at the age of 77.
The real reason why your grandparents looked so serious in old photos? They were just waiting for us to colorize them.
As color photography became more accessible and advanced, it sparked a desire to see black and white photographs in color. One technique that allows us to do that is digital colorization, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.
In fact, I think I should give it a try one day (ha-ha-ha).
Photo colorization is like a time machine, but instead of going back in time, you're bringing the past to the present in all its colorful glory. And who doesn't want to see their great-grandparents' wedding photo in full color, complete with the gaudy dress and questionable hairstyle choices?
By the way, here's a shameless plug. You can commission me to colorize your photos! Click on the button below to see more info.
Final Thoughts
Throughout its history, photography has been a powerful tool for documenting our world.
In science, it has enabled researchers to capture detailed images of microscopic organisms and structures, facilitating groundbreaking discoveries and advancing our understanding of the natural world. In the late 1800s, French biologist and photographer Roman Vishniac used photomicroscopy to capture stunning images of living organisms and helped to advance the study of microbiology.
The photographs of Lewis Hine documented the lives of American workers and helped to bring about social and political change in the early 20th century. Similarly, the photographs taken by Matthew Brady and his team during the American Civil War provided a visual record of the conflict that is still studied and analyzed by historians today.
Photography has also been essential in fields such as journalism, advertising, and art. Photographers such as Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, and Annie Leibovitz have captured iconic images of celebrities, fashion, and culture, shaping our collective consciousness.
As we look back, let us also remember the women who played a vital role in shaping this field. Let us honor their contributions and work to ensure that their legacy is not forgotten. Women like Julia Margaret Cameron, Mary Steen, Gertrude Käsebier, Dorothea Lange and Berenice Abbott were also pioneers in the field, breaking new ground and challenging conventions.
“While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.” - Dorothea Lange
From advancing scientific knowledge to documenting historical events and shaping cultural discourse, photography has the power to shock, inform and inspire.
We can take inspiration from the people who came before and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, using this incredible technology to capture, share, and celebrate the beauty of the world around us.
Wow. That was a great article. So interesting, and the Prokudin-Gorsky photos in particular blew me away! I spent so long zoomed into each one. Thanks Marina!
Nice work....from a fellow photographer.