HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

FOUNDER - Joseph Nicéphore Niépce

 The initial practice of camera obscura involved only a pinhole of light, by the
early 1500s, renowned inventor Leonardo Da Vinci drew diagrams of projectors
for this purpose, incorporating not only the pinhole method but also lenses to
help reflect light.

 Just a century later, astronomer Johannes Kepler applied the same principle of
using lenses to project images of the stars he studied onto paper. He first used
the term “photograph“, Latin for “light” and “to draw.” This method is what Da
Vinci, Kepler, and their contemporaries sought, to draw with light.

 But they still had a problem – their images weren’t particularly stark, nor were
they long-lasting. Enter Johann Henrich Schulze, who, in 1717, discovered that a
silver nitrate solution would darken when exposed to light. The trick was getting it
to stop and permanently affix the image.

 Indeed, in the earliest years of light image experimentation, it seems as though

photography was every bit a science as it was an art. And it would remain such
in the coming years but would be continually developed.

(Since the first invention of photography doesn’t last long, there’s another inventor
who invented the PERMANENT PHOTOGRAPH)

 The world’s first permanent photograph was taken in 1827 and was titled View
from the Window at Le Gras. The first photo in the world was created by an
inventor from France named Joseph Nicéphore Niépce.

 1826: First Permanent Image French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce uses a
camera obscura to burn a permanent image of the countryside at his Le Gras,
France, estate onto a chemical-coated pewter plate. He names his technique
"heliography," meaning "sun drawing." The black-and-white exposure takes eight
hours and fades significantly, but an image is still visible on the plate today.

SAMPLE PORTRAIT

- "Migrant Mother" by: Dorothea Lange (American Photojournalist)

 Portrait shows Florence Thompson with several of her children in a photograph
known as "Migrant Mother". The Library of Congress caption reads: "Destitute
pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo,
California." In the 1930s, the FSA employed several photographers to document
the effects of the Great Depression on the population of America. Many of the
photographs can also be seen as propaganda images to support the U.S.
government's policy distributing support to the worst affected, poorer areas of the
country. Lange's image of a supposed migrant pea picker, Florence Owens
Thompson, and her family has become an icon of resilience in the face of
adversity.

 However, it is not universally accepted that Florence Thompson was a migrant

pea picker. In the book Photographing Farmworkers in California (Stanford
University Press, 2004), author Richard Steven Street asserts that some
scholars believe Lange's description of the print was "either vague or
demonstrably inaccurate" and that Thompson was not a farmworker, but a Dust
Bowl migrant. Nevertheless, if she was a "Dust Bowl migrant", she would have
left a farm as most potential Dust Bowl migrants typically did and then began her
life as such. Thus any potential inaccuracy is virtually irrelevant. The child to the
viewer's right was Thompson's daughter, Katherine (later Katherine McIntosh), 4
years old (Leonard, Tom, "Woman whose plight defined Great Depression warns
tragedy will happen again ", article, The Daily Telegraph, December 4, 2008)
Lange took this photograph with a Graflex camera on large format (4"x5")
negative film.

ELEMENTS OF ARTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

 The elements of art in photography are mainly based on the basic units of
elements present in other forms of art such as drawing and painting depicting a
visual image alongside a story or message behind it. In the art of photography,
the elements included are composition, light, color, texture, perspective, focus,
and exposure which, altogether, creates a harmonious and engaging photo.

 In our example, the photographer captured these elements in a single photo.

The subjects in the photo were arranged within the frame in a way that makes
the audience more engaged with such composition. It places focus on the
mother in the center and the children on her back giving us a perspective that
depicts a heart-touching image.

 The use of black and white colors and the exposure to a quite dull lighting makes
the photo even more emotionally evoking as these choice of colors conveys
sorrow, but at the same time capturing strength and resilience amidst the
challenges of the migrant mother during the times when this photo was taken.

 This proves that the proper use of elements indeed contributes greatly to the
outcome of photography. It not just makes the photo visually appealing, it also
narrates a story that would catch and engage the audience's interests the
moment they lay their eyes on it.

FUNCTION
 This photography belongs to the SOCIAL function, because it focuses on the
mother despite the past and the experiences he has every day for his child as
they can see in the elements what the artist wants to convey to the audience.

 "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange is a powerful example of art serving a

social function. It documents historical realities, raises awareness about social
issues, influences public perception and policy, and symbolically represents the
experiences of a community during a challenging period in history.

CLASSIFICATION

NON-VERBAL

 The work is a photograph, which is a visual art form. Photography captures and
conveys moments, emotions, and stories through images rather than words.

 Viewers interpret the meaning, context, and emotions of the photograph through
its visual elements without needing verbal explanations. The impact of the
photograph comes from its ability to tell a story and evoke empathy visually.

RELEVANCE OF ART IN PHOTOGRAPY

The relevance of art in photography is an important tool for presenting memories and
telling stories. Image let individuals relate to one another and also shed light on the
past. Taking up photography is great becomes it forces you to document your
experience and beyond its role in documenting history, photography has emerged as
a powerful form of artistic expression.

Photographers employ composition, lighting, and perspective to convey emotions,

provoke thoughts, and ignite discussions. Through their carefully crafted images,
they tell stories that transcend language barriers, making photography a universal
language of human experiences. Photography can serve many purposes and have
many facets. Photography can tell a story, it can capture a moment in time, it can
document, and it can be art.

There are many technical uses for photography as well as social and creative ones.
Photography can be an art form, but not all photographs are created to be artworks
or as forms of artistic expression. It took time for photography to be truly recognized
as a valid art form.

However, in the present day, many art museums and art galleries now exhibit
photographic artworks. Visually describe the different elements you see. Perform a
technical analysis of each element you see. Contextualize the photograph or series
in a narrative way with all the elements of which you are aware. Interpret the
photograph or series based on how you feel.

Photography is a powerful tool for presenting memories and stories, allowing

individuals to relate and shed light on the past. It serves as a powerful form of artistic
expression, using composition, lighting, and perspective to convey emotions and
spark discussions. Photography transcends language barriers and can serve various
purposes, including telling stories, capturing moments, documenting, and being an
art form. Although not all photographs are created for artistic expression, many art
museums and galleries now exhibit photographic artworks.