The Story of Communication:
Photography—Fascinating Facts
- An image seen reflected through a pinhole will appear upside
down.
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The word “camera” in Latin means “room.”
The camera obscura, which preceded the camera, began as a room,
probably a tent.
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Pre-photography scientists were not sure why silver salts darkened
in sunlight. Air and heat were considered before the reason
was shown to be light.
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What was thought to be the first true photograph had an exposure
time of 8 hours. The sun appears twice.
-
A recently discovered photograph, showing a man leading a horse,
may be the world’s first true photograph. The French
National Library paid nearly a half million dollars for it
in 2002.
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The first popular subject for photographs was rooftops and
chimneys. Why? They got lots of sunshine and they didn’t
move.
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People in early photos look grim because they had to hold their
breath and keep a stiff pose for a long time.
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A frequent subject in the early days of photography was dead
family members, especially dead children. Epidemics took many
young lives.
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The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland could just as well have
been the Mad Photographer. Both used mercury. Its fumes affect
the brain.
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In the 19th century millions of egg whites were used for photographic
paper.The yolks were used to make shiny patent leather shoes.
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By studying photos of how people walk, a Civil War physician
designed artificial legs for maimed soldiers.
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William Henry Jackson’s photographs helped in the political
effort to establish Yellowstone as the first national park.
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Until an engraving method was devised, newspapers relied on
wooden or metal carvings of photographs.
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Instant Polaroids get their color and developing fluid when
the photographer pulls the film through pinch rollers, breaking
fluid bubbles.
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A National Geographic cover was altered by shifting a pyramid
to improve the framing. A TV Guide photo had Oprah Winfrey’s
head on Ann- Margaret’s body.
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The inventor of the copier was turned down by company after
company, partly on the grounds that carbon paper was cheap.
Resources for Photography
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