Kallie, Week 15: Capturing Memories
With cell phones so easily accessible, it's easier than ever to capture a photo of any moment. Because this has always been the case for many of us, we may not recognize what a valuable luxury this is: to be able to snapshot precious memories and preserve them clearly for years to come, and allow us to better share them with others down the line.
Prior to the invention of photography, the only way to preserve realistic images of anything was through painting, which would naturally take hours upon hours to complete. While this was not a particularly big issue when it came to landscape paintings, this had major implications for what was possible for capturing the likeness of people. Because a person would have to remain in the same position for so long, only static poses were possible, and it was recommended that the subject not smile to prevent muscle discomfort or cramping. Additionally, having paintings made of themselves was not something that was accessible to the average person; a person needed to have significant amounts of wealth to hire a painter and then idle for several hours or days while the painting was created.
Perhaps that puts into perspective how far we have come in the past few centuries, but how exactly did our technology progress to modern phone cameras?
To understand how photography was developed, we must first familiarize ourselves with the camera obscura, which enables images to be projected (upside down) onto another surface. The camera obscura existed for centuries prior to the invention of photography; it wasn’t until the early 1800s that an inventor named Joseph Nicéphore Niépce managed to use a portable camera obscura to “expose a pewter plate coated with bitumen to light,” creating the very blurry first known photograph (Masoner). For several decades afterwards, cameras used a series of different types of plates that slowly but steadily allowed for increases in photo quality and camera functionality.
Photography only became widely available, however, after George Eastman created the flexible roll film in 1888, which allowed him to create a small and much cheaper camera that could store 100 film exposures at a time, eliminating the need to constantly replace the expensive plates (Masoner). The next big innovation—the invention of the Polaroid camera in 1948—eliminated the need to develop the film, allowing people to obtain their photographs almost immediately.
Then, in the 1980s came the first digital cameras; at first, they were bulky and inconvenient, and therefore weren’t commercially available until the 1990s. In 2000, cell phone manufacturers began to implement camera functionality into their cell phones. Since then, the quality of cell phone cameras has rapidly advanced, bringing us to the present day.
Now that you know the history of photography, perhaps you have acquired a greater appreciation for what modern photography allows us to do and how far we’ve come from the days when capturing a memory required a person to stand still for hours and look ever so slightly miserable.
Hi Kallie,
ReplyDeleteYour blog has captivating insigt on the recollection of long-term memories and how they can induce significant inflammation and DNA damage in nerve cells. The comparison to Wolff's law, which describes how muscles become stronger through micro-tears and repair, adds depth to our understanding of brain function. This parallel suggests that the brain undergoes a similar process of repair and strengthening during memory consolidation. It challenges the conventional view of memory formation as purely cognitive, revealing its physiological complexities. Considering memory formation through an evolutionary lens, where challenges lead to growth and strength, offers a fresh perspective. Despite the discomfort associated with this idea, it underscores the importance of adversity for personal development. Overall, this article prompts reflection on the intricate mechanisms underlying memory and invites further exploration into the intersection of neuroscience and evolutionary biology. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking piece!
Hi Kallie! I enjoyed reading your informative blog about the history of photography. I took Digital Photography last year, so I was able to supplement that knowledge with your explanation. Your first two paragraphs were extremely effective in conveying the luxury that we have with modern photography. In particular, when I read your second paragraph, I could physically feel the discomfort caused by sitting idle for hours upon hours to have your picture painted, which further convinced me of a modern phone’s value. It is interesting how we have developed photography over the centuries, starting with simple cameras that allowed for basic photos that sometimes took a while to snap a picture. I think this speaks to the immense capability of the human species to innovate and develop to make our lives easier. Comparing a modern phone camera to a camera from the nineteenth century, one can easily notice the large difference in quality. If I did not appreciate modern photography before reading your blog, I am definitely grateful for it now. I can capture a moment by simply taking my phone out of my pocket and clicking a button. After imagining having to go through a difficult process just to set up a camera in the past, I have gained a great appreciation for modern cameras. Modern society depends heavily on this technology since they are the primary form of keeping records, so I agree with the message of your blog because memories are essential for us to function.
ReplyDeleteHey Kallie!
ReplyDeleteYour blog on the history of photography was really interesting. As someone who has always been interested in photography and takes pictures everywhere I go your discussion deeply interested me. Your elaboration on the luxury of modern photography in the first two paragraphs baffled me as I was completely unaware of such technology. Reading about how people had to wait for hours on end to get their portraits painted established a new sense of appreciation for the modern photography technology available. It's amazing to see how photography has evolved over time, from basic cameras to the advanced ones we have today--showcasing how humans are always finding new ways to improve things. Comparing a modern phone camera to one from the nineteenth century, you can really see the difference in quality and how much easier it is to use now. I didn't fully appreciate modern photography before reading your blog, but now I'm really grateful for it. It's so much simpler to capture moments with just a click on my phone compared to the complicated process people had to go through in the past. Overall, your blog was very well written, the only problem I see is that you could have utilized your image selection better by contrasting a picture of someone taking a picture before modern photography with someone taking it today.
Hello Kallie! I can confidently say that I’ve come to appreciate modern photography—for its accessibility and high quality—after reading your blog. It’s amazing to see just how far we’ve come from the days of painting. I cannot even comprehend the idea of a painting equating to a photograph, because today they are completely different things. I also noticed the brief stints of humor you integrated into the text, such as the notion that subjects had to avoid smiling to prevent cramping after long periods of motionlessness. Well, that explains why people are so grumpy in ancient paintings! Photography was once a luxury but now it is a critical piece of our daily lives: I thought you explained the process through which this change was achieved extremely well, because it was so simple and on-to-the-point. From camera obscura to flexible roll film to plates I learned many new terms that I would have otherwise never found if not for this blog. Personally, I have not gone into the depths of photography, other than a brief stint in a middle school yearbook class, but this text has inspired me to learn more. And I definitely plan to do so! This is a fantastic read!
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