Who first invented photography?

The origins of photography can be traced back to the 4th century BC, with the concept of Camera Obscura. However, it was not until the 19th century that modern photography came to fruition. It was Joseph Nicéphore Niépce who successfully captured the first photographic image – a view from the window of his house. The process involved projecting the image on a pewter plate coated with bitumen of Judea and washing it down with a mixture of oil of lavender and white petroleum

the original View from the Window at Le Gras by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, Gernsheim enhanced version

Anything missing?

Can’t find an answer to your question? Or do you have some useful advice to add to one of our courses? We want to build the world’s largest analogue learning space, so please send any further requests or information to school@lomography.com and we’ll take a look!

More Courses

  • When were wetplates invented?

    The wet plate photography process was invented during the 1850s by Gustave Le Gray who theorized about the development process, and Frederick Scott Archer who was hands-on in devising the actual steps of how to create an image on a wet plate.

  • How was the first sequential photograph taken?

    The Horse In Motion by Eadweard Muybridge is the first known sequential photograph. It was captured in 1878 and used by then Californian governor Leland Stanford to investigate whether a horse’s gallop resulted in all four hooves being in the air at the same time.

  • When was instant photography invented?

    The first instant camera was created by Samuel Shlafrock in 1923. However, because it was not commercially successful, Edwin Herbert Land is often credited with being the inventor of instant photography with his camera, the Polaroid Model 95.

  • Who created the first optic lens?

    Ancient civilizations polished crystals, mostly quartz, to replicate the optical abilities that can be found when looking at water. The most famous of these experiments was the Nimrud lens which was made by the Assyrians between 750–710 BC.

  • When did photography become popular with ordinary people?

    In the 19th century, photography emerged in various styles such as war photography, portraiture, and architectural photography. However, it was only in the early 20th century that photography became more accessible to the general public with formats such as 35 mm (also called 135 film) 105, 110, 120, 126, and 127.

  • When did cameras start using film?

    Photographic film was revolutionized by George Eastman, who eliminated the need for wet plates by introducing the concept of paper film in 1885.

  • When was color photography invented?

    When was color photography invented?

    Color photography was the subject of numerous experiments in the 19th century, and it was officially confirmed that the first colored photograph was produced by James Clerk Maxwell in 1861.