Thursday, 23 February 2012

The Genius of Photography: Part 1

What is photography’s “true genius”?
A, The "true genius" of photography is that over 170 years it has gave us many emotions, such as delight, outrage and dissapointment. Yet most importantly, it has intrigued us by showing us what lies beneath the world of appearances.

Name a proto-photographer.
Henry Fox Talbot, known as the main inventor of photography, started photographic experiments in 1834. He first started using paper coated in silver chloride that was sensitive to light. This technique then became down as 'The Calotype' process.


In the 19th century, what term was associated with the daguerreotype?
The term "a mirror with a memory" was used to describe the daguerreotype created by Louis Daguerre. He used a mirror metal plate to create one-off images.


What is the vernacular?
'The Vernacular' is a term used to describe the creation of amateur photography. Mainly unknown photographers would take snapshots of everyday life, capturing common objects, vacations and family and friends.


How do you “Fix the Shadows”? 
the problem of 'fixing the shadows' was solved by two rival methods in 1839, paving the way for the practical application of what had previously been an abstract idea. 


What is the “carte de visite”?
The 'carte de visite' was a type of small photograph created in Paris by Andre Adolphe Eugene Disderi. He famously used a set of eight separate negatives on one plate. Each photograph was the size of a postcard, and they became very popular to send to family and friends.


Who was Nadar and why was he so successful?
Gaspard-Felix Tournachon, more famously known as 'Nadar' became successful for photographing stars from a different perspective. He captured them as 'equals' and shown their true personality and characteristics. 


What is pictorialism?
Pictorialism was a term used to describe a movement of photography that had 'dark', 'moody' and 'thoughtful' characteristics. The movement had a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. 

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