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The History of Photography's Invention

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  1. Niépce's first photograph and its long exposure time

    France's Nicéphore Niépce left behind "View from the Window at Le Gras," a photograph of the view outside his home's window taken around 1826-27, which is considered the oldest surviving photograph. Because the sensitivity of the photosensitive materials of the time was low, researchers still disagree on the exact exposure time, but it is estimated to have ranged from at least several hours to possibly several days.

  2. Daguerre commercializes the daguerreotype (1839)

    Louis Daguerre, Niépce's business partner, developed the "daguerreotype" technique, which greatly reduced exposure time to the range of tens of minutes, and photography became commercialized in earnest when the French government publicly released this technology in 1839.

  3. The emergence and popularization of film photography

    In 1888, Eastman Kodak unveiled the "Kodak camera," which combined roll film with a portable camera, allowing ordinary people, not just professionals, to easily take photographs; it became famous for the advertising slogan, "You press the button, we do the rest."

  4. The transition to digital cameras and the end of the film era

    In 1975, Kodak engineer Steven Sasson developed the first digital camera prototype, but Kodak itself was slow to embrace the digital transition, prioritizing protection of its film business; as digital cameras rapidly spread afterward, the film industry contracted sharply from the 2000s onward.

  5. The popularization of roll film and the Kodak Brownie camera

    The Kodak Brownie camera, released in 1900, is considered a product that spread photography as a popular hobby thanks to its low price, and it played a major role in establishing a culture of easy snapshot photography over the following decades.

  6. The emergence of the instant camera (Polaroid)

    The Polaroid instant camera, developed by Edwin Land in 1948, allowed people to hold a developed photograph in their hands within minutes of taking it, without going through a photo lab, bringing about a major change in the way people took and viewed photographs.

From hours of exposure to capturing a moment

There was a time when capturing a single photograph required nearly a full day. This page explores the path photography technology traveled as exposure times shortened, film brought it to the masses, and it eventually transitioned to digital.

Also check out the history of the airplane's invention

As photography technology developed, moments could be preserved as records, which is why the Wright brothers' historic first flight in 1903 was able to survive as a photograph. Take a look at our guide to the history of the airplane's invention as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the world's first photograph look like?

It was "View from the Window at Le Gras," taken by Nicéphore Niépce around 1826-27, showing a faint image of the buildings and yard visible outside his home's window. Because the exposure took a very long time, the image quality is not sharp.

Why were film cameras quickly overtaken by digital cameras?

Digital cameras had a major advantage in convenience, letting people check and edit photos instantly without the cost of buying and developing film. Even Kodak, which had developed film, is considered to have fallen behind in the digital transition because it prioritized protecting its own film business.