Modern technologies allow to receive the motionless image for fractions of a second. For this purpose it is enough to press the button of the digital camera or the mobile phone. But two centuries ago ways of fixing of images only arose. The photo began with a daguerreotype.
From the history of the photo
The history of photographic business consigns the roots to rather near past. The first rare pictures appear in the 19th century. But only from the beginning of the XX century the photo takes that place in culture which she by right deserves.
From this point the photographic equipment developed quickly enough. Over time glass plates were replaced by a flexible film; from black-and-white pictures the mankind passed to color. At the end of the last century the film equipment was succeeded by modern digital technologies. Now the photographer does not depend any more on whether he guessed to take with himself in a trip excess films. On a disk of its electronic camera the huge number of frames can go in.
And the photo began with a daguerreotype. It was the first effective way allowing to transfer reality to a photo. The term "daguerreotype" belongs to technological process with silver iodide use where the image is imprinted by means of the special device. The name of technology came from a name of her inventor, Louis Dager.
Daguerreotype had one feature – process took away too much time if to compare it to production of modern photos. This art pleasure was considered not as cheap. To dare get a daguerreotype only very wealthy people could.L.N. Tolstoy. Shenfeldt's daguerreotype. 1849.
Emergence of daguerreotype
Several independent inventors are involved in emergence of daguerreotype and the subsequent photographic equipment. In the 17th century it became clear that there is a number of substances which have hypersensibility to light. Such substances could change the coloring under the influence of beams and by that to keep the image.
Thomas Vedzhvud and Humphrey Davy became the first researchers who managed to receive the decent image of objects of reality. However, it was possible to make it only for insignificant time. In 1802 the first photogram was received. For its production the difficult chemical method was used. Alas, the picture at the first stages of researches vanished almost right after emergence. It was not possible to fix the image for a long time. But the experiments made by pioneers created prerequisites for the subsequent opening in the field of daguerreotype and the photo.
In two decades there came the next stage. In 1822 Joseph Nissefor Nieps invented heliography. This invention became the following step to the photo. But the images received in the similar way had shortcomings ineradicable at that time. On a photo fine details were not displayed. The image turned out excessively contrast. The heliography not too was suitable for direct photography, but further this method found application in typographical business and also at production of copies of the photo received in other ways.
In heliography the camera obscura found application. It was the usual box where light could not get. In a box the small opening was made: it served for transfer of the image on a back internal wall of a box. Those years several hours of exhibiting that on the plate covered with bitumen the image appeared were required.
By way of heliography in 1826 one of the first photos in which the view from the window is imprinted was received. To receive this image, it was required to conduct shooting for eight hours.
In 1829 Nyeps and Dager got to collaboration over development of technology of heliography. By then Louis Dager was already the famous inventor. He executed a number of successful experiments on fixing of the image. However, the union of two inventors was not strong. Researchers consider that the greatest the contribution to photography brought Nyeps, but not Dager. However by 1829 Nyeps's health reeled. The clever assistant, full of strength and believing in success of the enterprise was required for it. Dager was well familiar with technological processes of obtaining images. He put a lot of effort to lift such technologies to qualitatively new level.
As a result of Nyeps transferred to Dager photo secrets known to him, including exact proportions of substances in the mixes used in heliography. Partners actively worked on improvement of a way, but in 1933 Nyeps died. Dager continues to conduct experiments: he actively tries different types of substances, mixing from in certain proportions; enters solvents into processes; tries to use in technology of compound of mercury.
In 1831 Dager found out that iodide silver has high sensitivity. It turned out also that it is possible to show the made image by means of vapors of the warmed-up mercury. Dager goes further: he finds out that to wash away particles of iodide silver which light did not mention it is possible ordinary water with salt. In such a way it was possible to fix the image on a basis.
The main opening of Louis Dager on the way to daguerreotype creation:
- photosensitivity of iodide silver;
- development of the image mercury vapors;
- fixing of the image by means of salt and water.
Technology of creation of a daguerreotype
In comparison to modern technologies of photography the daguerreotype took away a lot of time, demanded a number of difficult devices and some substances.
For a start it was required to take couple of plates: thin – from silver, is thicker – from copper. Plates were soldered to each other. That party of a dual plate where there was a silver, carefully polished then impregnated with iodide vapors. At the same time the plate gained photosensitivity.
Now it was possible to start directly photography process. The lens of the massive camera was required to be held opened not less than half an hour. If the photo of the person or group of people became, it was it is necessary time to sit in full immovability is long. Otherwise the final image was greased.
Development of photographic materials also demanded patience and skill. Once the photographer made the slightest mistake – and the image was spoiled. It was impossible to restore it.
How did development process go? The photographic plate was stacked in a container at an angle by 45 degrees. Under a plate there was a mercury. After mercury heating it emitted vapors. The image slowly began to be shown.
Now the picture was required to be dipped into cold water – after such procedure it hardened. Then special solution from a surface washed away silver particles. The received image at the same time was fixed. Since 1839 John Gershel suggested to use as the sodium hyposulphate fixing substances. In the same 1839 Chevalier developed a device design for creation of a daguerreotype. In it the technology allowing to improve photo clearness was used. The silver plate on which the picture was exhibited in this device was located in the special light-protective cartridge.
On the mercury which is carefully washed from the remains, salt and silver the plate turned out the required image. However it was possible to consider such primitive "photo" only at a certain lighting: the plate reflected beams in bright light, there is impossible nothing to sort on it.
Stages of creation of a daguerreotype:
- polishing of a plate;
- sensitization (increase in sensitivity) of a photographic material;
- exhibiting;
- manifestation of the image;
- fixing of the image.
Further development of daguerreotype
Nyeps's business was continued subsequently by his son Isidor. Together with skilled Dager he at one time expected to sell the found idea. However the price established by them was unreasonably high. The public did not imagine by then at all what is a daguerreotype. Also did not see for herself benefit from such technology.
The physicist Francois Arago took part in distribution of daguerreotype. He suggested Dager an idea: and why not to sell an invention to the government of France? The inventor with enthusiasm grasped this idea. After that daguerreotype began to extend quickly and successfully on the world.
Daguerreotypes of the person demanded a long time. And the quality of the images received at the same time absolutely cannot be compared to accurate and qualitative pictures which modern digital equipment allows to receive. One more feature of a daguerreotype is that such image cannot be copied. But it for those times was the only way giving the chance "to stop a moment" and to imprint important events.