Sometimes
it is often taken for granted the accessibility it is to take and receive
pictures in an instant, however, for many generations that has not always been the
case. The invention of the camera has evolved immensely and pretty fast over
the years. The history first included creating the invention to continuing to perfect
the invention in the 21st century. Different inventors, processes, and
technology along the way have allowed the camera to develop into what it is today
and also helped create new inventions along the way such as motion film. The
camera has evolved since it was first created, to how it is used in modern days,
and also including how it could be used for students in a classroom.
The
history of the camera goes back a long time starting before the 1800’s where
some might even argue as the human eye being the first camera. However in the
1800’s that is when the evolution of the camera had taken a turn to creating
one of the first still images. Before the invention of the camera only artists
were using the cameras that were accessible to very few. The main reason was because
the cameras before images were just an image on a wall or on an object, so artists
would trace the images or use it as a reference. None the less, the quality was
very low that the only way to view the image was to hand draw and in some cases,
color, what the image was trying to portray (Thinkquest). One prosperous moment
that contributed to the invention of the camera was when a one of the most
famous inventors was able to capture one of the first pictures, which was Joseph
Niepce. According to Kartwatka (2007), “[Joseph Niepce] produced the world's first photograph in 1826.” This meant that he was
able to take a picture and not have the pictured be erased even after seconds of
capturing the image, which before was very common. Also, it meant that he was able
to take the first picture without having to trace what was being shot, since it
was the first still image taken. Throughout the years there were many inventors
trying to make images clearer in which many were able to do by changing the
process of how they developed the pictures.
Photography was
not a hobby that was available to everyone and in many cases only the wealthy
and men could afford the new invention. None the less, by the late 1800’s
George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, changed the way of how cameras were going
to be flowing through the hands of many. According to Marc Olivier (2007), “George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company,
transformed the practice of photography- first in 1888 by replacing the
complexities of wet-plate processing with a twenty-five-dollar handheld camera.”
Instead of having the wet plates, part of Eastman’s invention was creating a new
method to developing pictures, which would lead to different types of film images.
The main objective and goal that he was able to contribute was to be able to
capture many images on film and have them developed later. Another thing that Eastman
was able to contribute to the camera evolution was that, “…in 1900, by
democratizing the snapshot with the simple and affordable one-dollar
"Brownie" camera. By 1905, an estimated ten million Americans had
become amateur photographers, most of whom were previously excluded from
photographic expression because of gender, age, or economic status” (Olivier, 2007).
The invention of the brownie camera allowed the world to take part in capturing
pictures in a way that it wasn’t done before. Also, it included to partake on how
history would be documented.
Most pictures were done
in black and white; however, color images also played a huge role in the
evolution process. Even though the first colored image was taken in 1861 by
James Clerk Maxwell, (National Geographics, 2013), the color images didn’t
really take place until later. One of the main examples of when color images
started to become popular was after the invention of the Polaroid camera,
because of how accessible it was. For example, according to Philip Greenspun, “1963:
First color instant film developed my Polaroid.” Throughout the years the focus
started to become on how images could be developed with better quality by
changing ideas of how develop to film. Also, being able to develop film allowed
the invention of movies to take place, which was also a form of photography in
the sense of it allowed to take multiple still images and combine it to make it
into motion picture film.
A turning point in
the process of camera took place in the 1940’s, which was the invention of the
Polaroid camera. The invention of the Polaroid camera was a significant contribution,
because it was able to change how pictures were developed. According to Barry
Schwabsky (2010), “The camera was announced in 1947 and hit the market in 1948.”
Instead of people waiting to receive their pictures days later, the Polaroid
camera made it possible to receive the images in an instant, mainly because of the
chemical process the picture was able to go through. Many people in the 1980’s
owned a Polaroid, however “…digital photography killed the Polaroid, as it is killing
much chemically based photography” (Schwabsky, 2010). The invention of the
digital camera started to change everything on how the camera would be used.
The digital camera
has lead to the cameras that are used today. None the less, just like anything,
it took time to develop and to perfect such an idea. According to Greenspun
(2007), “1975: Steve Sasson at Kodak builds the
first working CCD-based digital still camera.” Even though it was
nothing to where it currently is today, the invention was a start to a whole new
world. With building the digital camera it opened a new door to what the
photography world would be able to do with images. Also, with the growth and expansion
of computers it opened a new door of how pictures would forever change, such as
the process of developing pictures or by being able to construct pictures by
using software’s, such as Photoshop.
In our current
days it is very common to have digital cameras accessible at one’s finger tips not
only because people have made it a priority to invest in one, but because it is
embedded into the technology that is used in everyday, such as phones. Technology
has evolved to allowing great quality pictures to come from even a small devices.
The camera’s that are put on electronic devices also including, iPads, have
created new opportunities and ways of how people use photography to this day. According
to Bo Gai (2009), “Camera phones can help record their lives at any time and place,
partaking in a new digital form of autobiography.” The opportunity that camera
phones have allowed modern photography to do is to capture the things that come
along the way in a person’s daily life. It is no longer needed to wait for results,
when it can be stored easily.
Having students
use digital cameras in the classroom or in general can be a great benefit to
their learning experience. The main reason is that it allows the opportunity for
students to capture the world around them through there eyes. According to Gwen
Dewer (2010), “…digital camera’s for kids offer a lot of play and exploration.”
It is easy for students to want to express what they see and cameras allow for
students to do so. Digital cameras have opened opportunities for students to
express their creativity in learning, which has not always been the case. Having
a child to create their own stories with images or capturing what are learning is
a beneficial way to have students engage fully their learning. The digital
camera has allowed the experience to be affordable and practical to use, because
there is no need to worry about paying for film that may be liked or unlike, since
digital images can be easily erased.
The
evolution of the camera has taken place for years with many parts of it
developing faster than one could have ever imagined. The first inventor
probably would have never imagined how far the camera could have gone. They may
have never thought that images could be printed out faster and better quality
or even be captured and stored without ever having to print out the images. The
invention of the camera has opened the doors for many to partake in, which
includes the educational world. It is hard to imagine what else could be
continued to be perfected or invented, but one should wonder and even challenge
themselves to create something new just as the previous inventors once had
dreamed and hoped to come true.
References
Dwer,
G. (2010). Digital cameras for kids: cool
tools and windows into the minds of children. Parenting Science. Retrieved
from http://www.parentingscience.com/digital-cameras-for-kids.html
Gai,
B. (2009). A World Through the Camera
Phone Lens: a Case Study of Beijing Camera Phone Use. Knowledge Technology
and Policy, 22(3), 195-204. Doi:10.1007/s12130-009-9084-x. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=12d683b8-1cd4-41a5-a6d4-ff1fb8961848%40sessionmgr11&vid=10&hid=26
Karwatka,
D. (2007). Joseph Niepce and the First
Photograph. Tech Directions, 67(1), 12-13. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=8e505b3b-6f11-4f6d-9375-5523c77dd149%40sessionmgr110&vid=12&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=26467477
National
Geographics (2013). First Color
Photograph. Retrieved from: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/milestones-photography/color-tartan-ribbon/
Olivier,
M. (2007). George Eastman’s Modern
Stone-Age Family. Technology and Culture, 48(1), 1-19. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.patris.apu.edu/docview/198462612?accountid=8459
Greenspun,
P. (2007). History of Photography Timeline.
Namemedia Inc. Retrieved from: http://photo.net/history/timeline
Schwabsky,
B. (2010). How Soon Was Now?. Nation,
290(2), 35-36. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=5f1ef9b5-0cd7-4ced-8266-c625d104f7c2%40sessionmgr14&vid=2&hid=26#
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