Overview:
This 1849 text provides a detailed guide to the burgeoning art of photography, focusing primarily on the Daguerreotype and Calotype processes. Snelling meticulously outlines the historical development of photography, tracing its roots to early experiments by alchemists and Wedgwood’s pioneering work in 1802. He credits Niepce and Daguerre of France with developing the first practical techniques for capturing images, but also acknowledges the independent efforts of American inventors like Professor Morse and James Wattles.
The text dives deep into the scientific principles behind photography, examining the nature of light and its interaction with various chemicals. Snelling provides a comprehensive synopsis of Mr. Hunt’s “Influence of the Solar Rays on Compound Bodies,” outlining the properties of different chemicals like chloride of silver, iodide of silver, and bromide of silver, their sensitivity to light, and their applications in different photographic processes.
Key Findings:
- The discovery of photography was not a single, sudden event, but rather a gradual process of experimentation and refinement.
- Multiple individuals, both in Europe and America, contributed independently to the development of practical photographic techniques.
- Understanding the chemical and physical properties of light and its interaction with sensitive materials is essential for successful photography.
- Early photographic processes like the Daguerreotype and Calotype had limitations, but they paved the way for future advancements and the eventual dominance of photography.
Learning:
- The Nature of Light: The text explains the different properties of light, including its motion, reflection, refraction, and its ability to create chemical reactions. Understanding these properties is crucial for understanding how light creates images on photographic materials.
- The Photographic Principle: Snelling clarifies that photography relies on the chemical changes induced by light, specifically the interaction of light with specific metal compounds. He explains how different colored rays within the spectrum of light have varying levels of chemical activity, which explains why some colors are easier to capture than others.
- The Daguerreotype Process: The text provides a detailed step-by-step guide for creating Daguerreotype images on silver-coated copper plates, covering the necessary chemicals, apparatus, and procedures. It also discusses techniques for improving image quality through gilding and coloring.
- The Calotype Process: Snelling explores Mr. Talbot’s Calotype process, which involved capturing images on chemically treated paper. He highlights the intricacies of preparing the paper, exposing it in the camera, developing the latent image, and fixing the results.
Historical Context:
The text was written in 1849, a time when photography was rapidly evolving and gaining widespread popularity. This was the era of the Daguerreotype and Calotype, which were the dominant photographic processes. Although still in its infancy, photography was beginning to be recognized as a powerful tool for capturing the world and creating portraits.
Facts:
- Alchemists were aware of the principle of photogenic drawing. They used a solution of chalk dissolved in aquafortis (nitric acid) mixed with silver nitrate to create light-sensitive reactions.
- Mrs. Fulhame demonstrated a change of color in chloride of gold through the agency of light in the late 1700s. This further established the principle of light’s impact on chemical compounds.
- Niepce and Daguerre independently researched photography. They later collaborated to refine the process, leading to the discovery of the Daguerreotype.
- Daguerre’s invention was given freely to the world. This open access encouraged rapid experimentation and development of the art.
- The first daguerreotype portrait was likely taken by Professor Morse. He was inspired by Daguerre’s invention and immediately began experimenting, eventually pioneering the use of photography for portraits.
- James Wattles, a young American, independently discovered a method for fixing photographic images on paper as early as 1828. This predates Talbot’s discovery of the Calotype.
- The Daguerreotype process involves seven distinct operations: cleaning and polishing the plate, applying a sensitive coating, exposing the plate in the camera, developing the image, fixing the image, gilding the picture, and coloring the picture.
- French daguerreotype plates were considered superior. They were known for their purity of silver, susceptibility to polishing, and ability to produce fine photographic results.
- Different accelerating liquids were developed to shorten exposure time. These compounds, like bromine, chloride of iodine, and bromide of iodine, allowed Daguerreotypists to capture images much faster than with iodine alone.
- Coloring daguerreotypes was common, but often resulted in artificial-looking images. Snelling, however, expresses hope that future advancements might allow for capturing images in color directly.
- Daguerreotypes were more permanent than oil paintings or engravings. This established their value as a form of archival art.
- Galvanism can be used to create instantaneous images. Colonel Whitney successfully used a simple galvanic battery to capture images quickly, highlighting its potential for capturing fleeting moments.
- The sun’s chemical power is stronger before noon than after. This is likely due to changes in atmospheric vapor levels.
- Dense, colored fluids can filter out luminous rays while allowing chemical rays to pass through. This suggests that the chemical activity of light isn’t necessarily tied to its intensity.
- Light’s chemical activity can vary significantly depending on location. Bright skies and strong sunlight don’t always translate to faster exposure times, and photographers in the south often find it more challenging to capture images.
- The moon’s light does not contain enough heat or chemical energy to create photographic images. This was a significant discovery in understanding the nature of light.
- Electrically charged charcoal emits light with chemical properties. This demonstrated that some artificial light sources could be used for photography.
- The Drummond Light can create images on sensitive paper. However, the intensity of the light presents challenges for portraiture.
- The chemical action of light is not necessarily tied to its luminosity. The photographometer, invented by Mr. Claudet, measures the chemical activity of light, which is separate from its visible intensity.
- Early photography was already a popular art form. The popularity of the Daguerreotype and Calotype processes, as well as the formation of the Photographic Club in England, demonstrate the growing interest in photography.
Statistics:
- 1802: The year Mr. Wedgwood documented his first experiment with photogenic drawing.
- 1827: The year M. Niepce presented his discovery of Heliography to the Royal Society.
- 1828: The year James Wattles independently discovered a method for fixing photographic images on paper.
- 1838: The year M. Daguerre announced his discovery of the Daguerreotype to the world.
- 1840: The year Mr. Biot expressed skepticism about the possibility of producing colored photographic images.
- 1841: The year Colonel Whitney first experimented with using galvanism to capture images instantaneously.
- 1842: The year a daguerreotype of a house was taken, revealing a red brick in the wall as the same color as the real brick.
- 1843: The year Sir John Herschel discovered the Chrysotype process and the Amphitype process.
- 1849: The year the “Crayon Daguerreotype” process, invented by J.A. Whipple, was patented.
- 170 degrees Fahrenheit: The maximum temperature for heating the mercury bath during the Daguerreotype process.
- .0001 part of a second: The shortest exposure time found to produce a discernible image on a daguerreotype plate.
- 50 grains: The recommended amount of silver nitrate per ounce of distilled water in preparing photogenic paper.
- 100 grains: The amount of bromide of potassium per eight to ten ounces of distilled water in the fixing solution for calotype pictures.
- 15 grains: The amount of crystallized chloride of gold dissolved in a pint of distilled water to make a solution for gilding Daguerreotypes.
- 1/8 of an inch: The contracted aperture for Voigtlander cameras when taking distant views.
- 1 1/2 inches: The diameter of the outer lens for Voigtlander cameras used for portraits.
- 5 3/4 inches: The focal length of both lenses in the smaller size Voigtlander camera.
- 3 1/4 inches: The diameter of the inner lens for the larger size Voigtlander camera.
- 30 inches: The focal length of the inner lens in the larger size Voigtlander camera.
- 18 inches: The focal length of the outer lens in the larger size Voigtlander camera.
Terms:
- Achromatic: A lens that minimizes chromatic aberration, preventing color distortion.
- Calotype: A photographic process using chemically treated paper to capture images, invented by Mr. Fox Talbot.
- Chromatic aberration: A lens defect causing color distortion, resulting in a blurred image with colored fringes.
- Energia: A term coined by Mr. Hunt to describe the principle of chemical change induced by light.
- Heliography: The name given by Niepce to his photographic process.
- Hyposulphite of Soda: A chemical used for fixing photographic images, preventing further light exposure.
- Iodine: A chemical used to create a sensitive coating on daguerreotype plates.
- Photogenic: Relating to the creation of images through the action of light.
- Spherical aberration: A lens defect causing distortion of an image, especially at the edges.
- Solarization: A phenomenon where prolonged exposure to light results in a reversed image, with dark areas becoming light and vice versa.
Examples:
- Wedgwood’s Experiment: Wedgwood successfully produced a temporary image on paper using nitrate of silver, but he was unable to fix the image. This experiment marked a significant step in the development of photography.
- The Alchemists’ Experiment: Alchemists used a light-sensitive solution of silver nitrate and chalk dissolved in nitric acid to create patterns on glass. This demonstrated early knowledge of the principles behind photogenic drawing.
- Mrs. Fulhame’s Experiment: Mrs. Fulhame showed that light could alter the color of chloride of gold, further demonstrating the impact of light on chemical compounds.
- Professor Morse’s First Daguerreotype Portrait: Morse was among the first to successfully use the Daguerreotype process for portraiture, contributing to its widespread adoption.
- James Wattles’ Early Photographic Experiment: Wattles, a young American, independently discovered a method for fixing photographic images on paper using a solution of potash, demonstrating the potential for independent innovation in photography.
- The use of colored glass to filter light in the Chromatype process: This experiment demonstrates the selective nature of light and how different colors affect chemical reactions.
- The use of the Drummond Light for photography: While not as effective as sunlight, the Drummond Light demonstrates the potential of artificial light sources for photography.
- The “Crayon Daguerreotype” process: This invention by J.A. Whipple aims to create Daguerreotypes with the appearance of crayon drawings, highlighting the ongoing efforts to refine and improve photographic techniques.
- The use of colored media to produce colored photographic images: Experiments with colored glass and fluids suggest the possibility of capturing images in color directly, a goal that remained elusive in 1849.
- The photographometer: Claudet’s invention demonstrates a new approach to measuring the chemical activity of light, independent of its luminosity. This was a significant advancement in understanding and controlling the photographic process.
Conclusion:
Snelling’s “History and Practice of the Art of Photography” provides a fascinating snapshot of a rapidly evolving technology. He meticulously traces the history of photographic discovery, highlighting the contributions of both European and American pioneers. Through detailed explanations of the Daguerreotype and Calotype processes, Snelling imparts valuable knowledge for practicing photographers, while also emphasizing the ongoing quest to understand the scientific principles behind light and its interaction with sensitive materials. Despite the limitations of early photography, this book showcases its potential as a powerful tool for artistic expression, scientific exploration, and recording history. It also reveals the ongoing fascination with the challenge of capturing images in color, a goal that continues to drive innovation in the world of photography.