Photography

Photography is the process of creating an image by capturing light on light sensitive, chemically treated surfaces or an electronic sensor. The word photography comes from two old Greek words and literally means to draw with light. There were cameras way before there was any way to make a permanent photograph. The first real permanent photo was made in 1826. Since that time, photography has gone through many changes People have always been searching for ways to make photography faster and easier. The first photo took six hours to expose. But now with digital technology, photography is instantaneous.

Early photography was done on plates of metal or glass. These were then developed, using chemicals and prints were made. Early photography equipment was big and heavy and bulky and made photography a difficult thing to pursue. Early photography was done in black and white or what is called sepia tone. Black and white photography was popular even after the advent of color photography. People thought that black and white looked more like real photography. Once film was invented for photography, more amateurs began to get involved in photography and its popularity grew.

But even with film, photography was still difficult and you need to get the film developed and this took time. But now with digital photography, there is no need for film or developing and even more people can enjoy the photography hobby and they don't have to wait for their pictures to be developed or mess around with dangerous chemicals, trying to develop the film themselves.

Digital photography came about as a response by newspapers to television news. Newspapers needed a way to get pictures to the public faster than the traditional photography way of having a photographer taking a picture and then having to send it to a lab for developing and printing and then back to the newspaper to be reproduced in the paper. Digital photography was the answer. Digital photography was once available only for commercial, professional use, but is now widely available and quite affordable.

The science of photography has come a long way, but the art of photography remains pretty much the same. Creating images by drawing with light. Of course, with digital photography, the whole process is so much easier and photography is much more accessible to the average person. Even small children are now pursuing photography as a hobby. It seems that almost everybody has a digital camera now. People are so much more in control of their photography now and able to see the results of their photography right away and then manipulate their photos themselves right on their own computers.

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