The Development of Photography

At a recent meeting of the South Dorset Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society, Paul Blake briefly described the development of photography from its earliest beginnings, and the impact it had on family history records. Paul, who is a professional researcher on the subject, explained that around 1550 scenes were projected on to the paper screen in a pin-hole camera, and this was then used as a drawing aid for a sketch or painting. This system continued for many years, being employed by famous artists, but there always remained a need to record the image automatically without sketching. In 1839 Daguerre, using silver nitrate, produced the first photograph on a copper plate, still using the pin-hole camera. Fox-Talbot improved the arrangement with paper films, and after fifty years of further development, the famous Kodak Box camera appeared with a pre-loaded film. Unfortunately long exposure times of around half a minute were still necessary, and clamps were needed to ensure the subject remained motionless during the operation.

Photographic studios rapidly spread through the country, and in 1861 there were 2500 establishments in existence, producing the posed portraits which appear in most family history records. Paul pointed out that although much has been written about the possibility of dating photographs from clothing and hair styles, he felt that the details of the publisher printed on the back of a picture could also provide useful information. Around 1861 photographs were attached to prison and asylum records, and Paul displayed some villainous-looking characters, together also with a rather sad picture of a young girl sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing.

Tony Johnson

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