Originally published in 1887 as a portion of the author’s larger “A History of Photography,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 20 pages, explains how Nicéphore Niepce, Louis Daguerre, and others invented photography in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Sample passage:
At this stage a happy “accident” occurred, which revealed to Daguerre a method by which not only was the time of exposure necessary to secure a good picture greatly reduced, but the distinctness and beauty of the image were much enhanced. It appears that one day Daguerre removed from his camera a plate, which either from the shortness of the exposure or the dullness of the light, showed no sign of an image. He placed this blank plate in a store-cupboard, intending to clean the surface and use it again. But what must have been our photographer’s surprise when, on taking out this plate the next morning, he found upon its surface a distinct and perfect picture. Another prepared plate was quickly exposed for an equally short time within the camera, and again a sojourn of twenty-four hours within the magic cupboard sufficed to bring out a picture. The next step was to ascertain to which of the numerous chemicals kept within the cupboard this marvelous effect was due. By a process of elimination it was at last traced to a dish full of mercury. Delighted by this fortunate discovery Daguerre at once proceeded to place his exposed plates over a dish of warm mercury, when the vapor proceeding from the liquid metal was found to settle upon the iodized silver in exact proportion to the intensity of the light by which each part of the plate had been affected.
About the author:
William Jerome Harrison (1845-1908) was an English author and photographer. Other works include “Geology of the Counties of England and of North and South Wales,” “Elementary Mechanics,” and “The Chemistry of Photography.”
Sample passage:
At this stage a happy “accident” occurred, which revealed to Daguerre a method by which not only was the time of exposure necessary to secure a good picture greatly reduced, but the distinctness and beauty of the image were much enhanced. It appears that one day Daguerre removed from his camera a plate, which either from the shortness of the exposure or the dullness of the light, showed no sign of an image. He placed this blank plate in a store-cupboard, intending to clean the surface and use it again. But what must have been our photographer’s surprise when, on taking out this plate the next morning, he found upon its surface a distinct and perfect picture. Another prepared plate was quickly exposed for an equally short time within the camera, and again a sojourn of twenty-four hours within the magic cupboard sufficed to bring out a picture. The next step was to ascertain to which of the numerous chemicals kept within the cupboard this marvelous effect was due. By a process of elimination it was at last traced to a dish full of mercury. Delighted by this fortunate discovery Daguerre at once proceeded to place his exposed plates over a dish of warm mercury, when the vapor proceeding from the liquid metal was found to settle upon the iodized silver in exact proportion to the intensity of the light by which each part of the plate had been affected.
About the author:
William Jerome Harrison (1845-1908) was an English author and photographer. Other works include “Geology of the Counties of England and of North and South Wales,” “Elementary Mechanics,” and “The Chemistry of Photography.”
