35 Photography Firsts That Paint A Fascinating Portrait Of Human History
If not for the invention of the camera, many of the greatest moments in human history would have been lost forever. What would the world be like without images of unforgettable moments like the flag being raised over Iwo Jima or the man facing down a tank in Tiananmen Square? Throughout the history of photography, there have been plenty of incredible milestones. These rare photographic firsts may be some of the most impactful pictures ever taken.
1826-1827: The first photo ever taken
While it takes all of eight milliseconds to snap a picture these days – on a camera you no doubt carry in your pocket – it once took around eight hours to do so. View from the Window at Le Gras was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, France.
This fuzzy shot is widely considered the first photograph ever. Though the image is grainy, you can make out some buildings, one of which is the photographer's own home.
1838: The first time a human being was captured on camera
The first ever known image of people was snapped way back in 1838 by inventor Louis Daguerre. He managed to capture two individuals. If you look closely, they're visible towards the bottom left of this Parisian street scene.
And although the pair appear alone, the pavements at the time would have likely been packed with others. Due to the camera’s long exposure time, only those remaining perfectly still showed up in the photo.
1839: The first selfie
Believe it or not, the concept of a selfie wasn’t born with camera phones. In fact, the photographic self-portrait has been around almost as long as photography itself. That’s because savvy snappers would often act as their own models while experimenting with their equipment.
Take Robert Cornelius, a photography enthusiast from Philadelphia, who produced what’s thought to be the first-ever photo of its kind back in 1839. He uncovered his lens, stepped into the frame, sat completely still for one full minute, and re-covered the lens to take the first recorded selfie in history.
1839 - 1840: The earliest surviving photograph of a woman
John William Draper was an English-born American scientist, historian, and — most importantly for the purposes of understanding this image — a photographer. As well as capturing shots of objects like the Moon, Draper also managed to take the first recorded picture of a woman.
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Pictured here is his sister, Dorothy Catherine Draper, dressed to the nines in a flowery bonnet. The daguerreotype is not only the first image of a woman, but also the first portrait of its kind taken in the United States.