Fixing the shadows

Fixing the shadows is the first episode in the BBC's series Genius of Photography. Beginning with development of early photography such as Daguerreotype and Calotype. Fixing the shadows  gives valuable information on the history of photography, the process of Daguerreotype is introduced. This method developed the first photograph of a person. Taken overlooking boulevard du temple, Paris in 1838, a man is visible on the street having his boot shined. The long exposure meant that any moving objects weren't developed, the shoeshiner and said man stood still long enough for them to be exposed.

Boulevard du temple

Among other topics discussed in fixing the shdows was the creation of Eastman Kodak company. Eastman designed the first roll of film, which helped his small company grow, and develop hand held cameras known as a brownie. The company's slogan being "you press the button, we do the rest", helped stimulate a more modern athmosphere towards photographs. Kodak's brownie encouraged a fun style and so people began to smile and say "cheese" when having their photo taken.

I found  fixing the shadows to be an insightful short documentary on photographys origin and evolution.

Kodak Brownie