Louis Daguerre: Capturing The Invention That Changed Photography

Louis Daguerre: Capturing the Invention that Changed Photography Today

Photography is a part of almost everyone's everyday life whether it is through a smartphone, laptop, or professional camera. Before the late 1800s, though, even a simple picture was not possible. Although many people worked hard and put their ideas and inventions of new cameras in the world, Louis Daguerre is among one of the most important. Michael Hart, in his book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, ranks Daguerre as the 47th most influential person in the world. This ranking is appropriate because of the many ways his invention influenced today's world. His technique was practical and widely used in the 1800s. Although his methods are different

from the modern ways of photography today, his Daguerreotype provided the world with a basic structure of today's camera. The influence of events that occurred before Daguerre's invention, the impact on the world that his invention accomplished, and the effect of his new techniques on the modernized world caused Michael Hart to consider him one of the most influential persons in history.
In Daguerre’s early life, things were very different in the means of photography. Until the mid-19th century, the only way to record a scene was to paint or draw it and Daguerre wanted something better (Buckminster 391). Louis Daguerre’s motives for his invention started during his early life. Daguerre was born in Cormeilles, France in 1787. Not much is known about his early life except that when he was around sixteen, he became a scene paper and set designer. He was also the first to use gas lamps to light the stage (Buckminster 382). ¨In the early nineteenth century, the camera obscura had shrunk to the size of a small box and was fitted with adjustable lens. A mirror positioned inside the box would flip the image right-side up. The image could then be traced on paper and accurate dimensional rations could be obtained¨ (Driscoll). Daguerre wanted to find an easier way to capture what was going on in the world.
Ideas of photography and inventions of other innovators had already been introduced into the world when Daguerre was a child. Many of the inventors that came up with ideas for the camera didn't follow through with them, unlike Daguerre, which is why he gets credited with the invention of the camera. One of Daguerre's main reasons for inventing his Daguerreotype was so he could record life in America through the pre-Civil war period (Driscoll). He wanted to find a way to more efficiently copy images realistically. The same idea had occurred to Joseph-Nicephore Niepce in 1814. Niepce had been trying to capture sunlight on paper by using the camera obscura and combining chemicals based on silver that changed color when left in light to create the first photograph (Buckminster 393). Daguerre and Niepce made a partnership to come up with a new invention, the Daguerreotype.
In Louis Daguerre's time of significance he created an invention that would change the photography era.

With help from Niepce’s son, Daguerre invented the Daguerreotype. “First, he took a copper plate, coated it in silver, and treated it with iodine vapor...Daguerre put the plate in his camera and exposed it to light. Next, he ‘developed’ the plate by letting fumes from hot Mercury pass over it. Finally, he ‘fixed’ the developed image by treating it with salt" (Buckminster 394-395). Daguerre, with help, experimented with different ideas until he found a way to create a improved version of the camera obscura that worked quicker and more precisely. Although the reason is unknown, Daguerre was the one to come up with the idea of using Mercury to help quicken the process of taking pictures. Since Daguerre was the one to come up with the idea of using Mercury, Niepce decided to let him name the invention after himself, the Daguerreotype.

Daguerre’s invention affected his era greatly. Daguerreotypes were very common in the 1800s. The cost of a Daguerreotype portrait was soon within the reach of most middle-class Americans. Daguerreotypes provided a record of American history for over two decades (Driscoll). Not only were Daguerreotypes new and a good source of photography, they were also affordable and not as time consuming as many other camera processes. Family portraits could be taken in faster manner and they were more affordable than the other options, making the Daguerreotype one of the top choices for middle-class American

families.
Louis Daguerre's invention affected the world in many ways by creating something that has been developed and modernized to a point where we use it in our everyday lives in many different forms. ¨The Daguerreotype remained popular for about 20 years, it was eventually overtaken by better methods of photography" (Buckminister 399). The Daguerreotype was inexpensive and quick to use compared to other options of photography, which made it very popular. Other inventors, though, started to improve the Daguerreotype to make an attempt to invent something more like today's modern cameras. Once these more modernized forms became available and in the price range of most Americans, people started to shift away from the Daguerreotype.
The invention of the camera greatly affected the world during the 1800s and still affects the world now. ¨Until the invention of photography, history was mostly about the written word and the painted picture. Photography was something entirely different: it actually captured moments of history, as people saw them and as they were happening" (Buckminster 400). Photography was something that was completely new and completely changed the world. Now, people could record the exact scene of something happening and take a picture of it to keep forever.
Although there are many modernized cameras today, people still use the Daguerreotype to take pictures. “Daguerreotypes remained popular in the United States until the 1860s, and many fine examples still exist today"(Everyday Life: Communication). The Daguerreotype, with the help of other inventors and ideas, evolved into a camera a lot like the ones used today. Eventually, once new technology was discovered, tiny cameras were placed in smart phones and laptops. Cameras have changed the world and, though most were destroyed, the world still has a few examples of the first camera that was in a reasonable price range and did not require an artist to copy the picture into a painting.
Daguerre's invention of the Daguerreotype evoked the ideas from many other pioneers to come together and make the current cameras we have today. Now, cameras and photographs are everywhere. Imagine going home after work or school and not using a phone to Snapchat or check Instagram and Twitter posts. A camera is used to do all of those things. In every phone, laptop, and tablet there are cameras that are used by people throughout our daily lives. Photography is taken for granted and don't realize what it was like before Daguerre.
Daguerre was one of the most influential persons in history because of what happened in his early life that inspired him to become an inventor, how widely his camera invention affected the world around him at the time, and how the Daguerreotype is continuing to affect the world today through professional cameras and smartphones. When Daguerre was young, he aspired for something better than a camera obscura and having to draw your own pictures if you wanted to have a photograph. Also, he did not like having the eight hour session of sitting in boredom with a straight face to get a simple family portrait. He changed this and the world greatly appreciates it. Now, his simple Daguerreotype invention has evolved into so much more and the people on this Earth are extremely grateful for all that Daguerre has started. Although there are many new camera inventions, the original Daguerreotype will permeate through the ages.
Some people could say that Louis Daguerre should not rank in the top 100 in Michael Hart's list. That point has logical reasoning behind it for two reasons: Daguerre did not do much to invent the camera and other people came up with quicker and more affordable ways to take pictures. At the time, though, his invention was the most widely known and affordable for the people living in the world. Daguerre changed the world with his invention. Without the Daguerreotype, people would never have been able to physically see past events with a realistic perspective.
Personally, I agree with Michael Hart. I think that although Daguerre didn't come up with the best and most intellectual camera, he still should be credited with what he has done. He worked for a long time to come up with an invention that prospered for so long and changed the way we see history. In my life, I enjoy using my camera on my phone, as well as my professional camera to take pictures and I cannot imagine a world without being able to take pictures the way we can today.