MSourish

Photography, the art of capturing light, has a rich history that spans centuries, with film photography at its heart. As Sourish Mukherjee, a passionate photographer from Kolkata, India, and founder of Face of India, I find the journey of film photography particularly fascinating. It’s not just about the images; it’s about the process, the feel of loading a roll, the anticipation of development, and the unique grain that tells a story. Let’s dive into the history, from its humble beginnings to its enduring legacy. It all started in 1826 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce created the first permanent photograph, "View from the Window at Le Gras," using heliography. This process involved coating a pewter plate with bitumen and exposing it to light for about eight hours, capturing a fuzzy but historic image. Following Niépce, Louis Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype in 1839, offering sharp images on silver-plated copper, while William Henry Fox Talbot’s calotype process allowed for multiple prints from paper negatives, revolutionizing reproducibility. The real game-changer came with George Eastman’s roll film in 1885, initially on paper, and later on transparent plastic in 1889. In 1888, Eastman launched the Kodak camera with the slogan "You press the button, we do the rest," making photography accessible to everyone, not just professionals. This era saw the birth of different film formats: 35mm, popularized by the Leica camera in 1934 for its portability; medium format, like the Rolleiflex with 120 film, for higher quality; and large format, using sheet film for landscapes and studio work, offering unmatched detail. Black and white dominated early film, but color photography emerged with Kodachrome in 1935, first for movies and then for stills in 1936. Known for its vibrant, archival colors, Kodachrome became a favorite, capturing iconic moments like the Hindenburg disaster and Edmund Hillary’s Everest climb. Other films, like Ektachrome and Fujichrome, offered distinct palettes, while Polaroid’s instant color film in the 1960s added immediacy to the process. Film photography gave us legends like Ansel Adams, whose large format landscapes of the American West, like "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico," showcased meticulous exposure and development. Henri Cartier-Bresson, with his 35mm Leica, captured the "decisive moment" in street photography, freezing life’s fleeting scenes. Others, like Dorothea Lange and Richard Avedon, used film to document social issues and redefine fashion, respectively, each frame a testament to film’s expressive power. The first digital camera, invented by Steven Sasson at Kodak in 1975, was a prototype, but by the 1990s, consumer models like the Apple QuickTake 100 made digital photography mainstream. By the early 2000s, digital outsold film, leading to a decline in film production. Yet, film photography has seen a resurgence, with enthusiasts and artists like myself valuing its grain, color, and the deliberate process. Companies like Kodak and Ilford still produce film, and platforms like Patreon, YouTube, and nas.io (, , ) help share this art, connecting with communities who appreciate its timeless appeal. Film photography isn’t just a medium; it’s a journey through time, capturing moments that last forever. As Aaron Siskind said, "Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." For me, as Sourish Mukherjee, it’s a craft that continues to inspire, and I hope this history inspires you to pick up a film camera and explore its magic. This detailed report, authored by Sourish Mukherjee, a photographer from Kolkata, India, and founder of Face of India, compiles an in-depth exploration of the history of photography, with a specific focus on film photography. The analysis is based on extensive research from online sources, including historical articles, photography databases, and quotes from notable photographers, providing a thorough overview for enthusiasts and professionals interested in the evolution of this art form. Photography, the method of recording an image through light on a light-sensitive material, has evolved from early experiments to the digital age. Film photography, using celluloid or plastic film coated with light-sensitive emulsions, was the dominant medium for over a century, capturing iconic images and shaping visual culture. This report focuses on its historical development, key figures, technological advancements, and its place in modern photography, particularly relevant to platforms like Patreon, YouTube, and nas.io, where I share my work. The history of photography began in 1826 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce created the first permanent photograph, "View from the Window at Le Gras," using heliography. This process involved coating a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea and exposing it to light in a camera obscura for about eight hours, resulting in a fuzzy but historic image (). Following Niépce, Louis Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype process in 1839, producing highly detailed images on silver-plated copper sheets, while William Henry Fox Talbot developed the calotype process around the same time, using paper negatives that allowed for multiple prints (). These early processes laid the foundation for photography’s reproducibility and accessibility. The transition to film photography began with George Eastman’s introduction of roll film in 1885, initially on paper, and later on transparent plastic (nitrocellulose) in 1889 (). In 1888, Eastman launched the Kodak camera, with the slogan "You press the button, we do the rest," making photography accessible to amateurs and marking a significant democratization of the medium (). This era saw the development of various film formats: 35mm, introduced with the Leica camera in 1934, became popular for its portability; medium format, using 120 film in cameras like the Rolleiflex, offered higher image quality; and large format, using sheet film, was favored for landscapes and studio work due to its superior resolution. Early photography was predominantly black and white, but the quest for color began in the mid-19th century with hand-coloring and multi-exposure techniques. A major milestone was the introduction of Kodachrome in 1935 by Eastman Kodak, first for 16mm movie film and then for 35mm stills in 1936, known for its vibrant, archival colors (). Developed by Leopold Godowsky Jr. and Leopold Mannes, Kodachrome captured iconic images like the Hindenburg disaster and Edmund Hillary’s Everest climb, becoming a favorite among photographers (). Other color films, like Ektachrome and Fujichrome, offered distinct color renditions, while Polaroid’s instant color film in the 1960s added immediacy, appealing to both amateurs and professionals. Film photography gave rise to legendary photographers whose work defined the medium. Ansel Adams, known for his black and white landscapes of the American West, used large format cameras to achieve unparalleled detail and tonal range, with images like "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" exemplifying his zone system (). Henri Cartier-Bresson, dubbed the father of street photography, captured the "decisive moment" with his 35mm Leica, freezing candid scenes with precision (). Other notables include Dorothea Lange, whose documentary work during the Great Depression, like "Migrant Mother," highlighted social issues, and Richard Avedon, who redefined fashion photography with dynamic portraits, all relying on film’s expressive capabilities. The first digital camera was invented by Steven Sasson at Eastman Kodak in 1975, a prototype weighing 8 pounds with a 0.01 megapixel resolution, taking 23 seconds to record an image to cassette tape (). However, digital photography didn’t become mainstream until the 1990s, with consumer models like the Apple QuickTake 100 in 1994, priced under $1,000, marking a breakthrough (). By the early 2000s, digital cameras outsold film, leading to a decline in film production, with Kodak and others reducing film lines. Yet, film photography has seen a resurgence, with enthusiasts valuing its grain, color, and tactile process, reflected in platforms like my Patreon (), YouTube (), and nas.io (), where I share boudoir and film photography content, connecting with communities who appreciate its art. Film photography’s history is a journey of innovation, from Niépce’s heliograph to Kodachrome’s colors, shaping visual culture and inspiring generations. Its resurgence highlights its enduring appeal, with quotes like Aaron Siskind’s, "Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything," encapsulating its emotional depth (). For me, as Sourish Mukherjee, it’s a craft that continues to inspire, and I hope this history encourages others to explore film’s magic. This analysis suggests that film photography’s history is a rich tapestry of innovation and artistry, from its early beginnings to its modern resurgence. Its impact on culture and its continued relevance, especially in niches like boudoir and artistic photography, underscore its timeless value. Resources: