Photography

Dillon Embrey

Alburger III

February 26, 2016

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Photography dates back as far as Aristotles time. The first created images, made by a

man whose main focus in inventing belonged to the combustion engine. The main source of

capturing a photograph (Verb) light but it also contains a multitude of chemistry that happens in

the process. Photography originally started out as a craze for scientists and photography

enthusiasts. There became many advancements in the development of the camera with so many

inventors coming up with new and better ideas. The first successful photographic process, called

the Daguerreotype, named after the inventor. As it started to take off some of the next processes

included using paper coated with silver iodide. There existed a dry plate, or a gelatin process

followed by not only black and white photographs but sepia and full color. Camera companies

decided to create these cameras in mass to make them able to sell them to the public. This

would change the world of photography drastically. In modern times there many uses for

photography exist. Photography can tell a story of love or heartbreak, of triumph or defeat.

Photography can also help in science to advance the field. Many paths have become available in

the career of a photographer. The amount of education varies from none to a Ph.D. The median

salary for a photographer remains at approximately thirty thousand dollars a year. In spite of the

many jobs everywhere in photography, however some regions may pay more than others.
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Photography requires dedication, hard work and a love for the job. Throughout photographys

history, inventors of all types have helped in the advancement in the fields of both career and

hobby.

Photography dates back as far as the fourth century B.C. in Aristotles time. Aristotle

invented the camera obscura. A dark space with a tiny pin hole that would allow a small amount

of light into the dark space best describes the camera obscura. The term camera obscura actually

translates as, dark room. The image would make a one hundred and eighty degree turn on the

space on the opposite side of the light. These images did not stay permanently but people could

trace these images by hand. The camera obscura usually took place in a room. For

approximately the next 2200 years the only change that would take place, the size of the hole

allowing light in to make the camera portable (Blog). After Aristotles time there came along

another inventor that would make great strides in the area of photography, his name, Joseph

Nicephore Niepce. Although Niepce and his brother did some amazing things with

photography, this area did not a major focus for him. His main focus, a combustible engine that

would power a boat. The art of lithography became a huge sensation in France in 1813. The

popularity of this art got Niepces attention and he started playing around with different ideas.

His experimentation in the area of lithography brought about an invention that he would call

heliography and from this came the very first remaining photograph created from a camera

(Harry). In 1827 Niepce traveled to England to visit his brother who had become sick and

friends asked him to present his invention to a royal society. Niepce sent his photographs but

they returned and rejected them because he refused to reveal the process he used to capture these

images. In 1829 he committed to a 10 year partnership with Louis-Jacque-Mande Daguerre.

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Niepce kept working with heliography and hoping that one day he would receive given credit

and glory for his inventions. Unfortunately, Niepce died in 1833 and in 1839 his partners

invention of a camera prototype took off and Niepces heliographs no longer survived as a

sensation (Harry). His impact on photography still ripples through photography in extraordinary

ways.

George Eastman, another man of multiple skills and expertise had a huge, long lasting

impact on photography with his inventions. The game changer that he created and mass

produced in factories, his dry-plate. The dry plate, an advanced photographic plate to assist in

the development of photography. George also became the father of color pictures and the

Eastman Kodak photography company. They became the first company to mass produce their

products. He created the system to the kodak camera and the roll film. His inventions grew in

popularity and brought sufficient funds to the world of photography (Eastman). Edwin Herbert

Land, an american physicist and chemist at Polaroid sparked an idea of greatness after his three

year old daughter questioned him on cameras. Six months later he and a team consisting of

Howard G. Rogers, William J. McCune, and Ansel Adams secretly came up with solutions to the

flaws in the camera. McCune took charge of the production of the original camera and film.

Unlike normal black and white film, polaroid had a sepia look to it. This impacted all levels of

photography and became an american way of life. Basically making polaroid cameras a new fad

in the time period of the mid 1900s. Along with the average american this invention helped the

huge productions of film, magazines, and other photography based industries become

substantially more successful both in popularity and economically (Read). With the help of

many scientist and photography enthusiast throughout the years photography rapidly progressed.
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Some big inventions of the time, the daguerreotype, the calotype, and the collodion process. The

impact of early photography had some people worried in the fact that people used cameras to

record human life. The sense of privacy became weakened. Further development of

photography made other industries such as the news more advanced. New development helped

the development of more companies and the fad of photography grew, bringing in more money

to camera companies. Modern photography has advanced a great deal with the help of all its

history (blog). Historical and past advancements will influence Future advancements in

photography.

As both a career and hobby there abides four basic types of photography. Action

photography, mainly used for capturing action shots, that could range anywhere from sports all

the way to just everyday action. Action photographers generally enjoy nature as well as sports.

The use of portrait photography for capturing the beauty of someone could range anywhere from

modeling to just capturing everyday people. Portrait photographers skill set obtains people

skills as well as an eye for beauty. Nature photography captures the beauties of nature, this

could range anywhere from animals to a simple picture of a leaf. Nature photographers generally

travel, they mostly attain a passion towards nature and all things in it. Still life photography

captures a set item or items, this could range anywhere from a fixed group of items all the way to

a single unplanned still life picture. Still life photography requires an eye for making beautiful

scenes out of ugly situations, basically taking nanomet objects and fixating them in a position

that shows its true beauty. Each of these categories of photography need different focuses and

practices. For still life and portrait you want to focus on a portrait and long exposed

photography. For Action you want to focus on quick shutter speed and fixed aperture(5 types).
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With nature it can vary depending on the photograph and photographer. These four basic

categories in photography become the starting point to any successful photographer (5 Types).

Photography requires certain skill sets, while obtaining a wide variety of skill sets for success.

Focusing and composing become key in photography. All cameras use some sort of lens with

the exception of pinhole cameras. Light entering the camera becomes controlled by the speed of

the lens also known as the shutter speed. Today's average 35mm lens camera have many

features on them including swappable lenses, body length differences for better grip and

stabilization(See). Today we also have motion picture cameras that use spools and cartridges to

capture moving scenes. These cameras come with the opportunity to get different perspectives

with different lenses from wide angle and landscaping all the way to macro to get an up close

and detailed picture. The origin of these cameras come from all the way back in aristotle's time

after a concept of capturing an image with light and long exposure.

Photography does not require a college degree, but a college degree in photography will

set up a multitude of routes to go down for your profession. Photography offers a Bachelor's,

Masters, as well as Doctorate(Kozma). The route you chose will require different skills as well

as opinions. Employment of photographers, as of today, mostly becomes dictated by location.

Photography offers a wide variety of specialties and pay ranges. Fashion photographers,

one of the most difficult to become successful in. Usually not for someone who does not like to

travel. Also location also becomes key for fashion photographers. On average fashion

photographers make around 59,000 dollars a year(Photography jobs). Wildlife photographers,

while seeming easier and less cut throat as fashion, still requires traveling and high skill sets out

in nature. This work in the field remains enjoyable for those who love nature and wildlife.
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Recommended for photographers who shoot for the love of photography. Wildlife

photographers make, on average about 28,000 dollars a year (Photography jobs). War

photographers, the most dangerous field in photography. This field belongs to those with zero

fear. They live up close in these war zones. Though this field presents danger, the difficulty for

success amounted to war photography remains low. War photography remains easier than both

wildlife and fashion photography. On average they make anywhere from 17,000 dollars a year

to 63,000 dollars a year, all depending on if payment comes from salary or freelance

(Photography Jobs). Wedding photographers, these photographers have one of the easiest jobs.

They capture the beautiful moments between husband and wife. These photographers generally

like spending time around people and have great people skills, as well as an eye for the perfect

shot. This field has potential to become well paying, though weddings photography remains

only a seasonal job the pay range fluctuates a lot. Documentation of average pay does not exist

for wedding photographers. Their pay could range anywhere from 15,000 dollars to over

100,000 dollars a year depending on the amount of love in the world(Photography jobs). Fine art

photographers, by far this field of photography can seem and more than likely will present

extremely difficulty to find successl in. This field of photography requires highly creative

imagination and vision. Like war photography this fields pay range can fluctuate. On average

the average fine art photographer makes anywhere from 46,000 dollars to 69,000 dollars a

year(Photography jobs). This pay range becomes dictated by the type of pay. School

photographers have a fairly easy job. This require a love for working with children, along with a

lot of patients. Children can pose an issue on how difficult this field of photography. The pay

range for a school photographer can fluctuate anywhere from around 24,000 and upwards,
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depending on the amount of schools in your area(Photography jobs). Overall school

photography remains one of the easiest fields to work in. Medical photographers require a

degree in photography, as well as a medical degree, and can fall on the difficult side of

photography. This field of photography becomes useful mainly for those who want to do

something in the medical field, but have a passion for photography. The high reward for all the

hard work in this field can range between 41,000 dollars and 59,000 dollars (Photography jobs).

Not very many photographers chose that path in photography. Photomicrography, the field of

capturing every detail of tiny objects. The range of success in this field remains extremely high.

This field in photography becomes very appealing to a lot of photographers because of its level

of difficulty ranging so low. The pay range has no average because the amount of pay varies a

lot (Photography jobs). This photography can serve a purpose to many people. You just have to

find the right buyer to make good money. Astrophotographers have a similar job to to

Photomicrography in the sense that anyone with an eye for detail and beauty can become

successful in this field. This field can require a lot of money to start out with. The photos taken

through a telescope, can become pricey. The average pay for a photographer in this field of

photography can expect to receive anywhere from 40,000 dollars a year to 100, 000 dollars a

year (Photography jobs). This field remains fairly easy and gives good pay, although most

photographers in this field have become enthusiast doing it for free. Product photographers,

generally highly educated in photography. These photographers have and eye for the placement

of objects to capture a story. The success in this field becomes very easy to achieve. This work

always comes as long as something exists to sell to people. On average the average product

photographer can make anywhere from 40,000 dollars a year to 50,000 dollars a year based on
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experience and can change based on freelance (Photography jobs). Sports photographers have a

pretty difficult job when it comes to success rate. Sports photography appears similar to fashion

in the sense of high demand and little days off. The pay range for a photographer in the field of

photography can range fairly low. Anywhere from 10,000 dollars a year to 20,000 dollars a year

(Photography jobs). This field also comes with a good amount of perks upon employment. Real

Estate photographers will always find work. That said, it remains a fairly difficult field to find

success in. These photographers need to make a house or property look appealing to someone's

eye, enough to buy it. The average pay for an average photographer in the field of real estate

photography can range from 75 dollars to 150 dollars per shoot (Photography jobs). This field of

work can produce an enjoyable job. All these fields of photography require different skill sets,

making the field of photography in general a successful career.

Photography does not involve just pushing a button, it take certain skills and techniques.

The goal of both professional photography and photography as a hobby becomes not just to take

a picture or record a moment for a period of time. The main goal in mind remains to capture a

picture and/ or video that tells a story and grabs someone's attention. The story should have a

deeper purpose than what the picture portrays. Photography has a greater purpose than just a

materialist thing to look at. It not only tells a story and gives you a cherishable moment, it also

helps in other professions and fields of work. Such as Science and health. Scientist use

photography with microscopes to examine medical specimens. Multiple uses of photography

exist in this world. Along with that, multiple fields in photography exist, making the range for

success much greater.

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Works Cited

"Blog." The Early History of the Camera. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2016

"Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,

6th Edition. Columbia University Press, 01 June 2015. Web.

"Eastman, George." Eastman, George. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

"5 Types of Photographers - Brooks Institute." Brooks Institute 5 Types of Photographers

Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

"Harry Ransom Center The University of Texas at Austin." Harry Ransom Center RSS.

N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

"Membership." Archived Educational Leadership. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

See The Encyclopedia of Photography (1971); The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography

"Photography Jobs: Average Salary & Career Path Glossary." Student Resources. N.p.,

17 Sept. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

"Read "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 7" at NAP.edu."

Edwin Herbert Land. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

"27-4021 Photographers." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

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