The most important invention in photography for me was the introduction of the gelatin dry-plate process. This is because it opened up the ability to take photographs at night by shortening the necessary exposure time. The quality of night time photography was also enhanced by the move from flash powder to flash bulbs, which were invented in 1927.
Even before this occurred, photographers had been experimenting with night time photography. One of the earliest night time photographs was taken within a decade of the invention of the daguerreotype. It was a daguerreotype taken of the moon by John Draper followed by additional daguerreotypes by John Adams Whipple and George Phillips Bond. Other photographers who experimented with photography at night time or in dark places were W.H. Fox Talbot and Nadar. They did this through the use of primitive electric light sources and flash powder, which helped extend the range of photography into the evening hours. The drawbacks of flash powder were the potential of fire and the amount of time it took the smoke to settle.
Night time photography continued in the experimental stage until the 1890’s when Alfred Stieglitz and Paul Martin demonstrated the possibilities provided by the gelatin dry-plate process. There still were not major amounts of night time photography taking place until the 1930s. This is when Brassai was photographing Paris at night and Weegee was photographing New York. In addition, Bill Brandt was photographing London and eventually took photographs by moonlight as film speed increased.
For me this has lead to iconic night time images created throughout the history of photography. Here are some of my favorites:
Trafalgar Square on a Very Wet Night, Paul Martin, circa 1896
Paris from Notre Dame, Brassai, circa 1933
Simply Add Boiling Water, Weegee, 1937
The Court of Honor, Chicago World’s Fair, 1893
The Lamplighter, Bill Brandt, circa 1930
Luna Park, Underwood & Underwood, circa 1905
Jefferson Street Gang of Newsboys, Lewis Hine,1910
Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Tyler Westcott, 2007
From its humble beginnings, photographers have been interested in taking photographs at night or in interior darkness. This ability simply owes a debt of gratitude to the invention of the gelatin dry-plate process, which allowed it to begin its march through history. It continues to do so through each technological improvement, thereby piercing the dark and giving us photographs filled with wonder.
References
- Keimig, L. W. (n.d.). A History of Night Photography. Retrieved from http://www.thenocturnes.com/resources/keimighx.html
- Admin. (2011). Night Photography - History Techniques and Examples. Retrieved from http://www.timeless11.com/night-photography-history-techniques-and-examples/
- Keimig, L. W. (2010). The History of Night Photography: From Daguerreotype to Digital. In Night Photography- Finding Your Way in the Dark. Retrieved from http://www.thenightskye.com/FYWITD_ch1.pdf
Photographs
- Retrieved from http://photoseed.com/collection/single/the-glow-of-night-new-york/
- Retrieved from http://corsodifotografiabolzonimbrera.blogspot.com/2012/01/esercitazione-moma.html
- Retrieved from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioauDcYexSOQ7SMCxu9wqyROa301aL3GVUfeXn0C6IpKgcdZnaUjLzU3e49lf7lldMpqW6fr8ZxVGtMXkowow-Kq63QS3YE63j6lDCp4AUT64WYvUgyRzZkfZuFf2Wx5dzje-bEXPYPi9i/s400/Brassa%25C3%25AF%2527s+Paris+de+Nuit.jpg
- Retrieved from http://blog.zapwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Weegee-Fire.jpg
- Retrieved from http://haygenealogy.com/hay/1893fair/1893fair.html
- Retrieved from http://quintessentiallyspirit.blogspot.com/2011/08/bill-brandt-british-society-1930s.html
- Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brilliant_Luna_Park_at_night,_Coney_Island._New_York's_great_pleasure_resort,_from_Robert_N._Dennis_collection_of_stereoscopic_views.png
- Retrieved from http://hoursofidleness.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/42.jpg
- Retrieved from http://www.techedon.com/2012/03/27/pictures/picture-of-the-day-lighthouse-time-lapse/
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