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The History of Analogue Photography
Kamera Express
From Film Roll to Megapixel
The History of Analog Photography
Analog photography is completely back in style! Vintage is trendy, and old stories are more popular than ever. That’s why we’re offering a timeline here—not a Facebook timeline, but a classic historical timeline.
Discover how photography evolved over the years. You can see photography as the successor to painting and the predecessor of film. Travel back in time with us: from film roll to megapixel.
1816: The First Optical Photograph
Joseph Niépce created the first optical photograph after several years of experimentation. He exposed a plate coated with light-sensitive material to light inside a camera obscura. The camera obscura is the predecessor of photography (dating back to the 4th century BC—Aristotle already wrote about it). It was a dark room or box with a small pinhole. Through this hole, an inverted projection of the outside world appeared on the wall. Artists traced or painted this projection. Once the light disappeared, the image vanished.
Niépce coated the plate in his camera obscura with bitumen (a type of asphalt). He exposed it to light for over 8 hours. A burned-in image was created. This was the first photograph! It shows the view from Niépce’s workspace at the Le Gras estate in the French village of Saint-Loup-de-Varennes in Burgundy, France. He called his technique heliography.
In short, you could say that he equipped the camera obscura with a light-sensitive back panel.
1839: Daguerre Creates the First Sharp Photograph
Daguerre presented his invention to the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. He improved Niépce’s method and used a type of plate (the daguerreotype) coated with specific chemicals. The razor-sharp photo appeared when the plate was treated with another chemical (later known as developing).
Over time, this method was improved further. It became possible to replace the plate with paper, creating a paper print. Photography kept evolving. It became possible to fix the image, and the introduction of the lens resulted in shorter exposure times.
Especially the Hungarian Petzval lens (released in 1840) with an aperture of f/3.5 reduced exposure time significantly.
Lenses became sharper and more light-sensitive over the years. Essentially, the foundation of photography consists of three elements: the camera, the lens, and the system used to capture and preserve the image. It remains magical that you can translate a fragment of reality into a physical picture.
Between 1841 and 1850, the negative was invented—though no specific year is tied to it. Thanks to the negative, it became possible to make multiple prints of the same image.
1861: The First Color Photograph
Clerk Maxwell invented color photography, unlocking many new possibilities. Previously, photos were usually hand-colored (photochrome process), but this was no longer necessary. The editing process became far more efficient.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first reasonably affordable camera appeared: Kodak’s Brownie. You could hold it in your hand and easily take it with you. From then on, everyone could take their own photos. Similar cameras soon appeared worldwide.
1930: The Arrival of 35mm Film
Introducing 35mm negatives—still used in analog cameras today. Between 1930 and 2000, photos were generally developed in darkrooms by both professionals and hobby photographers, using chemical baths and red lighting.
1940: The First Consumer SLR Cameras
The first single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras became available to consumers. With a flip-up mirror, they directed light to the negative (or sensor). The mirror flipped up when the shutter was released to let light hit the negative. It allowed photographers to see exactly what they were capturing through the viewfinder.
1960: Color Photos for Consumers
During this period, the first consumer color photographs appeared (though experimentation started already in the 1930s).
It took some time before everyone could make color photos. Early processes struggled to capture the color red, making images look unrealistic. Before color photography became accessible, black-and-white photos were hand-colored—an art form in itself.
1960s–1970s:
Despite the availability of color photography, many people still used black-and-white. The quality of color prints left much to be desired, they were expensive, and the colors faded quickly in sunlight. Thankfully, new film types and cameras emerged, making color photography increasingly popular.
During this era, Polaroid introduced the first instant camera with its iconic image format. You could immediately see the results of your photo, printing it right after shooting.
1980s: The Rise of Digital Photography
The first electronic scanners and digital cameras entered the market. From that moment, digital photography gained popularity. Cameras with more megapixels were developed rapidly. Professional-quality photos could now be reviewed and processed almost instantly.
1990: Adobe Photoshop Hits the Market
Adobe Photoshop became the standard for digital photo editing, replacing the darkroom. Editing photos became easier than ever.
2004: Camera Phones Become Universal
While camera phones had existed for a while, by 2004 it was hard to find a phone without a built-in camera.
2021: Visual Culture Everywhere
We think increasingly in images and share them widely on our social media channels. Taking a photo is effortless, whether with a digital camera, analog camera, or smartphone.
Photography continues to evolve. New cameras with new functions appear constantly. At the same time, second-hand analog equipment is more popular than ever. Analog photography is thriving. There’s even a magazine entirely dedicated to it: whattaroll.com. Check hashtags like #analogphotography or #lomography on Instagram and you’ll see how often these terms are used today. It’s no coincidence that many analog photographers feature the line: “Why film is not dead!”
In the end, light remains the main character in photography. You need light to expose a photo. This is true for both analog and digital photography. The method Niépce used back then is still the basic principle of photography today. The pinhole of the old box camera has become the lens, and the light-sensitive back wall has become the electronic sensor.
What’s Next?
At Kamera Express, we continue to follow the newest photographic developments and trends, driven by expertise and passion for photography. What will be the next addition to the timeline of photography history? We’re just as curious as you, and we will keep you updated on our website and social media channels (Facebook and Instagram).
Want to learn more about this topic? Watch the fascinating series from the George Eastman Museum about the origins of photography.
Also read our interview with Ton Hermans, the 90-year-old photographer who worked with analog cameras for decades. But age means nothing—young photographer Jawad also shoots on film.
