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Photography, an Art Born of Philosophy and Science. Some Interesting Things in Photography’s Early History.
Photography is an art that is born out of philosophy and science. From Mo-Tzu, DaVinci and the Camera Obscura. A love of history is impossible to suppress. And in art, history is ever more vibrant and fascinating because it bears its fruits in some of the most beautiful things that human beings can create. Masterpieces in art tells history through incredible beauty.
Although, the history of photography is different somewhat in tone to that of the classical masters that we are more familiar with. Different in its historical narrative from other forms of fine art perhaps because it was not arts child. Photography was not born an art. It became an art. Of all the genres of art recognised today photography is sitting at that dinner table, but not quite sure if its by legitimate invitation. Photography as an art has always been a bit of a misfit (albeit a fashionable one) is most likely due to its fusion of technology and function. Its birth was not from artistic origins. It was technical, pragmatic and scientific.
There are a few interesting points in this short post that I’d like to share. Since we speak of photography and identify it to be a captured image by a tool such as that of a camera, it makes sense we look at the first image that is recorded to be the first photograph as we know it.
The Worlds Oldest Surviving Photograph
Was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (1765-1833) circa 1826-1827. It is an image that was taken from his window and titled as such.
Image ref: Musee Nicéphore Niépce
It was made using a method that he invented, Heliography, and plays an important role in the development of modern photography. Niepce used a camera obscura to render this image. The first image that was successful ‘in recording reality’. The name ‘heliography’ comes from two words. Helios, in Greek which means sun and ‘graphic’ meaning writing’. Simply translates as writing with the sun.
Niepce’s Method, Heliography
The mixture used by Niepce uses a highly polished metal place with light-sensitive chemicals. He treated a heated pewter plate with bitumen of Judea or Syrian asphalt (this is a naturally occurring asphalt with light-sensitive properties). He then placed this pewter plate inside a camera obscura, otherwise known as a pinhole camera. This camera was placed facing outside of his open window. They supposed he kept this camera open for a minimum of 8 hours and maybe as long as two days.
The bitumen would harden where the light touched it the strongest. You wouldn’t be able to see the image until the bitumen that wasn’t so hardened by the sun was scraped off. Even though this is a successful reproduction of an image that was first recorded, it was not able to be reproduced. It created one single image.
There is great online exhibition by the Nicephore Niepce Museum that goes into this in beautiful detail.
Camera Obscura
Images fascinate the world. Images perhaps shape the world too. Yet what makes this possible is the tool that allows us to do this. And the history of how the present-day camera evolved reveals an older and fascinating story. A camera obscura existed long before there was ever a record of the first photograph.
The ‘camera obscura’ as it later became known, is Latin and translates to ‘dark chamber’. Because it quite simply means a dark room with a hole in one wall. When it’s light outside, the light comes through the small hole in the wall and projects an image of the outside world onto the opposite wall inside. This image appears upside down.
The first historical record of the concept of ‘camera obscura’ is from Mo-Tzu or Mozi circa 400BC. A Chinese philosopher who founded Mohism. He was also known as ‘Master Mo.’
Mo Tzu, Philosophy and Photography
Mo-tzu’s writings describe ‘light from an illuminated object that passed through a pinhole into a dark room created an inverted image of the original object.’ Mo-Tzu referred to the camera obscura as a ‘collecting plate’ or a ‘locked treasure room’.
Mo-Tzu is a prolific thinker and philosopher with books of his teachings that are considered a rival to Confucious. A main principle that he taught is an impartial love for all without distinction ‘jianai‘. Encouraging self-reflection, introspection and authenticity in one’s self-cultivation.
“The task of the benevolent is surely to diligently seek to promote the benefit of the world and eliminate harm to the world and to take this as a model throughout the world. Does it benefit people? Then do it. Does it not benefit people? Then stop.” (Mòzǐ 32: 1, C. Fraser transl.)
(Mòzǐ 32: 1, C. Fraser transl.)
Mohist teachings reminded thinkers that for any proposition, you should analyse its basis, its verifiability and its applicability. The philosophy of our Ancient forefathers is a treasure in itself. It’s a deviation from camera theory but a wonderful connection in our history. It is poetic that the first mention of the camera obscura, which is an invention that aids our vision of the world, was first mentioned by such a wise mind whose teachings were for the betterment of society.
Aristotle and an Eclipse
In 300 BC Aristotle knew about the camera obscura. He observed and recorded that a partial eclipse could be viewed by looking at the ground beneath a tree. The crescent shape of the partially eclipsed sun projected onto the ground through the holes in a sieve and the gaps between the leaves allowing him to view it safely.
There are several other accounts in history where scientists experimented with the idea of light through a small hole but it was in the 11th century that a screen was used to see the inverted image. That would make this the historical version of what would be ‘sensors ‘ in our digital cameras today.
Ibn al-Haytham and his studies in optics that changed the course of science.
Amidst all the early accounts of the camera obscura, historian have attributed the invention finally to a mathematician named Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen).
Image ref Link by independent press.cc
His research in optics is groundbreaking. The Ibn al-Haytham’s Book of Optics, which illustrates the eyes and optic nerves is the oldest drawing of the nervous system that we know of. His work researching sight and vision led him to his invention of the first camera obscura.
Photography Born out of Brilliant, Curious Minds
The journey of photography’ development continued throughout history. Always appearing among philosophers, mathematicians and physicists. Four centuries later Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) suggested that the human eye is like a camera obscura. He went on to publish a clear description of the camera obscura in Codex Atlanticus in 1502.
Soon after the design of the camera obscura was improved by another Italian scholar named Giambattista della Porta (1535 – 1615) who came along and added a concave lens near to where light enters the pinhole.
Bringing us to Johannes Kepler. Kepler used the term “camera obscura” for the first time in 1604. Because his work is in astronomy, Kepler created a portable version of the camera obscura. One that he could carry around with him as a tent. He would take this with him on trips for surveying in Upper Austria.
History part of Identity
As individuals, we have memories and biological and experiential histories. It contributes to shaping who we are whether by choice or not. Often there are times we go in search of our history, as a way of finding out more about ourselves. When revisiting some points in the cameras’ and photographys’ history, I imagine that photography is an art born out of science benefit also from knowing its roots and history.
As one of the fastest changing disciplines, you can say that amongst the fine art disciplines photography is a radical child. Photography was born out of questioning minds. The passion to seek out knowledge. Curiosity and intellectual appetites. Photography grew up on the outskirts of convention right from the beginning. It is no wonder that at least technologically, it continues to challenge itself and surpass its limits.
But we should remember the intellectual spirit of the philosopher in which photography today was born. ‘A treasure locked room’. The spirit of the thinker that heralded the beginning of an art that was born out of mind and science. Whereby it is not only an art of observation but of critical analysis and pioneering discoveries. The camera is a culmination of both the explorer and the observer. This rich duality in the nature of photography is artistic and beautiful.
D.D Reich
Check Out Manus, a Conscious Journey. A Sawidji Collaboration incorporating visual art, photography and film. Exploring the question ‘what makes us human?’
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Dian, I loved reading the photography article. I am learning. You should be a professor. hugs, Sterling
Really happy you are enjoying the articles Sterling. Thank you very much, we appreciate the feedback!