09/02/2025
The history of
The First Photo Took Hours to Capture
The first known photograph, taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826, required an exposure time of about 8 hours!
Old Photos Didn't Have Smiles
People in early photographs rarely smiled because long exposure times made holding a smile difficult. Additionally, formal expressions were the norm in portraits.
The Oldest Known Color Photo
The first color photograph was taken in 1861 by physicist James Clerk Maxwell using three different color filters: red, green, and blue.
Kodak's Role in the Moon Landing
Cameras used during the Apollo 11 mission were specially designed by Hasselblad and used Kodak film to capture the first images on the moon.
The Word 'Photography' is Greek
The term "photography" is derived from Greek words meaning "light" (phos) and "drawing" (graphé), essentially meaning "drawing with light."
The First Digital Camera
The first digital camera was invented in 1975 by an engineer at Kodak, Steve Sasson. It weighed 8 pounds and recorded a 0.01 MP image onto a cassette tape!
Birds Played a Role in Spy Photography
In the early 20th century, pigeons were used to carry tiny cameras that captured aerial photographs during wartime.
Photographs Can Age Lightly Over Time
Early black-and-white photographs are surprisingly durable, but color photos from before the 1980s are prone to fading due to unstable dyes used in printing.
Mirror Selfies in the 1800s
The concept of a selfie isn’t new—Robert Cornelius, a pioneer of photography, took what is considered the first photographic self-portrait in 1839.
The World's Most Expensive Photo
The photo "Phantom" by Peter Lik was sold for a record-breaking $6.5 million in 2014, making it the most expensive photograph ever sold.