People of all cultures and ages get excited about the magic of capturing a loved one's smile, the changing colours of a sunset, or a baby's expression.
What was thought to be a miracle two hundred years ago is now just a normal part of life.
The
When the simple black box was invented in France, it sparked the start of an industry that has changed as quickly as the technology needed for any modern product.
There are now cameras that are so cheap that you can even throw them away after you use one roll of film.
They also come in the most complicated, computerised packages that only the wealthiest professionals would even think about buying. Even though the idea for the camera started to come together around the
Around the turn of the century, more people could afford to buy a camera, have their film developed, or have a professional photo taken. By the 1930s and 1940s, most people had a special place in their hearts for cameras. Since then, thousands of brands and models have come and gone.
have come out, only to be replaced by the most up-to-date technology.
The older camera had a bellows so that the distance between the lens and the film could be changed. This made it easier to focus. People who used bellows-style cameras were most worried about making a small pinhole that let in too much light. being opened and shut a thousand times
had a tendency to get cracks where they folded. The problem with the bellows leaking ruined many pictures, which was sad for the photographer.
Photographers wanted things like film on a roll instead of having to use a plate, which they got after a while. Then, there were ways to stop the film so that it could be wound to the next spot more accurately. Many people liked that the camera didn't let you do double exposures.
photographers. When flash was added in a way that made it useful, camera sales went through the roof.
The first movies were silent and only came in black and white. The same was true for the first still cameras, which could only use black and white film. The two fields moved forward at the same time. Once one company had colour film technology, the other quickly copied its products. Slides with colours and
People liked to use slide projectors to show their friends the pictures they took on vacation. It wasn't long before a regular homeowner could make a colour movie of their kids. When sound started being added to movies in theatres, movie fans started adding sound to their home movies. A professional developer was sent that home movie film to process it.
The rate at which new technologies were made sped up. The time of the Video Camcorder and the Digital Camera came when everyone had a computer. Instant pictures! Instant movies. No work needs to be done. Everything happens when you play back right away!
One thing about cameras that hasn't changed over the years is the excitement and magic of capturing a moment in time that can be kept forever and shared with everyone.
Cameras have made the world seem smaller in our minds and have helped people of different cultures and races get along better with each other. This is the most valuable thing about a camera.