Imagine you are looking at a picture from a top photographer of the past - Ansel Adams, maybe. Let's say it's his picture of Half Dome, taken in the winter of 1938 at Yosemite National Park. The composition, light and exposure are all superb. There's no mistaking that it's a wonderful picture. But what does it tell you about 1938? Answer: nothing.
Now look at a snapshot from the same year. It might be slightly blurred, under-exposed and badly composed, but it could help you learn what people of that time looked like, how they dressed, where they took their holidays, how they lived, the cars they drove... and much more.
It isn’t always easy to pinpoint exactly when a trend, photographic or otherwise, began. But with snapshot photography there is a definite starting point. The year was 1888, the camera was called The Kodak – the first time that name had been used – and it was the world’s first roll-film camera, aimed at people with no real experience of photography.
The Kodak came ready-loaded with enough film for 100 exposures. At the end of the roll, camera and film were returned to the Eastman works for developing and printing. The camera was reloaded with a new film and returned to the photographer with the negatives and mounted prints. Until then, the word ‘snapshot’ referred to a gunshot fired quickly without seriously aiming at a fast-moving target. Now, for the first time, it was applied to camera usage. Snapshot photography for the masses had arrived.
SNAPSHOT CAMERAS
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 10, 2023-Ausgabe von Amateur Photographer.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 10, 2023-Ausgabe von Amateur Photographer.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
140 years of change
AP has become the world’s oldest surviving consumer photo magazine because we have moved with the times, says Nigel Atherton
Preserving history in platinum
A deep dive into the meticulous art of platinum printing, and the collaboration between the Royal Geographical Society and Salto Ulbeek. Mike Crawford explores how they brought historical photographs to life with enduring beauty and precision
Life in the past lane
What was life like for an amateur photographer in 1884? John Wade takes a trip back in time
Choice cuts
How many trillions of photographs must have been taken in the past 140 years? Amy Davies asked some of our regular contributors for their favourites....a difficult task, to say the least
How good a camera can you buy for just £140?
Three members of the AP team see what they can find for the money
Round Five: The Best of the Rest
The APOY judges choose their favourite images that didn’t make the top ten of our Landscapes category
Amateur Photographer of the Year
Here are the top ten images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round Five, Landscapes, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge
FILM STARS A lifetime of landmarks
Cameras that hit the headlines between then and now. John Wade is your guide
140 years of Amateur Photographer
As AP celebrates its 140th birthday next month, Nigel Atherton looks back at its glorious past
John Wade considers...World War II: Home Front 1940, by A.J O'Brien
Say the word 'Wall's' to those of a certain age and two things spring to mind: sausages and ice cream.