Study Sheet: Early Photography and Cinema PDF

Study Sheet: Early Photography and Cinema Early Photography Key Figures Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazan) ○ Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher (b. 965 Basra, Iraq - d. 1040 Cairo, Egypt). ○ Created the first pinhole camera (later named camera obscura). ○ Demonstrated s...

Study Sheet: Early Photography and Cinema Early Photography Key Figures Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazan) ○ Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher (b. 965 Basra, Iraq - d. 1040 Cairo, Egypt). ○ Created the first pinhole camera (later named camera obscura). ○ Demonstrated sunlight on a camel reflecting through a tiny hole in a tent, creating an image. Johann Heinrich Schulze (1717) ○ German physician who discovered that silver salts darkened when exposed to sunlight. ○ Captured cut-out letters on a bottle of light-sensitive slurry but did not create a permanent image. Thomas Wedgwood (1800) ○ First known to attempt capturing images on light-sensitive materials; created impermanent shadow images (photograms). ○ Often referred to as “the first photographer” for his conceptual breakthroughs. Joseph Nicephore Niepce (1826) ○ Achieved the first successful permanent image on a metal plate (pewter). ○ Exposure time was approximately 8 hours. William Henry Fox Talbot (1835) ○ Created the first image on paper. Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre ○ Developed the daguerreotype: a highly polished silver plate sensitized with toxic iodine vapors to capture images. ○ Exposure time for daguerreotypes was about 20 minutes. ○ His first successful daguerreotype was produced in 1837. ○ By 1853, over three million daguerreotypes were made annually in North America. ○ Contributed to the composition techniques in photography. Major Developments Camera Obscura ○ A darkened box, tent, or room with a small hole that reproduces external scenes inverted and reversed, but with preserved color and perspective. Key Innovations in Photography ○ Calotype: An early photographic process using paper coated with silver iodide. ○ Cyanotype: Known for producing blueprints. ○ Collodion Wet Plate: A photographic process using glass plates.  ○ Ambrotype: A positive image on glass. ○ Tin Type: A positive photograph on thin metal. Commercialization and Impact Carte-de-visite (1848) ○ The first mass-produced postcards, leading to a surge in photography popularity and celebrity photographers. Rosalie Sofie Sjöman ○ An early Swedish photographer who became a highly regarded portrait photographer in Stockholm during the mid-1860s. Early Cinema Pioneers in Motion Photography Eadweard Muybridge (1869) ○ Invented a shutter allowing the capture of motion. ○ Conducted a series of sequential photographs of a horse in motion (1877) to settle a bet regarding horse gait. ○ Demonstrated that all four hooves of a horse could leave the ground. Persistence of Vision ○ The phenomenon allowing the eye/brain to retain an image for a brief moment, aiding the development of motion pictures. Early Filmmaking George Méliès ○ A pioneering filmmaker known for blending science and entertainment, playful storytelling, and special effects. ○ Created “A Trip To The Moon,” integrating illusion and narrative in film. Edwin Porter ○ Directed “The Great Train Robbery” (1903), notable for its complex storytelling, editing, and production values, including real-time vs. cinematic time, camera movement, and use of color. Film Exhibition Growth First cinema in Europe opened in 1897; North America followed in 1902. Rapid growth of cinema: ○ 1,000 cinemas by 1905. ○ 5,000 cinemas by 1908. Film Loss and Preservation Approximately 80-90% of silent films are lost forever due to neglect and historical documentation issues. Lost filmmakers also represent lost contributions to film history, highlighting the importance of archival preservation. Alice Guy-Blaché Career Highlights ○ Hired in 1894 as a secretary for a camera manufacturing company, later became a pioneering filmmaker. ○ Directed, produced, and oversaw more than 700 films from 1896 to 1920; generally considered the first filmmaker to systematically develop narrative filmmaking. ○ Served as Gaumont's head of production from 1896 to 1906, making notable films such as “The Life of Christ” (1906), which included 300 extras. Innovations ○ One of the first to use audio recordings in conjunction with film (Gaumont's "Chronophone"). ○ Employed special effects techniques, including double exposure and masking. Legacy ○ Co-founded The Solax Company in 1910, one of the largest pre-Hollywood studios in America. ○ Directed over 1,000 films, with 350 surviving today, many in poor condition. ○ Subject of a National Film Board of Canada documentary titled The Lost Garden: The Life and Cinema of Alice Guy-Blaché. Key Concepts in Film Imagery = Emotion Historical Context: Essential for analyzing films. Art as Politics / Politics as Art German Expressionism A cinematic movement reflecting the inner conflicts of its 1920s German audience through visual distortion and hyper-expressive performances. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919) ○ Directed by Robert Wiene, who aimed to bring expressionism to various media. ○ Characterized by twisted, fantastical visuals and a unique use of light and shadow. Notable Films and Techniques F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu  ○ Known for innovative use of color palette, production design, shadow, and geometric shapes. ○ Murnau's portrayal of Graf Orlok as a nightmarish, spidery creature marked a significant departure from traditional vampire depictions. ○ Influenced later filmmakers, including Tim Burton. Conclusion The evolution of photography into cinema showcases a remarkable journey of innovation, artistic expression, and the impact of historical context on the visual arts. Key figures such as Daguerre, Méliès, and Guy-Blaché played crucial roles in shaping the mediums we explore today. Understanding these early developments enhances appreciation for contemporary film and photography.