Daguerreotype

Depending on what website you look at, it seems that every single day, or week, of the year is an International event.

World ….. Day

World ….. Week

This week (3-9 Aug) e.g. is World Breastfeeding Week. In a few days it’s the UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. And on the 19th August it’s World Photography Day. If you want to upload your favourite photograph(s) - then look no further.

The question I had though was why the 19th August? Random date…

Well it turns out that this date was chosen to commemorate the invention of the daguerreotype.

Ah at last I hear you say, I was beginning to wonder what this word had to do with World Squirrel Day… Is there one?

Moving quickly on and to address the elephant in the room - how do you even pronounce daguerreotype? Never mind what they actually are.

Well for English speakers - try “duh·geh·ruh·tipe” - and you won’t be too far off.

Fine. And…? What is it?

Well - and this is from WikiP so it must be true - it’s a photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre (French scientist) in 1837. This process was officially announced by the French government as a gift to the world on August 19th, 1839.

Hence - World Photography Day.

I’ve actually seen one. A duh·geh·ruh·tipe that is. In the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. One of the very earliest. And you’re looking at my iPhone capture of a daguerreotype. Exciting ;)

Talk about A to Z.

You thought pin-hole cameras were the beginning? You’re around 20 years late. Incredible actually the development of things back in the day. From the very earliest recorded captures of images to what you and I would call a camera, was in the late 1800’s.

And of course cameras need film (at least they did then!).

Which was developed (no pun intended) by George Eastman. Aka Eastman Kodak. George started manufacturing paper film in 1885 before switching to celluloid in 1888–1889. His first camera, which he called the "Kodak", was first offered for sale in 1888.

And as they say the rest is history.

Oh - there is a World Pinhole Photography Day on the last Sunday of April.

Don’t say you weren’t told.