Yesterday in History

 On August 30th, 1946 a patent was filed by American inventor and physicist, Edwin H. Land. The patent titled "Apparatus for Exposing and  Processing Photographic Film" was later known as Polaroid. The instant camera and film first sold in November of 1948. The Polaroid Model 95 camera's original retail price was $95, but price quickly increase to $150 with the high demand (if sold today: $850-1350).
In 2008, Kodak discontinues selling all instant films, but to the dislike of many loyal photographers they brought it back in 2009 with the Polaroid 300 camera and film.

Want more info?
Save Polaroid
Polaroid
The Impossible Project
Inventors at About.com
Edwin H. Land

Happy Birthday to...!

Born This Week:

Aug 22nd
1902- Leni Riefenstahl; Berlin, Germany
1908- Henri Cartier-Bresson; Chanteloup, France
1922- Lenmark Nilsson; Stragnas, Sweden
Aug 23rd
1908- John Swope; New Brunswick, New Jersey
Aug 24th
1943- Mark Cohen; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Aug 26th
1930- Micha Bar-Am; Berlin, Germany
Aug 27th
1890- Man Ray (Birth name Emmanuel Radnitsky); Philadelpia, Pennsylvania
Aug 28th
1916- Louis Faurer; Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
1919- Harold Corsini; New York, New York
1921- Jean-Philippe Charbonnier; Paris, France
1928- Ugo Mulas; Pozzolengo (Brescia), Italy

Happy World Photogrpahy Day!

What is World Photography Day?

World Photography Day is all about celebrating photography and remembering how special a photograph can be.
Today, we take our photographs for granted. But next time you're flicking though photos from your last holiday, remember that there was once a time when photography didn't exist. A time when those precious moments couldn't be captured, uploaded and shared.

On August 19th of every year, many photographers, professionals to hobbyist, around the world celebrate by taking photographs in what ever medium they like and then post them to share with millions of people.

For more information on this day, photography, and how to post your photos or if you would like to view images from around the globe visit WorldPhotoDay.org

First Photographic Image

Before Daguerre and Fox-Talbot there was Joseph (Nicephore) Niepce. In 1816 Niepce (pronounced Nee-ps), using a camera obscura and patiently waiting 8 hours, produced the first ever photographic image. The image quickly faded. Then in 1824 he produced the first fixed image, this image took multiple days of exposure.

For more information on Joseph Nicephore Niepce visit this website

View from the Window at Le Gras, the first successful permanent photograph created by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827, in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes. Captured on 20 × 25 cm oil-treated bitumen. Due to the 8-hour exposure, the buildings are illuminated by the sun from both right and left.

World Photography Day is Soon

So in honor of World Photography Day on Friday August 19th, I wanted to share some Fun Foto Facts! Then I thought "Hey why not have a daily fun facts blog"! Let's do this thing then!
First Fun Foto Fact!
1839 marked the year photography was invented through 2 processes: The Daguerreotype, created by Louis Daguerre, and William Fox Talbot's, Calotype process. The Daguerreotype process was introduced first by The French Academy of Science in January (Calotype would not be introduced for another 2 years) and on August 19th, 1839, the French government announces the invention as a gift "Free to the World".