BELOW is my picture of the worlds earliest surviving negative it was taken in august 1835 and fox Talbot mouse traps cameras priceless artefacts from birth off photography
The world’s earliest surviving negative was taken in August 1835 by William Henry Fox Talbot. This negative, a latticed window at Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, along with several examples of the mousetrap cameras which were used by Fox Talbot to produce these very first photographic images—priceless artefacts from the birth of photography—are preserved in our archives here in Bradford.
I love the history off the photography really was very engaging and inspiring to walk the grounds off the william talbot Fox
Little history below
In October 1833, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877), gentleman, scholar and amateur scientist, was honeymooning on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. Like many travellers of the time, he attempted to sketch the beautiful scenery. However, despite his many other talents, Talbot was a poor draughtsman and the results were, in his own words, ‘melancholy to behold’.
Frustrated by his lack of artistic ability, Talbot dreamily reflected on the perfect yet elusive images created by the camera obscura, a popular artists’ drawing aid. This, he later recalled, was the moment of inspiration which led to the invention of photography.
How charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durably, and remain fixed upon the paper!
Upon his return to England, Talbot immediately began experimenting with paper made light-sensitive by coating it with silver salts. He soon succeeded in making what he called ‘photogenic drawings’—negative, silhouette images of objects such as leaves or lace, produced by direct contact-printing.
Naturally, Talbot also tried to capture images directly from nature by placing his photogenic drawing paper in a camera obscura, but found that the comparative insensitivity of the paper, combined with the limited aperture of the lens, meant that an image was obtained only after a very long exposure.
In the summer of 1835, helped by a spell of particularly sunny weather, Talbot tried again.
Crucially, he had by this time devised a process of improving the sensitivity of his paper. He had also correctly reasoned that exposure times could be shortened by using a camera with a small image size and a large aperture lens.
Consequently, Talbot had made a number of small wooden boxes—two- or three-inch cubes, which he fitted with lenses taken from the eyepieces of telescopes and microscopes.
There is an undocumented tradition that these first photographic cameras were made by a local carpenter named Joseph Foden. Some, however, are too crudely made to be the work of any self-respecting craftsman. One camera, possibly the earliest, was made by simply sawing what looks like a cigar box in half, so it is quite possible that Talbot made at least some of them himself.
Talbot placed these boxes around the family home, Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, and waited for the sun to work its ‘little bit of magic’.
In a letter, Talbot’s wife, Constance, wrote about the what might be perceived as eccentric behaviour of her husband and referred to these little boxes as ‘mousetraps’. The name has stuck and they are now usually referred to as Talbot’s mousetrap cameras. On reflection, they do indeed resemble simple traps, designed in this case, however, to capture the sun rather than unwanted pests.
I had to start my journey at lacock abbey in Wiltshire where harry potter was partly filmed but the main draw for me was because William henry fox Talbot lived there 1800-1877 a English scientist, inventor and photography pioneer who invented the salt paper and calotype process late 19th and 20 th centuries.
in 1840 he worked photomechanical reproduction led to the creation of the photglyphic engraving process, the precursor to photogravure he he held the patent which effected off commercial photography.
such a inspiring place for me to start learning the history just inspired me more and knowing i was walking the room he had was pretty cool .
the gem off my day was walking through lacock abbey and taking a picture off the the famous latticed window as it was the earliest photograph taken in existence solely through the action of light and chemicals he brushed a piece off writing paper with salt and sliver nitrate placed it in a small wooden camera on a mantel piece opposite the window may taken hrs for exposure.
for me being there taking pictures felt humbling exciting but quite a task but here are my favourite moments so far off this day 30 mins was great people did put me off by chatting and was super excited to have a look at my photography journey begins
I took from this downloading and files are hard work for me and at times my focus on pictures was pretty off and my shutter speed I think isnt set up correctly my camera may still need adjustment but the process is engaging and am enjoying learning yes at times its frustrating technically its difficult with the editing ect but am super keen to learn.
I loved the curves lines and shades off the abbey so much detail and the ceilings are fantastic. I tried to follow the curves instead off just taking the easier option on photographing in a straight line even though I still found it incredibly beautiful.
The Cloisters I found lined up beautifully taken from right side and the light coming through the windows just gave more structure to the picture very stunning through the lense .
Below are my pictures off my day
Tammi marie lummes 