This still life, shot in 1837, is the world’s earliest reliably dated daguerreotype.
Most early photos used thedaguerreotype processinvented by Louis Daguerre, but technical inventions have created endless possibilities for photographers.
The original plate is on the left and the colorized reoriented version is on the right.
This still life, shot in 1837, is the world’s earliest reliably dated daguerreotype. (Photo: Louis Daguerre viaWikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
The shot was taken from an upstairs window at Niepce’s estate in Burgundy, France.
World’s First Self-Portrait
First self-portrait photo taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 2009, it wassold at Sotheby’sfor $62,500.
The first photograph ever taken (or earliest surviving photograph) in 1826 or 1827. The original plate is on the left and the colorized reoriented version is on the right. (Photo: Jonnychiwa viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
Unfortunately, the first photo of New York, which shows the Unitarian Church, is now lost.
Taken from his rooftop observatory at New York University, the image has since sustained extensive damage.
It is the worlds first photograph of Paris and the first photo containing humans.
First self-portrait photo taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Robert Cornelius viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
It shows Prussian soldiers advancing on the French positions.
But it’s this image from 1870 that is thought to be the first photograph of an actual battle.
The first photograph of a sitting president was taken in 1841 but has now been lost.
Oldest surviving photograph of New York, depicting Manhattan’s Upper West side, 1848 (Photo: Public domain)
It depicted short-lived president William Henry Harrison before he passed away from pneumonia just 31 days after taking office.
Even with just a 1/60th exposure, it’s possible to see sunspots.
Since the 1800s, scientists and photographers alike have been trying to capture the sun withincreasing detailas technology improves.
First photo of the moon, 1840 (Photo: John W. Draper viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The incredible image was captured during the orbiter’s 16th lap around the Moon.
The subject is a tartan ribbon.
The subject of the image?
Daguerreotype photograph made by Louis Daguerre in 1838, depicting Place de la République with two human figures in the left-hand corner. It is the world’s first photograph of Paris and the first photo containing humans. (Photo: Louis Daguerre viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
A colored ribbon, also known as a tartan ribbon.
Taken off the Florida Keys, it shows a hogfish.
The duo took this pioneering shot by encasing cameras in waterproof housing and using a magnesium-powered flash.
First photo of actual combat taken in 1870 by Carol Popp de Szathmari, a Romanian photographer. It shows Prussian soldiers advancing on the French positions. (Photo: Carol Popp de Szathmari, Public domain)
First Digital Photo
The worlds first digital photo, taken in 1957.
Capturing the son of Walden Kirsch, this image is also one of the first scanned images.
Official photographerPete Souzaholds the honor with his portrait ofBarack Obama.
First photograph of U.S. President, featuring John Quincy Adams, 1843 (Photo: Philip Haas, Public domain)
His photo depicts South Beach harbor at Pier 38.
That’s incredibly close when one considers that Earth is located 91 million miles from the Sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the first photograph taken?
First photograph of the sun, 1845 (Photo: Louis Fizeau & Leon Foucault, Public domain)
Theworld’s first photographor at least the oldest surviving photowas taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1826 or 1827.
When was the first color photograph taken?
The subject of the image was a colored ribbon, also known as a tartan ribbon.
First known photograph of a tornado, 1884 (Photo: A.A. Adams, Public domain)
Who took the first photograph?
Joseph Nicephore Niepce took the world’s first photograph in 1826 or 1827.
First aerial photograph, 1860 (Photo: James Wallace Black & Samuel Archer King, Public domain)
First photo of Earth taken from the Moon (Photo: NASA viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
First color photograph taken in 1861 by Thomas Sutton (using the three-color method developed by James Clerk Maxwell in 1855). The subject is a tartan ribbon. (Photo: James Clerk Maxwell viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
First underwater photograph in color, 1926 (Photo: Charles Martin & William Longley, Public domain)
The world’s first digital photo, taken in 1957. Capturing the son of Walden Kirsch, this image is also one of the first scanned images. (Photo: Russell A. Kirsch viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
First official portrait of Barack Obama as President of the United States and the first photograph of the POTUS taken with a digital camera, 2009. (Photo: Pete Souza viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: NASA/Naval Research Laboratory/Parker Solar Probe
Photo: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
