What are main differences and similarities between portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today?
Social development was the reason why portraits were important in the early years. Portraits were used to show political status and economic power, for example middle class Western Europe. Portraits were performed with an artistic sense of art like Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre inventor of the Daguerreotype Photography. Although in the early days portraits and photographs were time consuming, the meaning behind the photos are timeless. Photography in the early ages was an artistic expression, not a source of income. However today photographs can be taken by anyone who owns a camera or an electronic device that has a camera installed in it. One main difference between portraits today and the early days are, photos are much easier to take with the improvement of technology.
 |
| 1850's Fashion portrait |
In our course module article "Excerpt from a History of Photography" by Lemagny and Rouille, it states photography was practiced in two different ways during the 1850’s. One method was chiefly employed for the studio portraits, using wet collodion. The second method “was employed for a limited production, chiefly for outdoor work, and sometimes, for convenience’s sake or on particular aesthetic grounds, it might resort to the use of the calotype”.
Who was the photographer and who was the subject of photographs in the past and today?
In the past photographers equipment were expensive, having said that the subject was usually middle class to high-class clientele. These photos were taken to show their social identity statuses.
 |
| Nikon Coolpix camera |
Nevertheless the relation between photographers and their subject change over time, by having cameras more accessible by people. In today’s society cameras are mostly installed in the many electronic devices we use in every day life (cell phone, laptop, PSP etc).
What was the impact on technology on the portraits in the past and today?
Having technology has made a great impact on portraits today, this is because of the many programs that are used to adjust or improve a photo. Photoshop is one of the programs that people use today to improve any blemishes that they might want fixed.
 |
| Dove photoshop ad |
Although portraits in the past weren’t accessible to everyone, people still appreciate the time and meaning of early photography when detail and originality was a fundamental part as photographer.
References:
Freund, Gisele. "The Precursors of the Photograhic Portrait".
Legamny, Rouilee. "The Excerpt from a History of Photography". pages 36-44.
Legamny, Rouilee. "The Excerpt from a History of Photography". pages 36-44.
