Pre-Digital Photographic Technology

    In the article, Lifestyle – A Brief History of the Leica Camera, asserted that the first 35mm compact portable camera invented by Oskar Barnack in 1913 was named UR-Leica. This brilliant innovation has revolutionized the field of photography to make it easier to capture photos and making it possible to take the camera anywhere. Hillary Grigonis, in the blog post 5 Surprising Ways Leica History Influenced Modern, Minimalist Photography, explained that originally the purpose of the UR Leica development was to test the exposure for a cinema camera but eventually discovered that it takes good pictures. The significant effect of the product to photography has stimulated the continuous transformation of the technology up to this day, from large box to handheld camera. If we look back from the 19th century, the process of taking picture was complicated, time-consuming and the cameras were bulky. From the video, Before There Were Pixel- Part 1, Professor Nordell described the use of the historic camera during Crimean War in 1855 that required various gears to make photography possible. Thinking thoroughly what the war photographers did previously is difficult and life threatening because of the time it takes to process the image from the moment it is taken. Imagine a war photographer like Roger Fenton documenting in the middle of the battlefield utilizing the time-consuming camera.

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      Before it has been challenging for the old large box camera to take pictures that represent action because it cannot seize moving objects. Thus, the discovery of the new technology has significantly impacted the photojournalism since the subject’s action is the essential criteria of the field. In the biography section of The Gordon Parks Foundation, Gordon Parks made a strong statement, “I saw the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.” Another article by CBS News, Photography that Changed the Way We View War, stated that “Photojournalism was born during the Civil War, though with limitations: You could take pictures before the battle, and after the battle, but not during the battle, because of the long exposures required.” After these statements, I realized that without the evolution of the camera the photojournalists would have been powerless to convincing the public’s reaction. Resulting to unmodified perception of the people to the real-world problem because of the uncovered circumstances. 

Kevin was offering hands to clear the snow on my car. The image taken on the 9th of February 2021 at the Baystate Wing Hospital, Palmer, Massachusetts. His small gesture is showing the real humanity.

    The comparison of the pre-digital to the new digital photograph is tricky to recognize but critically thinking and visualizing the image will help us determine the similarities. Firstly, both images could have the same size. Additionally, the expression of the mood for pre-digital and modern photograph can also show similarity because the object in the image influences the viewers reflection not the product itself. It doesn’t matter whether it is black and white or colored visuals. Another content that can be seen in both either image is the background. From the video, Weegee Tells How, Weegee said “I have found covering the stories as they happen, I didn’t wait till somebody gave me a job, I went and and created the job for myself, freelance photographer.” After this statement I came into conclusion that the interpretation of the image delivers the same message in either pre-digital or modern photography.