Picture perfect: photographic innovations

In the middle of the 19th century, photography was in its infancy. Certain individuals devoted themselves to developing the practice, while people specializing in other fields of study developed this new medium for their own purposes. Already a painter and photographer of renown at the time, Gustave Le Gray developed a new kind of paper negative, which he used in 1851 when he took part in the Mission Héliographique ('heliographic mission'), a photography project aimed documenting the architectural heritage of France.

During the Second French Empire, photography was sometimes criticized and often mocked. Despite this, it was becoming increasingly popular, with more and more photographers opening their own studios. By the end of the 19th century, people of all backgrounds had had their photo taken, leading society to wonder if photography would soon eliminate the notion of social class.

From the invention of photography, even as enhanced, hand-painted images were produced, the possibility of direct shooting in color was often considered. As early as 1857, Testud de Beauregard invented photochromism, a process involving the tinting of photographic prints using different chemical mixtures. The discoveries made in the field of chemistry meant that photographic techniques progressed considerably throughout the 19th century.

As inventions progressed, the devices became simpler and the equipment became easier to use. The processes were refined and became more widespread. The various products needed also became more accessible. As a consequence, photography could be practiced outside the studio and the prospects of those who practiced it expanded.

Long before the invention of photography, no doubt since the camera obscura, scholarly minds were searching for solutions to move on from still images to animated images. The development of photographic processes and cameras allowed these dreams to come true. People were interested in animated images for a wide variety of reasons: Some people had a scientific interest in animation, such as Georges Demenÿ and Étienne-Jules Marey who studied human locomotion.