Joseph Niépce

A French scientist in 1822 created what we may consider our first photograph, an engraving of Pope Pius VII. It was later destroyed allegedly after Niépce attempted to duplicate it.

Then in 1825 Joseph used the method which he named ‘Heliography’ to produce another very early picture. Etched onto a metal plate it was far more enduring than any of his previous work and it is now widely accepted that Joseph made an outstanding contribution to the world of photography.

The First Camera

1021 AD, a Persian scientist, Alhazen, discovered the smaller a pinhole whilst looking through it at an object, the sharper the image.