Photography

Photography

One of the most amazing inventions of men, photography is a brilliant demonstration of ingenuity. Without it, the world today may be very different. Motion pictures may not exist at all, and the internet will be pretty boring with only texts and graphics to make it entertaining. Memories of birthdays and first loves will have to be committed to memory alone without photography. Thus, the world owes French scientist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce immense accolade for discovering how to print images on bitumen-coated plates in the 1820s. Niépce pioneered the science of photography which his friend, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, further developed into the 'daguerreotype,' the first ever practical photographic process.

Photography is both art and science, a method of developing pictures based on the principles of light, optics and chemistry in the aim of capturing the beauty and the details of various subjects. According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, photography is a word that originates from the Greeks; it means "drawing with light." It plays a significant purpose in providing technical and scientific evidence, in disseminating news and information, in documenting history, in producing works of art, and in recording family events and occasions.

In the past when cameras were a novelty, Americans hire photographers to capture significant events. Today, affluent families still make use of the services of a family photographer, who maintain long-term relationships with their clients so they could competently record the most celebrated events in family life.  Most Americans, however, prefer to do the photo-taking themselves, especially with easy access and easy use of the digital camera within their reach.

Settling down in marriage and tying the knot for example, is one such important family event that needs to be beautifully documented, either by a family photographer, by a studio, or when limited by financial constraints, by a relative designated to be the official photographer.  Wedding photography, in fact, has become quite a marketable field in recent times as couples choose to preserve one of the happiest days of their lives with beautiful documentation. If planned well, wedding photography covers the journey of the couple, as soon as the groom pops the big question and lasts until the guests leave the wedding reception. As such, wedding photography includes engagement portraits, bridal portraits and wedding portraits. These portraits may be shot in various locations or in studios, and may be enhanced with light, or with digital manipulation.