The idea of cameras has been around since 40-390 BC. The camera's working system was discovered by the Chinese philosopher, Mozi.
In 965-1039 AD, Ibn al-Haytham / Alhazen invented the camera obscura / darkroom. This camera shows how light can be used to project images on a flat surface.
In 1927, Joseph Nicephore Niepce succeeded in taking a photo with a camera he made himself. He used the heliography technique or what is known as writing with light, using a tin plate coated with Bitumen of Judea (a type of natural asphalt) which was placed inside the camera obscura. The light entering through the hole is projected (in reverse) onto the tin plate. After 8 hours, the bitumen exposed to light hardens, while the other part remains soft so it can be removed with liquid. The process takes a long time, but the image does not last long, and fades quickly.
The first photo by Joseph Nicephore Niepce on a plate (left); Enhanced photo by Helmut Gersheim showing a view of Niepce from the window of his room at Le Gras (Right)
In 1900, George Lawrence created the largest camera used by the Chicago & Alton Railway to capture the city of San Francisco in photographs. It takes 15 people to operate the camera with a total weight of 400kg.
