Photography Skills For a Lifetime
Most people think that photography did not come about until the mid-1800s, and in a sense, they are right, but many discoveries that made today's photography possible came far earlier. The first camera invented, in fact, was a pinhole camera made by Ibn al Haytham (965-1040). The important discovery of silver nitrate by Albertus Magnus came in the 13th century, followed later by silver chloride. In 1694, the photochemical effect of light on chemicals was earliest described by Wilhelm Homberg.
All of these contributions led to the development of photography in the 19th century. In 1826, the very first enduring photograph was made by Nicephore Niepce. Just in time for soldiers going off to the American Civil War, commercial photography was in its infancy. All the boys going off to fight wanted to leave behind a tiny tintype or ambrotype for his family or special girl. Though there are only very rare action photographs from the war, the Civil War has the illustrious distinction of being our first conflict with a photographic record.
As photography advanced, more careers opened up, and it also became a hobby for thousands of curious folks worldwide. Newspapers needed photographers, magazines were inaugurated to showcase photography, photographers were always wanted for family portraits. In the 21st century there are any number of careers for photographers, from crime scene investigation work to news to work in NASA or other scientific arenas. Photographers circle the globe capturing every facet of human culture as well as animal and plant life. They witness natural beauty at which the rest of us can only sit home and marvel.
Anyone with an interest, however, can take up photography for themselves, today. With distance education courses, studying is fun and interesting. The coursework can teach you all aspects of the field, whether you use a digital or 35 mm camera.
You do not even have to be thinking about a career, you can simply pick courses that will help you take great pictures of your kids or photograph the spider webs that cover your garden in the morning light. Whatever your interest, photography is a useful thing to learn.