New
New
Year 1

The challenges of early photography

I can describe some of the challenges of early photography and compare these with photography today.

New
New
Year 1

The challenges of early photography

I can describe some of the challenges of early photography and compare these with photography today.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Early photography was not like photography today, which is quick, easy and available to everyone.
  2. Not everyone could afford a photographer to take their picture, but it was still cheaper than having someone paint you.
  3. Early cameras were complicated, big and bulky compared to today's cameras and smartphones that can take photographs.
  4. Early cameras took a long time to take a photo, meaning people sitting for photographs had to stay very still.
  5. Early photographs had to be developed using very complex processes involving chemicals and equipment.

Common misconception

Pupils may assume that people in the past used phones and tablets to take photographs.

Show pupils the various devices that have been used in the past to take photographs and how they have evolved.

Keywords

  • Developed - Photographs taken with old cameras had to be developed using camera film and special liquids to make prints of the image on paper.

  • Camera film - camera film is a roll of plastic that is stored inside the camera.

Invite pupils to discuss how they take photos now - what devices do they use? Where do they see photographs? Children could take their own photographs using devices in school.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Photography is the process of taking a photograph.
Correct answer: True
False
Q2.
A camera is used to ...
Correct answer: take a photograph.
paint a picture.
watch a TV show.
Q3.
How long ago was photography invented?
2 years ago
20 years ago
Correct answer: 200 years ago
Q4.
Match the word to the definition.
Correct Answer:historian,someone who studies and writes about the past

someone who studies and writes about the past

Correct Answer:photographer,someone who takes photographs

someone who takes photographs

Q5.
Someone who studies and writes about the past is called ...
a teacher.
a photographer.
Correct answer: an historian.
an explorer.
Q6.
A picture created by a camera is called ...
a painting.
a sketch.
Correct answer: a photograph.
a drawing.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the meaning.
Correct Answer:camera film,a roll of plastic coated with chemicals that is used to develop photos

a roll of plastic coated with chemicals that is used to develop photos

Correct Answer:chemical,a substance used in or produced by a chemical process

a substance used in or produced by a chemical process

Correct Answer:developed,when photographs are made ready for people to see

when photographs are made ready for people to see

Q2.
When was the first photograph taken?
200 days ago
200 weeks ago
Correct answer: 200 years ago
Q3.
Match the camera to the correct description.
Correct Answer:polaroid camera,prints out photographs immediately

prints out photographs immediately

Correct Answer:digital camera,shows you photographs on a screen

shows you photographs on a screen

Q4.
In the past photography was ...
Correct answer: slow.
quick.
Correct answer: expensive.
cheap.
Q5.
In the past you needed and special equipment to get photographs developed.
Correct answer: chemicals
light
a mobile phone
Q6.
Put the cameras in order of when they were developed. Start with the earliest.
1 - film camera
2 - digital
3 - phone

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.