Batchen

2 Pages 535 Words

Historians of photography generally credit Niepce, Talbot and Deguerre as the inventors of this movement and technology. Geoffrey Batchen’s essay titled, Burning With Desire: The Conception of Photography, investigates the debates that encompass these historical issues. Batchen refers to the development of photography as being, “the greatest mystery”. In uncovering the mystery surrounding the development of photography, Batchen believes that we must try first to understand the timing of this invention, the desire of the inventor, and the difference between a process and discovery.
Batchen explains how an Australian historian, Josef Maria Eder, deciphers the process of “discovery” paired with that of “invention”. Eder believes that “…the accidental can become confused with the conscious and the chemistry necessary in making of photographs with the actual idea of photography”. Lynn White further clarifies Eder’s statement by stating, “Apples have been dropping from trees for a considerable period before Newton discovered gravity: we must distinguish cause from occasion”. Both Lynn and Eder make the valid point that the desire to photograph nature has always been there. For example, everyone taking a walk in the woods must have thought at one point in time, “I wish I could take that image home with me”.
Before photography was officially invented some of its basic components can be seen in images formed by the camera obscura and the chemistry needed to produce them (Batchen). Batchen urges his readers, when tracing the development of imaging and photo chemistry thought the 18th centaury, one must look at the many discoveries and experiments with light and silver compounds. Batchen believes that these discoveries lead to some of the earliest experiments toward the photography process.
In order to further understand the invention and discoveries surrounding photography Batchen believes that one must exa...