Photography = art + science

Fotografie = kunst + wetenschap

摄影 = 艺术 + 科学

~1000

camera obscura

The history of photography began in remote antiquity with the discovery of two critical principles: camera obscura image projection and the observation that some substances are visibly altered by exposure to light.

Before photography was developed, people had figured out the basic principles of lenses and the camera. They could project the image on a wall or a piece of paper, but printing was not yet possible.Camera obscura can be seen as a prototype of the modern photo camera.

The very first camera obscura was developed by the Arab astronomer and mathematician Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham (Basra, 965 – Cairo, ±1040).

1825

first photo

The first photo picture — as we know it — was taken in 1825 by a French inventor - Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. It records a view from the window at Le Gras. At least eight hours or even several days of exposure in the camera were required and the earliest results were very crude.

Niépce used a coating of bitumen of Judea to make the first permanent camera photographs. The bitumen was hardened where it was exposed to light and the unhardened portion was then removed with a solvent.

In 1839, Sir John Herschel came up with a way of making the first glass negative. The same year he coined the term "photography", deriving from the Greek "fos" - meaning "light" - and "grafo" — meaning "to write".

1838

first photo

Another pioneer of photography is Louis Daguerre, a Frenchman. He was able to greatly improve the quality of the photographic print.

His invention, the daguerreotype, is a process for developing photographs based on a polished plate prepared with mercury vapors. The process is as follows: you make a polished, silver-plated copper plate light-sensitive with iodine vapors. Then you place the plate in a camera obscura, a light-proof box with a small hole that you open while taking the photo.

The exposure results in an invisible image on the plate. You make this latent image visible with mercury vapor.

1948

1st Polaroid camera

After the prints on metal plates, there were also photos on paper. In 1841, the negative was invented, so that it became possible to print the same image several times. In 1861, the Scotsman James Clerk Maxwell made the first colour photograph by projecting a red, green and blue filtered image on top of each other.

Color photography was explored in the 19th century, but it didn't really become commercially viable until the mid-20th century. In the mid-20th century, developments made it possible for amateurs to take photos in both natural color and black and white. In color photography, electronic sensors or light-sensitive chemicals record color information at the time of exposure.

1991

1st Kodak digital camera

At the end of the eighties of the twentieth century, the first scanners came on the market and digital cameras also made their appearance. The camera that is considered the first digital camera was a prototype developed in 1975 by Steven Sasson at Eastman Kodak.

The commercial introduction of computer-based electronic digital cameras in the 1990s quickly revolutionized photography. During the first decade of the 21st century, traditional film-based photochemical methods were increasingly marginalized as the practical advantages of the new technology were widely appreciated and the image quality of moderately priced digital cameras was continually improved.

1999

Sharp camera phone

In 1999, the Japanese company Kyocera launched the first mobile phone on the market that could also take photos. The phone wasn't popular because of its high price, but it did inspire other companies to get into phone photography.

Initially, there were all kinds of obstacles. For example, the memory was too small for more than 10-20 photos, and you couldn't share the photos directly from the phone (you had to put them on your computer first). This development soon ended up in an express train.

Since 2004, almost every mobile phone has a built-in camera. Today, the possibilities in the world of photography are almost endless! Whatever genre you practice, you will find everything you need in our webshop. Especially since cameras became a standard feature on smartphones, taking photos (and publishing them online immediately) has become a ubiquitous daily practice around the world.

2022

Sharp camera phone

AI photography or promptography is a new form of image creation in art. In a world where technology is constantly evolving, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in various domains. Including the world of contemporary art.

In promptography, images are created in the creative process by giving prompts, instructions, to an AI program. Without the need for a camera. There are various programs, where the creative process lies in inventing increasingly refined linguistic 'prompts' after which images appear. In fact, a practitioner is not a photographer but a prompteur - an image tamer.

Choose a photo / click a tile to go back

As a blend of art and science, photography transcends mere imagery to preserve memories, evoke emotions, and document history. From its inception in the 19th century to today's digital age, photography has revolutionized how we perceive the world, serving as both a creative outlet and a tool for change. The birth of photography in 1839, with pioneers like Louis Daguerre and William Henry Fox Talbot, introduced the daguerreotype and calotype processes, transforming visual documentation. The late 19th century saw the rise of portable cameras like the Kodak Brownie, democratizing photography for the masses. The 20th century brought color film and SLRs, while the digital revolution of the 1990s made instant capture and sharing universal, reshaping accessibility and creativity.

Photography's versatility shines through its genres. Portrait photography reveals human essence, as seen in Steve McCurry's “Afghan Girl”. Landscape photography, epitomized by Ansel Adams, immortalizes nature's grandeur. Street photography, like Henri Cartier-Bresson's candid moments, captures urban life's spontaneity. Documentary and photojournalism, such as Nick Ut's Vietnam War imagery, drive social awareness, proving photos can spark global dialogue. While cameras, lenses, and lighting are foundational, composition — rule of thirds, leading lines — elevates a snapshot to art. Yet, technology is a conduit; the photographer's perspective breathes life into images. As Ansel Adams noted, “You don't take a photograph, you make it.”

Smartphones and social media have turned everyone into a photographer, fostering platforms, where visuals dominate. This democratization encourages creativity but risks oversaturation. Editing tools and AI push boundaries, enabling surreal edits yet raising ethical concerns over authenticity, such as deepfakes. Photography's power to influence is undeniable. Images like Dorothea Lange's Great Depression portraits or recent climate crisis visuals mobilize action. In an era of information overload, a single photo can cut through noise, driving empathy and policy shifts.

Photography's essence lies in its ability to freeze time, tell stories, and connect humanity. As technology advances — with AI, virtual reality, and beyond — the core remains unchanged: a quest to capture truth and beauty. Whether through a lens or a smartphone, photography endures as a testament to human experience, forever evolving yet eternally poignant. In every click, we don't just capture light; we shape perspectives, one frame at a time.

Asian photographers

Minhyun Woo

This South Korean photographer discovered photography in his late twenties, going on to shoot campaigns for Gucci and editorials for Vogue. Renowned for his distinct sensual style, Woo was tasked with photographing the historic cover for the September 2020 issue of the Korean edition of Vogue, which saw all 26 global versions of the magazine come together to celebrate “hope”. Woo’s take on the theme was a buoyant spectacle of love and joy, as he travelled to remote villages in the countryside capturing Korean grandmothers in the traditional hanbok.

Alex Leese

This photographer has always been fascinated by the human condition. Outside of her work in fashion, her images are compelling anthropological studies. Take her “Boys of Hong Kong” project, which addresses stereotypes of Asian masculinity, and was captured by the photographer shortly after returning home to Hong Kong from London.

Hanna Moon

This South Korean photographer has become a household name in her own right, shooting for brands and magazines across the world and hosting an exhibition with fellow photographer Joyce Ng at Somerset House in 2019. Titled "English As a Second Language", it challenged ideas of beauty and style, exploring their respective cultures and otherness.

Joyce Ng

As an only child, this photographer developed a knack for observing others that has influenced her approach to photography and storytelling. She likes to focus on other people's stories because she doesn't like to talk about herself. Inspired by her home city of Hong Kong, her work carries the raw edge and electrifying energy of the city.

Luo Yang

This Shanghai-based photographer discovered photography in college as a way to release her emotions. For her decade-long series “GIRLS”, she shot hundreds of Chinese women born in the '80s in their natural environment to show that “girls are badass, self-aware, with a supreme sense of cool, yet also insecure, vulnerable and torn”.

Ji Yeo

In 2013, this New York-based artist used her lens to expose the brutal reality of South Korea's cosmetic surgery industry with her raw portraits of women following invasive procedures. Eight years later, “Beauty Recovery Room” remains groundbreaking, exposing the painful truths of South Korean women who fall victim to extreme beauty standards aggravated by the Western gaze.