History of photography photography is a word derived from the greek words photos (light) and graphein (to draw). the first photograph was taken in 1827, Joseph Nicephore Niepce developed the first photo with the camera obscura. Before joseph discovered this, people used the camera obscura for viewing or drawing purposes not for making photographs. By letting the light draw the picture also know as sun prints were the prototypes for the modern photograph. In 1856 tintypes were invented by Hamilton smith, the way it worked A thin sheet of iron was used to provide a base for light-sensitive material, yielding a positive image. By 1879 handheld cameras were invented also known as the dry plate, a glass negative plate with a dried gelatin emulsion. dry plates could be stored for a longer period of time. which meant photographers no longer needed dark rooms to develop there photos. in 1889 George Eastman invented film with a base that was flexible,