19th-century photography

19th-century photography marked a transformative period when capturing images shifted from artistic paintings to mechanical processes. Early techniques like the daguerreotype involved exposing a silver-coated plate to light, resulting in highly detailed images but one-of-a-kind prints. Later, methods such as calotype used paper and glass negatives to produce multiple copies. Photographers experimented with lighting, composition, and chemical processes, making photography more accessible and popular. This era laid the groundwork for modern photography, transforming how people document history, family, and everyday life with new levels of realism and immediacy.