Funny Photography

Today, photography is often regarded with a sense of gravity. Publications catering to both amateurs and professionals usually approach the topic with seriousness, focusing on gear critique, technical guidance, and the celebration of famous photographers who sometimes achieve a level of fame that transcends the boundaries of the photography community. This contrasts sharply with photography's early days when it was treated as an amusing pastime or a curiosity. In 1855 Cuthbert Bede affectionately referred to photography as an endearing offspring of science, dubbing it "the fairest progeny that Science has yet presented to us." He also often portrayed the new medium as a child.

Many of his drawings caught the eye of burgeoning satirical periodicals, including Britain's “Punch” magazine, and swiftly gained a broad audience.

In 19^th century, people loved to ridicule photography in its various aspects. They laughed at the medium’s many inconveniences and imperfections, mostly long exposure, which both exposed the sitter to the tortures of prolonged stillness and infamous clasps.

They caricature the disastrous consequences of not following the photographer’s instructions, particularly those regarding the stillness.

Nevertheless, it was usually the photographer himself who ended up being the butt of the joke.

In the opinion of many, photography was so easy that the machine could be operated by animals

Others viewed photographers as wannabes, posing as pretentious "artists."

In Positive Pleasures: Early Photography and Humor (1988), Heinz and Bridget Henisch delve into the roots and widespread presence of comedic elements associated with photography during the 19th century. The authors contend that cutting-edge technology and its societal effects have perennially served as fodder for satirists, with new inventions often being the target of public derision upon their debut. Yet, while possessing similar potential for humor, other significant advancements of the late 1800s, such as the sewing machine, telephone, or gramophone, did not captivate the satirical eye as much as the photographic camera did. The intersection of early photography with humor stands out as particularly unique.

After its invention, photography quickly became widespread. In the late 1800s, it was likely unmatched in stirring both excitement and debate. With no global patent on the daguerreotype process, people from all over took to photography, seeing it as a chance to make money. The number of photographers and studios skyrocketed, making photography a common aspect of culture. Characters of photographers started showing up in stories, often showing the visible parts of their work like the studio, the camera, and the photos they took, while the behind-the-scenes work in the darkroom and image editing remained out of the spotlight.

 In this situation the humor was a way to address the anxieties and uncertainties brought about by this revolutionary visual medium. It allowed society to confront and, to some extent, reconcile with the profound changes that photography was bringing to their perception of reality, art, and themselves.

But what did the people really fear?

Keep an eye out for our upcoming issue next week.