One of the most fascinating curiosities in the world of photography concerns the first permanent photograph in history, made almost 200 years ago by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The image, known as View from the window at Le Gras, it was obtained in 1826 using a technique called heliography.
The surprising thing is that the exposure needed to impress the plate lasted about eight hours (according to some estimates, even more). For this reason, the sunlight illuminated the buildings from both sides, creating a unique effect that is impossible to achieve with a normal modern photograph.
Did you know?
Today, a camera can take up to 120 images per second, while obtaining that first photograph in the 19th century required hours of exposure. Photography has therefore gone from one image per day to hundreds of images in a single second.
Camera Curiosity for June 14, 2026: this year we are celebrating 200 years since the birth of photography, an anniversary also remembered by various international exhibitions and events dedicated to the history of imagery.
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