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10 Legendary and Historical Selfies

10 Legendary and Historical Selfies / Skillbox Media

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June 21st is considered the birthday of the selfie. In the modern world, anyone with a smartphone can take a photo of themselves. Users can freely try different poses, come up with original ideas, and choose the most successful shots.

The origin of the selfie dates back to the 19th century. We have prepared a collection of what we consider to be the most fascinating vintage self-portraits - from the first photographic self-portrait to iconic shots of famous personalities of the last century.

Robert Cornelius

The pioneer in creating the first selfie was the American Robert Cornelius, who used daguerreotype. He placed the camera next to his store window, opened the shutter, and remained motionless in front of the lens for 10 to 15 minutes until his image was captured.

Image: National Portrait Gallery

Photo of an Unidentified Woman

The woman, whose name remains unknown, takes A mirror selfie taken with a Kodak Brownie portable camera, which cost only one dollar at the time. This affordable device gave many people the opportunity to learn the art of photography and begin to explore both the surrounding reality and their own inner worlds through a lens.

Image: Library of Congress

Joe Byron

Joe Byron, an American businessman and founder of the Byron photography company, became the first person to make A self-portrait, holding the camera in your hands rather than using a mirror. By the beginning of the 20th century, photographic film and cameras capable of taking sharp photos at fast shutter speeds had become available. Byron was a pioneer in applying these innovations to self-portraits.

Image: Joseph Byron / Byron Company

Princess Anastasia

One of the earliest selfies taken by a teenager dates back to the early 20th century. During this period, 13-year-old Anastasia Romanova, daughter of Emperor Nicholas II, took a picture of herself in front of a mirror using a Kodak Brownie camera. She sent the image to her father with a note stating, "I took this photo while looking in the mirror. It was more difficult than I expected, as my hands were shaking a little."

Image: Public Domain

Thomas Baker

Thomas Baker, a 20-year-old Australian soldier who fought in World War I, captured a picture of himself using a mirror in his room and a Kodak camera. This shot was the last in his life - in 1918 he fell on the battlefield.

Image: Australian War Memorial

Stanley Kubrick

Before starting his career as a director, young Kubrick worked as a photographer for Look magazine. During this time, he captured one of his famous selfies, taken in the mirror using a Leica IIIf camera.

Photo: The LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection / Library of Congress

Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin, an astronaut from the United States, became the first person to take a selfie in outer space. He used special equipment for performing extravehicular activity (EVA), which was equipped with a camera.

Image: Buzz Aldrin / NASA

Andrei Tarkovsky

The famous director had a passion for photography and always carried a Polaroid SX-70 camera with him to capture moments and details that are fascinating to him. One of his Polaroid collections also includes this selfie, taken with a closet mirror.

Image: Tarkovsky Foundation / Temnikova & Kasela Gallery

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier spent her life working as a nanny in New York, and only after her death did a realtor stumble upon a huge collection of photographs stored among her belongings. These images captured vibrant moments of city life, everyday scenes, portraits of people, and even selfies.

Image: Vivian Maier / Maloof Collection
Image: Vivian Maier / Maloof Collection
Image: Vivian Maier / Maloof Collection
Image: Vivian Maier / Maloof Collection

Vasco Sinetar

Although these self-portraits are not the most Early on, they undoubtedly became iconic. In the 1980s, Venezuelan photographer Vasco Sinetar launched a project called "In Front of the Mirror," in which he created a series of selfies. All the pictures were taken in the bathroom, but what's most remarkable is that Sinetar was accompanied by celebrities such as Gabriel García Márquez, Salman Rushdie, Jorge Luis Borges, and many others.

Image: Biblioteca Ricardo Güiraldes
Image: Vasco Szinetar / Museo Arqueológico Benahoarita

At the same time, the photographer launched a new series of self-portraits called "Cheek to Cheek." In this project, he takes photographs with his arm outstretched, touching his cheek to another person's cheek, which is in keeping with the title.

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  • Photography has a long and fascinating history, with many early photographs capturing significant moments. These early images became the foundation for the development of this amazing art form. Below are twenty of the very first photographs in world practice.

    1. One of the earliest known photographs is an image taken in 1826 or 1827 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. Known as "View from the Window at Le Gras", this work was created through a long exposure and depicts a landscape from the window of his house.

    2. In 1837, Louis Daguerre, who developed the daguerreotype, created the first daguerreotype, a significant step in the history of photography. This method allowed for sharper and more detailed images.

    3. In the 1840s, Friedrich Arthur Ziess, known for his contributions to photography, produced a number of significant works that demonstrated the capabilities of the new medium.

    4. In 1843, portraits using daguerreotypes first appeared, ushering in a new era in the capture of human emotion and personality.

    5. The first photographs capturing historical events appeared in 1846, when a series of pictures were taken during the Mexican-American War.

    6. In 1851, the collodion process was introduced, allowing for photographs with greater detail and improved sensitivity.

    7. Experiments with color photography had already begun in 1855, although full-fledged color photographs did not become possible until much later.

    8. One of the most famous photographs of the 19th century was the work of Matthias Manuel, known for its unique style and ability to convey the atmosphere of the time.

    9. In 1861, James Clerk Maxwell introduced the first color photograph, which was a significant achievement for the art of photography.

    10. The mid-19th century saw the advent of the first cameras available to the general public, which made photography more popular and accessible.

    11. In 1871, the dry plate process was invented, which greatly simplified the shooting process and allowed photographers to work with greater flexibility.

    12. In 1888, Kodak released the first mass-produced camera, which made photography even more popular among ordinary people.

    13. The first photographs in the documentary photography genre began to appear in the late 19th century, when photographers began to record everyday life and social issues.

    14. In 1900, the first compact camera with automatic film rewinding was introduced, which became a real revolution in the world of photography.

    15. In the 1930s, color films began to be actively used, which opened up new horizons for artists and photographers.

    16. In the 1940s, photographs became an important tool in journalism, as they helped to convey the events and emotions of the war.

    17. In the 1950s, new technologies such as slide film began to develop, which opened up new possibilities for amateur photographers.

    18. In the 1960s, cameras with automatic exposure became affordable, which simplified the shooting process.

    19. In the 1970s, Polaroid cameras, which allowed for instant prints, began to gain popularity.

    20. Finally, in the 1990s, digital photography began to gain popularity, changing the approach to shooting and processing images.

    These early photographs and their creators began an amazing journey that continues to evolve and inspire people around the world.

  • Films dedicated to the lives and work of photographers are an interesting genre that explores not only the art of capturing moments but also the inner experiences of those behind the camera. These films often touch on themes of passion, the pursuit of excellence, and the challenges professionals face in their work. In such stories, one can see how photography becomes more than just a job, but a way of self-expression and a reflection of the world around us. In addition, the plots can include elements of drama, romance, and even documentary, emphasizing the importance of visual art in our perception of reality.
  • Photo Angles

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