In the early days of photography, the process was cumbersome and required a great deal of expertise. This meant that photography was mostly the domain of professional photographers. But as the technology improved and became more accessible, amateurs began to venture into the world of photography.
The 20th century saw huge advances in photography, both in terms of technology and aesthetics. The invention of the 35mm camera and the development of film stocks and processing techniques made photography more portable and easier to use. This led to a boom in amateur photography, as well as the rise of the professional photographer.
Aesthetic developments in the early part of the century, such as the use of soft focus and high-contrast printing, gave way to more sharp and realistic images in the latter part. The modernist movement in the arts also had a big impact on photography, with artists such as Man Ray and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy experimenting with camera-less photography, photomontage, and other innovative techniques.
In the latter part of the century, color photography became increasingly popular, thanks in large part to the development of color film stocks. And with the advent of digital photography in the 1990s, photography underwent yet another revolution, this time in terms of how images are captured and stored.
Today, photography is more popular than ever, with millions of people around the world taking photos every day. The 20th century was a pivotal time in the history of this art form, and the developments of that era continue to shape photography today.
