The Nature of Talbot William Henry Fox in France (Research Paper Sample)

Student name:
Working tile: the nature of Talbot William Henry Fox in France
Photographer: Talbot William Henry Fox
Image title: The Orleans Cathedral, June 1843
Introduction
State: I am presenting an examination of “the Orleans Cathedral” by Talbot William Henry Fox. It is a presentation of the photo of the cathedral on a salted paper print from a calotype measuring approximately 16*20cm.
Why: The photo of the Orleans cathedral on the calotype salted paper presents in detail the advancement of the photogenic drawings in the 19th century under the invention of William Henry Fox Talbot. It shows the current state of art in photography by presenting the ideas which helped the invention of more permanent, clear, and durable photos through the use of the negative-positive process and the salted calotype paper (Hirsch, 2009). It also presents the point at which William became the father of modern photography through this invention despite the criticism he initially met.
Background information
Biography: William Henry Fox was an English man born in 1800. He invented and brought a new way of producing images and photos by perfecting the optical and chemical aspects in photogenic drawing. He also acquired skills on the use of a new medium for production of complex photos which was the negative-positive process hence the name, father of modern photography (Malcom, 2000).
Agenda/ context: William, a graduate of the Trinity College was a true definition of a polymath. He however at one point in life developed interest in photography and invented the salted calotype paper. He has written a good number of books and articles. He had used his camera to keep experiences that had occurred ten years down the line but he had this challenge of coming up with an idea that would make the natural images would remain fixed in a paper by imprinting themselves durably. By 1840, he had invented a photogenic drawings. Although the weather conditions were poor and the uncooperative city officials barred him from achieving his dreams in photography, he was able to capture the image of Orleans cathedral in June 1843 (Watson, 2000). He successfully produced an image of the Cathedral from a negative. By use of his camera, and positioning himself across from a tower, he was able to capture the delicate play of light and was able to present the structure of the big church as a delicate screen of patterns and curves (Watson, 2000). This was necessitated by the use of a long focus lens that seemed to flatten the space. He also made use of the ability of the camera to frame a significant detail that was a presentation of the whole building (Malcom, 2000).
Criticism
Description: the Orleans cathedral image as depicted in a salted paper print from a paper negative taken in June 1843 by William Henry Talbot measuring 18.6cm * 23.1cm shows a significant part of the large church which presents it as a series of patterns and curves (Malcom, 2000). The viewer can clearly observe the image of the cathedral through the natural presentation shown by the image from the expertise employed by the photographer. He also relied on the ability of the camera to focus on the important part that presenting the whole church significantly.
Analysis: The image of Orleans cathedral was printed through a negative- positive process (Watson, 2000). It displays the Orleans cathedral on a salted paper measuring 18.6 * 23.1 cm (Watson, 2000). The frame brings out clearly and in detail the Orleans cathedral as a series of curves and patterns. The background clearly shows the cathedral as the original building appears. The scaling as well as the focusing of the camera during the time the phot was taken ensures that all features are embodied and clearly observable in the image.
Interpretation: The photograph of the Orleans cathedral shows his success in the invention of the photogenic drawings. The fuzzy and strange looking images drawn from waterproof lithography shows the remarkable deeds and efforts of William that other people missed out on (Malcom, 2000). Despite the improvement in the exposure time of the image, the ease at reading the image, and the durable images William came up with, he still faced objection by the government officials. This did not however deter his dreams of coming up with a durable photogenic imaging and this is what saw the success of the Orleans cathedral image. Using the camera he had worked hard to improve on, and applying his expertise in focusing allowed by the cameras property of long focus, he was in a position to take an image of the Orleans cathedral on a negative film and then printed it on a calotype salted paper. The image clearly depicts the features of the cathedral and presents it as a series of curves and patterns. His work can be contrasted to the images that were taken before which were not durable and the focusing by the camera was not as long as that of the camera he used. It is his position as she took the photo and the long focus nature of the camera that was used that allowed him to come up with a nice and presentable image of the Orleans cathedral. The use of negatives and printing on the slated paper also helped in coming up with a clear and durable photo depicting the image of the Orleans Cathedral (Malcom, 2000).
Evaluation: The photo of the Orleans cathedral by William is a spectacular one and shows his success in his desire to undertake photogenic drawings. The history has recorded quite a good number of photos he captured during his lifetime. He had his inspiration drawn from the memories he had of objects he had captured ten years down the line. By using his camera to capture the images, he thought of a way he could have the images implanted permanently on a durable paper. During the summer period of 1835, he came up with an idea and took advantage of the abundant sunrays to sensitize photogenic drawing paper on the camera. As he advanced in photography, he discovered the calotype paper. Together with his friend, he was able to invent a more permanent paper by stabilizing the calotype with a solution of salt (Malcom, 2000). He set out on a trip to negotiate for authorization to use this new invention in photogenic photography although he met resistant in the then French government. This did not demotivate him, he went on ahead to make public his invention of the calotype paper for use in photogenic drawings through journals and magazines. He photographed various images, the Orleans cathedral being among them. Despite the poor weather and the resistance he faced from the uncooperative government officials, he was in a position to capture the Orleans cathedral on a negative and imprinted it on the calotype salted paper in June 1843 (Watson, 2000). By positioning himself in the right place, and the use of the long focus property of the camera, he was able to come up with a successful image of the Orleans Cathedral by presenting the building not only as a large church but as an attractive series of patterns and curves.
Defend: At first, the works of William Talbot on photogenic drawing on calotype salted paper were rejected by the government authorities. He did not however lose hope in ful...