The reader will at once gather from this sketch of the contents of the volume before him, that whilst the general theory of every Photographic process is described, with the preparation and properties of the chemicals employed, minute directions in the minor points of manipulation are restricted to Photography upon Collodion, that branch of the Art being the one to which the time and attention of the author have been especially directed. Collodion is allowed by all to be the best vehicle for the sensitive Silver Salts which is at present known, and successful results can be obtained with a very small expenditure of time and trouble, if the solutions employed in the process are prepared in a state of purity.
[CHAPTER I.]
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
The Art of Photography, which has now attained such perfection, and has become so popular amongst all classes, is one of comparatively recent introduction.
The word Photography means literally "writing by means of Light;" and it includes all processes by which any kind of picture can be obtained by the chemical agency of Light, without reference to the nature of the sensitive surface upon which it acts.
The philosophers of antiquity, although chemical changes due to the influence of Light were continually passing before their eyes, do not appear to have directed their attention to them. Some of the Alchemists indeed noticed the fact that a substance which they termed "Horn Silver," which was probably a Chloride of Silver which had undergone fusion, became blackened by exposure to Light; but their ideas on such subjects being of the most erroneous nature, nothing resulted from the discovery.
The first philosophical examination of the decomposing action of Light upon compounds containing Silver was made by the illustrious Scheele, no longer than three-quarters of a century ago, viz. in 1777. It was also remarked by him that some of the coloured rays of Light were peculiarly active in promoting the change.
Earliest application of these facts to purposes of Art.—The first attempts to render the blackening of Silver Salts by Light available for artistic purposes were made by Wedgwood and Davy about A.D. 1802. A sheet of white paper or of white leather was saturated with a solution of Nitrate of Silver, and the shadow of the figure intended to be copied projected upon it. Under these circumstances the part on which the shadow fell remained white, whilst the surrounding exposed parts gradually darkened under the influence of the sun's rays.