Evolution of Photography and Its Impact on History

Introduction

Looking at photography allows me to grasp a slight experience through the picture. You are a moment in time of someone’s reality in front of them. Modern photography has given society the chance to experience scenarios like never., Photographers are able to entice someone’s imagination through the form of photography. The camera lens takes one frame at time that could translate into a thousand words. Just how looking at the photos of today bring you to another place, glancing at vintage photos brings you back to the past. The evolution of photography has led to a huge surge of nostalgia that one could feel when studying the pictures of the past. The pictures camera can tell us the time, place, and the scenario. It feels as though I’m there. I could reminisce over a time I had never experience. Pictures of people allow the viewer to see someone that in that moment in their time, for the subject could be dead or near death. It brings us awareness that we are part of the same world and eras come and go. Looking into the past reminds us of the import and events that happened in our history that led society to where it is now. Historical photos are another way we can visualize the past so we can learn about how the world was developing during that time. Photography gives us a better understanding of a certain moment in time and keeps us informed. Wars are pivotal moment such a vital moment in time as it advanced technology, art, philosophy and overall society. The Leica III was a film camera developed during WW2 that advanced photojournalism. The improvements of its technology sparked interest to photographers. The Leica III series camera was widely used during World War II for better photojournalism.

Role of Leica III in Evolution of Photography

First off, there are many possible contributing factors why the Leica III camera was a necessity for the evolution of photography. The camera’s technological innovations attracted potential users. In April 1935, its further development demonstrated an increase in shutter speed to a millisecond and allowed photographers to capture more accurate pictures. Its ability of a faster shutter speed to improve shots moving objects. These cameras were also used in war as a result of its mechanics. Thirty assault units from the Admiralty requested five Leica cameras. George Rodger, a British war correspondent, used this camera for Life magazine. The invention of this camera became widely popular. The photo quality appealed to many people. Photographs expanded photojournalism rapidly. The iconic 1945 photo “V-J Day in Times Square” was shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt with the Leica III. The image from Life magazine had a profound influence on society, brought sensation and awareness of what was happening. The effects of war were a huge opportunity for photographers to display the moment of that time. (Malcolm Atkin, para. 39)

Cultural Impact of World War II on Photography

Furthermore, the World War II had a huge influence on the pictures that were taken by cameras. The Second World War was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945 which involved Adolf Hitler, a dictator of Germany. World War II touched virtually every part of Americans and the world. Everything from things even so simple as the food people ate, the movies they watched, and the music they listened to affected society. All popular culture was directed towards the war. The subject of songs, comics, artwork and, every part of culture and entertainment was about the war. Moreover, most of these in were created as part of the war effort. Photographers, writers, illustrators, filmmakers, and other artists used their skills to keep the public informed about the war. They wanted persuade people to cooperate with the government’s Home Front programs—like scrap drives and rationing. In short, the era of World War II had a deep impact on world history as it affected everyone. (2018, para.1)

Advancements in Photography

Additionally, the modifications of the Leica III allowed for more accurate photos. The launch of the Leica III introduced a separate slow speed dial, taking shutter speeds down to one second. The shutter speed is the unit of measurement which determines how long the shutter is open as a shot is taken. The slower the shutter speed, the longer the exposure time. Long exposure allows more light to come in to capture sharp stationary elements of blurred or moving objects. Unlike the Leica II, the Leica III includes an extended range of slow shutter speeds. The added slow speeds range from 1/20th of second to one full second. The Leica III camera uses the same rangefinder and varifocal, focusing mechanisms, architecture as the Leica II. The Leica III is fitted with a 1.5 magnifier to its rangefinder optics. With the Leica III, the photographer could select shutter speeds between 1/500th of a second to 1 full second - versus the Leica II - which only ranged from 1/500th to 1/20th of a second. The incorporation of slower shutter speed aided with clearer photography that was especially useful for capturing the era of WWII. (Andrew Yue, 2018, para. 16)

Continuing, the Leica III impacted photojournalism which brought awareness of effects of war to the public. People were able to become more attentive of the events happening during WW2. “Awareness of the suffering that accumulates in wars happening elsewhere is something constructed. Principally in the form that is registered by cameras, it flares up, it shared by many people, and fades from view. It ultimately informed others using concrete evidence.

Conclusion

Photographs stop people from saying “I didn’t know that was happening” it informs people and they must choose to accept or reject what they see. It allowed the audience to translate, in their own words, the events. In contrast to a written account, which, depending on its complexity of though, references, and vocabulary, is pitched at a larger or smaller readership, a photograph has only one language and is destined potentially for all.” They could experience the event happening in the picture. The visual aid helped people take what they saw into something more personal.  

Works Cited

1. Atkin, Malcolm. “The Leica in War.” Leica Society, 2014, https://www.leica-society.org.uk/leica_camera/war.htm.
2. “Effects of World War II.” The National WWII Museum, 3 July 2018, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/effects-world-war-ii.
3. Yue, Andrew. “Camera Geekery: The Leica III.” Japan Camera Hunter, 2018, https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2018/11/camera-geekery-the-leica-iii/.