A view from the Window at Le Gras 

A A view from the Window at Le Gras is a heliographic image and the oldest surviving camera photograph. It was created by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827 at Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, France, and shows parts of the buildings and surrounding countryside of his estate, Le Gras, as seen from a high window. 

In honor of National Camera Day, observed each year on June 29th it’s an appropriate photo to share. This day commemorates photographs, the camera, and the memories recorded from each.

George Eastman, also known as “The Father of Photography,” brought the camera to the masses. While he did not invent the camera, he did invent many additions that improved the use, ease, and production of the camera, making it widely available to homes around the world. Steve Jobs and the team of Apple with the introduction of the I-phone transitioned the masses from cameras to smart phones to record the daily events of our lives. And of course Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook with its 2 Billion members provides the platform for instant views around the world of just that special moment. 

I think Mr. Eastman and those Frenchmen before him would be pleased of leap in technology and use of cameras daily and instantly in the modern era. 

From the original to present photography has come a long way. Smile, snap a photo and post in celebration today…