Hippolyte Bayard: Why should be the First Pioneer of Photography?

Hi Good morning! Welcome to Photography Show! giving you a tidbit information about photography.

For today’s episode, we will give you essential information about Hippolyte Bayard. Why he is the main pioneer of photography?

Hippolyte Bayard is a French photographer pioneering Photography.He claimed to have invented photography earlier than Louis-Jacques Mande Daguerre in France and William Henry Fox Talbot in England.

Hippolyte Bayard was born in January 20 1801 in France.While working as a civic servant in Paris, Bayard experimented with photography. He developed his own method of producing photos called direct positive process. Bayard made a Photograph of the windmills of Montmartre which he used an stationary paper. The paper was soaked in potassium iodide and situated under the sunlight turning the silver chloride paper totally black. The black elemental silver paper sheet had another bath and placed while wet at the back of the camera directed to the windmills. After an hour of exposure, the blackened silver paper was bathed in hyposulfite of soda and dried. In taking photos of people, an exposure of approximately 12 minutes was required and sitters were advised to close their eyes.

Hippolye Bayard was noted for presenting the world’s first photo exhibition in June 1839.He had displayed at least 30 photographs or prints.He was supposed to be the first person who invented the direct positive process but accepted a small amount of money from François Arago, the Secretary of the Academy of Sciences in return of allowing Daguerre to make public pronouncement first. Louis Daguerre is now regard as the father of modern photography.By the time, he made the dispute to the Academy of Science, the process of Daguerre was widely published. To express his dismay towards the academy, he made a famous photo performing and faking death as a “drowning man”.

Despite of the rejections and struggles, he continued to practice photography until his death in 1887. He became one of the founding members of the French Society of Photography. In 1851, he was an appointed photographers by the government to document the famous Mission Héliographique, ancient architectural buildings in France.

Life lessons from the life of Bayard

1. Actions have consequences.
Accepting the small amount of money from Arago does make him the 2nd pioneer and responsible for his negative consequences. He was like the Biblical Esau who sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob in exchange of some red pottage (soup) after an unsuccessful hunt and hungry.

Bayard was at the wrong time when he filed a dispute to the Academy, the works of Daguerre were already wide published.

2. What you sow you reap
He proved the academy by committing to Photography and founding a Photography society until his death.

All humans make mistake, commit sins and errors. The one time moral failure of Bayard shall not be used to disqualify him from being the First inventor of Photography.But instead, the standard body shall focus on his lifetime commitment in Photography, Thus really make him the FIRST. Being the First does not depend on fame and economic gains. Daguerre’s means shall also be questioned. He got his status by bribing someone through Arago, the secretary of the Academy of Science.

Certainly, you had learned new reflections at Photograhy Vlog. In as much that I want to give more information, we have a limited time. I have to say goodbye now. This is Peter Breboneria II of Photography, created to inform, inspire, and take action. Take care and God bless.

Disclaimer: This is not my final stand. This vlog was created to defend Bayard as part of the activity on Photography class.