A Brief History Of Photography

Photography is the favorite hobby of millions of people. There is a certain kind of fulfillment when capturing images that tell a story. It may have something to do with freezing an event in time that somehow becomes a permanent part of history. Speaking of which, not too many people into photography know about their hobby’s origins. Here is a brief history of photography.

Photography has its roots in ancient times when two principles were discovered: the camera obscura, which meant a darkened chamber, and that the visible appearance of some substances can be altered when exposed to light. One of the most mysterious and surprising things about this is that it took centuries before Thomas Wedgwood thought of combining these two principles in 1800. His was the first documented attempt at a capture camera. It failed though.

Image source: illbefamous.wordpress.com

Some 20 years after Wedgwood’s attempt, a man by the name of Nicephore Niepce succeeded in capturing the first image, which though very crude, was considered a huge success. It was Niepce’s associate Louis Daguerre who went on to invent the daguerreotype process, which sped up and boosted the quality of image production.

Image source: iso.500px.com

Over the next century, photography would experience milestone after milestone from William Henry Fox Talbot’s calotype negatives to salt print processes, to the invention of new materials, that all made the whole photography process faster. Before people knew it, the mid-20th century brought forth photographs in natural color and black and white.

Hi! I’m Judd Bergman, a retired photographer and a big New York Yankees fan. Follow this blog for more photography insights.

Travel photography: How not to overdo it

It’s the age of travels, globalization being the great equalizer across the different social classes of photographers. It’s also an age where everyone wants to write a blog or be Nat Geo. This is good for worldwide education, but not for information retention. As it is, many budding and professional photographers are luring potential travelers with their striking pictures. But how to stand out in this crowd? 

Image source: goingabroad.org

The answer is authenticity. People are tired of the same old sights presented the glossy way. And most likely, in any given country, the same tourist spots will be featured in travel blogs and social media posts. So, get out of your fixation on capturing the exact turquoise of that paradisiac beach and show your travel photos as they are, warts on your bikini bod and all. 

The desire to be interesting, naturally, doesn’t have to overwhelm technique. The fundamentals of good photography must hold. But letting your travel personality shine through in photos, that’s an entirely different beast. It means finding the off-the-beaten path. Paying attention to detail that most tourist traps miss. Finding your own niche—-will you focus on food, fashion, or local customs? It can’t all just be sightseeing. 

The best travel photographers have no need for captions. Their photographs show movement, immediately telling their audience what is transpiring in the photo. Granted, not everyone departs on a trip to safaris where the wild stuff happens, but having a good eye for travel photography means knowing where the action is. 

Image source: NikonUSA.com

Judd Bergman is a retired photographer. Learn more about photography by visiting this blog.

Is Gary Sanchéz Ready For Fame?

After his record-breaking streak of 20 home runs in 201 at-bats in 2016, Gary Sanchéz is touted as the New York Yankees’ top hitter for the season. His .299 average is considered a threat to his opponents, and his entire team has placed their bets on him. The whole organization has high expectations for his upcoming games, placing a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

Image source: bleacherreport.net

Unlike other players, Sanchéz actually prefers serenity over a celebrity status, even if it seems impossible now that he’s with the Yankees. The 24-year-old is expected to have skyrocketing fame, thanks to his incredible skills. While the Dominican native is bound to be a household name in the next few months, he believes he still has a lot to learn—particularly the English language. He still relies on a translator during press interviews and has been attending English classes since being drafted eight years ago. Yankees fans believe his time is coming, but Sanchéz remains grounded, despite his hard-earned status in the game.

Is Sanchéz ready for fame? It seems he’s aware of how the game would change his entire life, but even if he gets too famous, it doesn’t look like he’ll transform into an attention monster. Fans believe he’ll just focus on his skills to make his team one of the greatest in the game.

Image source: nydailynews.com

Hi, I’m Judd Bergman, a retired photographer based in New York City. Aside from taking beautiful pictures, I am passionate about the Yankees. Visit this blog for more about photography and baseball.

Creative Therapy: How Photography Can Help People With Mental Health Issues

These days, more people are becoming aware of mental health issues. Instead of keeping their struggles to themselves, people are sharing how they cope. One of these is through photography. To help a person with mental heath issues express his or her feelings, some therapists are suggesting that they start capturing objects and moments on camera. Just like painting and writing, photography helps a person communicate what can’t be expressed verbally.

Image source: Webmd.com

Photography also allows a person to find inspiring and motivating images that will help them go through life. Taking a photo of a stunning sunset or a refreshing green forest can help a person feel calm. For others, taking a good picture makes them feel accomplished and lets them look forward to the next days. Some people also say that photography is a meditative activity. Focusing on the good clears a person’s mind of unnecessary negativity. The activity also fosters mindfulness and keeps a person’s thoughts anchored in the present.

Whatever the reason, photography is an activity that brings out the good in a person and in the world we live in. I’m just glad that my passion is becoming a way for people to get better.

Image source: Photographyspark.com

Judd Bergman’s the name. I’m a full-fledged New York City dweller and dad of three. Now that I have already retired from my job as a travel photographer, I can take my grandkids to see the Yankees play live because I know that the blood of blue and gray runs deep within them, too. This blog has more of my thoughts on baseball and photography.

Taking a Snap Of Big Apple

There’s no doubt that New York City is one postcard- (Instagram for our dear millennials) worthy town. Wherever you look, there’s always something interesting to document in the city -- the celebrated street couture, the legendary food trucks, the twinkling theater marquees, or even just the Humans of New York --- the Big Apple is, indeed, a photographer’s dream.

Image source: Weather.com

And the city’s views and sights don’t discriminate. Regardless if you are snapping away with your iPhone or documenting with your Canon or Nikon, New York always has something majestic to offer. Take it from me. I have been a travel photographer for five decades, and a New Yorker for heavens know how long, but I still get enamored by the city whenever I look through my viewfinder.

So, if you are planning to visit New York soon or would like to get reacquainted once more with The City That Never Sleeps, I suggest you explore my beloved urban jungle through your camera. You can begin with the usual stops: The Top of the Rock for a panoramic view of the city or the Brooklyn Bridge for some awesome night photography session. Of course, don’t skip the Empire State Building, but be ready to line up to get to the top. The wait, however, is worth it, for that incredible perspective of Manhattan.

Image source: WLIW.org

But if you want to photograph the other side of New York, you need to visit the places rarely found on tourist’s must-see list. These include The Bridge at Tudor City, where you can catch the best sunsets you have ever seen, The Tom Fruin Water Tower in Dumbo, Brooklyn, where art comes alive, and the Four Freedoms Park, where minimalism reigns.

I hope that these places will make you realize why people never get tired of photographing this city of mine.

Hello! Judd Bergman here. For more NYC snapshots and stories, follow me on Facebook.