Photographs taken with old cameras had to be developed using camera film and special liquids to make prints of the image on paper.

camera film is a roll of plastic that is stored inside the camera.

The challenges of early photography

History

The invention of photography

A family portrait from 140 years ago

Late Victorian seaside photographs

Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s

Photographs of Britain in the 1960s and 70s

In ‘Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?’ pupils build on another aspect from EYFS: understanding the past, doing so through looking at historic photographs. In ‘Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?’ pupils move to the distant past in order to start building their chronological framework by hearing traditional historical stories.

In ‘Elizabeth II: what was her life like?’ pupils began their study of history as a distinct subject by studying the life of a specific person and their role in society. In ‘Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?’ pupils build on another aspect from EYFS: understanding the past, doing so through looking at historic photographs.

This unit explores photography as a recent invention that records history, highlighting early photos of lost ways of life and the challenges of early 20th-century photography. Students learn about changes in recent history, including food, clothing, and more, through photos from the past century.

Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?

a roll of plastic coated with chemicals that is used to develop photos

a substance used in or produced by a chemical process

when photographs are made ready for people to see

Match the camera to the correct description.

In the past you needed {{ }} and special equipment to get photographs developed. 

Put the cameras in order of when they were developed. Start with the earliest.

Photography is the process of taking a photograph.

someone who studies and writes about the past

Someone who studies and writes about the past is called ...

A picture created by a camera is called  ...

The challenges of early photography

Lesson outcome