The Dawn of Photography (1826–1910s)
- The First Photograph (1826)
- Joseph Nicéphore Niépce creates the earliest surviving photograph.
- Daguerreotypy (1839 onwards)
- Louis Daguerre’s invention of the daguerreotype process, producing detailed images on silvered copper plates.
- Calotype and Negative-Positive Process (1835 onwards)
- William Henry Fox Talbot’s calotype process allows multiple prints from a single negative.
- The Studio Portrait (1840s onwards)
- Rise of commercial portrait studios capturing formal images.
- Travel, Expedition & Tourism Photography (1850s onwards)
- Photographers document exotic locations and significant expeditions.
- Survey and Documentation (Mid-1800s onwards)
- Government and scientific surveys use photography to document landscapes and infrastructure.
- Early Conflict Photography (1850s onwards)
- First use of photography in documenting wars like the Crimean War and the American Civil War.
- Motion Studies (1870s onwards)
- Eadweard Muybridge’s pioneering work capturing motion in sequential photographs.
- The Social Document (Late 1800s onwards)
- Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine use photography to expose social issues like poverty and child labor.
Into the Modern (1850s–1930s)
- Early Street Photography (1860s onwards)
- Photographers begin capturing candid public scenes.
- Pictorialism (1885–1915)
- Movement emphasizing artistic expression over mere documentation, often with soft focus and manipulation.
- The Nude
- Exploration of the human form for artistic expression.
- Fashion & Society
- The beginnings of fashion photography capturing the style of the times.
- Still Life
- Artistic compositions of inanimate objects.
- Futurism (1909 onwards)
- An Italian avant-garde movement celebrating technology and dynamism.
- Constructivism (1913 onwards)
- Russian movement focusing on art as a practice for social purposes.
- Dadaism (1916 onwards)
- Anti-art movement rejecting traditional aesthetics.
- Bauhaus & The New Vision (1919–1933)
- German art school promoting unity of art, craft, and technology; experimental photography.
- New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) (1920s–1930s)
- German movement emphasizing sharp focus and detail to present the world objectively.
- Surrealist Photography (1920s–1940s)
- Exploring the unconscious mind using unexpected juxtapositions and dream-like scenes.
- Mexican Modernism (1920s–1940s)
- Blending indigenous culture with modernist techniques.
- Industrialism
- Focus on industrial sites and workers, celebrating industrial progress.
- Group f/64 (Formed in 1932)
- American photographers advocating sharp focus and pure photography.
Society & Humanity (1930s–1970s)
- Social Realism
- Depicting social issues and the realities of life for the working class.
- War Reportage
- Documenting the realities of war to inform and impact public opinion.
- Photojournalism
- Telling news stories through powerful imagery.
W. Eugene Smith
- Humanist Photography (1940s–1960s)
- Focusing on the human condition and everyday life.
- The Family of Man (1955)
- An exhibition portraying universal aspects of human life.
- The Candid Portrait
- Unposed portraits capturing natural expressions.
- Street & Society Photography
- Examining urban life and societal norms through candid images.
- Celebrity & Paparazzi
- Capturing celebrities in candid or unexpected moments.
The Postmodern (1950s–1990s)
- Postwar Fashion
- Fashion photography becomes more artistic and experimental.
- Colour Photography (1960s onwards)
- Embracing color as a serious artistic medium.
- Conceptualism
- Photography as a means to represent ideas rather than just aesthetics.
- New Topographics (1975)
- Photographers document mundane landscapes with a neutral viewpoint.
- Art Documentary
- Blending documentary style with artistic expression.
- Postmodernism
- Challenging traditional narratives and embracing plurality.
- Self-Portrait, Performance & Identity
- Artists explore personal and cultural identity.
- Diarism
- Intimate, personal photography documenting the artist’s life.
- Staged Tableaux
- Elaborate scenes constructed to convey specific narratives.
Contemporary Photography (1980s–Present)
- Advertising & Fashion
- Blurring lines between commercial and fine art photography.
- Satirism
- Using humor and satire to critique society and culture.
- Düsseldorf School (1980s onwards)
- Characterized by a detached, methodical approach; led by Bernd and Hilla Becher.
- Deadpan Aesthetic
- Emotionally neutral presentation of subjects.
- Environmentalism & Globalization
- Addressing environmental issues through impactful imagery.
- Activism
- Photography as a tool for social and political change.
- Expanded Documentary
- Pushing the boundaries of traditional documentary photography.
- Fictional Narrativism
- Creating fictional scenes to tell stories or explore concepts.
- Conflict & Surveillance
- Exploring themes of war, security, and privacy.
- New Formalism
- Focus on abstract forms, patterns, and colors.
- The Digital Revolution (1990s onwards)
- Shift from analog to digital photography, democratizing image-making.
If i have missed any please get in touch and let me know so i can rectify the issue.
Regards
Alex