SEETHINK LAB
SEETHINK LAB
 
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 ZERO BASELINE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Zero Baseline of Photography establishes a collection of first photographs for engagement and collaborative cyclical research. The aim is to preserve, provide and distribute curated photographic evidence of the origins and development of scientific and artistic photography as a source of information, education, and inspiration to promote critical thinking and a deeper appreciation of photography for generations of today and tomorrow.

Looking Ahead with Curiosity and Creativity

As we approach the 200th anniversary of photography, the Zero Baseline of Photography stands as a beacon for both reflection and innovation. It challenges educators, curators, artists, and enthusiasts to engage with photography's past with fresh eyes and open minds.

This initiative not only aims to curate a definitive collection of first photographs but also to foster an experiential research environment where the future of photography's past is continuously re-imagined and reshaped.

The Zero Baseline of Photography is a dialogue that transcends time and space, inviting us all to contribute to the ever-evolving story of photography. A story that is as much about where we have been as it is about where we are going.

Shaping the Future of Photography’s Past: A Journey Through The Zero Baseline of Photography

2022 NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI – Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula, spanning almost 7.3 arcminutes (16 light-years)

As we stand on the brink of photography’s 200th anniversary, the art and science of capturing moments are primed for a reflective and visionary transformation. The Zero Baseline of Photography, initiated by SEETHINK Lab, invites us on an exploratory journey that redefines our relationship with photography. This initiative, rich in the essence of phenomenology, time, transparency, and transcendence, aims not just to revisit the milestones of photography but to re-envision them for future generations.

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FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS

First photographs provide an investigation into singular moments within the evolution of scientific and artistic photography. They reflect pivotal technical and artistic innovation within the development and influence the way we understand photography today.

Photography, at its core, can be considered an alchemy of art and science. It captures transient moments that, once passed, remain only in memory and image. The Zero Baseline of Photography challenges us to experience these captured moments not merely as historical artifacts but as dialogues between the observer and the observed. Behind every film and photograph seen today, there is a first photograph that initially uncovered something new. From the first permanent photograph by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1827 to the revolutionary first image of a black hole in 2019, each first photograph serves as a representative of photography's evolving narrative.

Following parameters identify first photographs in the Zero Baseline of Photography:

  • Verified as authentic photograph, based on truth, not falsified

  • Using photographic techniques

  • Produced within a scientific or artistic context

  • Unique example of its kind or a known technical first

OVERVIEW OF SELECTED FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS

FIRST PHOTOGRAPH CANDIDATES

The SEETHINK Lab is currently calling for first photograph candidates and contextual documentation in the areas of scientific and artistic photography from the last two centuries. If you have a candidate to submit please use this form: Submit candidates. For related articles or stories about any of the candidates please use this form: Submit contextual documentation. All submission information is used for research purposes only. Your privacy is respected.