This series will document the first know existence of items that are considered common place. The best example of this is the world’s first photograph. With digital cameras built into our phones and always accessible, it’s rare that we regard the capturing of images as anything special. Back in 1826 it was unheard of. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce was the first to snap a picture using pewter plates and an exposure time of 8 hours. That’s a long time to say “cheese!” This was the result:





Er, yeah. I guess it’s obvious why this hasn’t become an iconic image. Dali would have liked it. This is actually a view of the French countryside taken from a window. Niépce called his captured image a heliograph. If he had gained more recognition, we might be running around yelling “Quick! Take a helio!” Unfortunately no one was very impressed.





Easier on the eyes is the first photo of a human. Dutch chemist Robert Cornelius took this portrait of himself back in 1839 at the ripe old age of thirty. That would make Robert 200 years old today. I have to be honest with you, I think he’s hot. The intentionally messy hair, the casual “I’m making history, so what?” expression on his face. The jacket is pimp too. I heart you Robert Cornelius. I heart you forever!