The early years

I am interested in reading about the experiments leading up to the invention of photography, as well as the early years after invention.

I have snippets from various histories - but wondered whether there were any books specifically devoted to this period (I guess from early 1800s or even earlier, to mid 1800s?)

More around the biography and history/social history side than anything too technical.....

This etching came out as early photography was emerging. Did early photographers attempt to reach this same romantic vision?

I found a short stack of books I overlooked cataloguing last fall. At the bottom was a Dover reprint of Alfred Stieglitz: Camera Work; A Pictorial Guide. The 559 prints are small, but the discussion is detailed. Gives me enough info to be able to find the prints I really want to enjoy.

Checking back here, I'm reminded to mention a book I won from Early Reviewers - Cameras into the Wild. There isn't much in the way of photographs in the book, but plenty of personalities and history.

Waking this group. I’m registered to take a class in January titled ‘History of Photography.’ It’s being taught by the curator of the college art collection, so I expect great things from it.

Trying to find a book I borrowed a few years back. A found collection of plates taken by one itinerant photographer. The subjects were black individuals and families in the old South; formal portraits.

Found it! I really must tame my tags.
Where we find ourselves : the photographs of Hugh Mangum