PhotoHistory Symposium Features World's First Digital Camera

The Photographic Historical Society, founded in 1966, is the oldest such group in the world. It will sponsor PhotoHistory XIV in Rochester, NY on Oct. 16-18, 2009.



The symposium speakers hail from Canada, England, Belgium and the US. The keynote speaker is Steven Sasson, the co-inventor of the digital camera (in 1975).

Other topics at the Saturday symposium at George Eastman House include photo postcards (1905-1935), high-speed motion picture cameras (a demonstration), images of Daguerre, early advertising photography, early Nikon cameras, Kodak string-set  cameras, Folmer & Schwing's cameras, the Woodburytype, J. Horace McFarland and the Autochrome,  35 mm film (the most popular film format), history of the bicycle through the lens of the camera, Chinese photography 1842-1870, and daguerreotypes in Philadelphia 1839-1860.

PhotoHistory, held every 3 years since 1970, brings together photographic historians, collectors and dealers from around the world. A Trade Show (Photographica Antique Show) on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. specializes in vintage cameras, photographs, and all things photographic, from ephemera to books. Admission is $5, FREE after 2 p.m., with free appraisals of vintage cameras after 2 p.m.

PhotoHistory XIII in 2006  attracted people from 8 countries and 22 states. The symposium is presented by The Photographic Historical Society, at George Eastman House, International Museum of  Photography & Film in Rochester, NY.

Information: www.tphs.org, 585-288-6359;  PhotoHistory, PO Box 10342, Rochester, NY 14610

Hotel reservations: www.doubletree.com, 585-475-1510, 800-222-TREE; ask for PhotoHistory rate

Registration: PhotoHistoryXIV@frontiernet.net

(Photo by Steve Kelly)

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