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Dry plate negatives

The invention of the dry-plate meant photographers could go anywhere, with just the camera and a bag full of negatives, take the photographs, and develop them in the darkroom at home.

Around 1880 celluloid was introduced as a lighter and less delicate alternative to glass as a support for the emulsion. Though flammable, celluloid enabled Kodak to produce the first roll films, reducing the weight photographers had to carry around with them. This made the "snapshot" - taken swiftly without fuss - possible for the first time.

The arrival of roll-film of course meant lengths of film could be really long - making movie photography possible.

Hitchin Museum Gatward
Gatward

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