TEXT 6
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY
The industrial revolution greatly improved the standard of periodicals. A similar influence manifested itself on the path leading to the culmination of the democratization of the picture. Mankind required a new method of producing pictures, in connection with the necessity of obtaining practical information, which could make reproductions not only faster than painting and drawing, but also produce more realistic and detailed pictures. This urgent need was satisfied by the invention of photography which is frequently described with respect to the time of its origin as «the most beautiful child of the industrial revolution».
The early stages of the development of photography as a pictorial culture were marked by many inventions. New conditions were created for the cooperation of some photographers with the editorial staff of periodicals and newspapers.
The use of photographs as a basis for graphical reproduction started with books and albums, due to the high cost.
The first book with lithograph illustrations appeared in 1840. A historical date is May 14, 1842, when Herbert Ingram founded the famous Illustrated London News. As the name indicates, it was to be a periodical relying largely on pictorial information. The illustrations were produced by a large team of graphic artists employed permanently by the publishers. Their work was based on both sketches and photographs. Due to the quality and possibilities of photography, photos were used mainly for landscapes, town views and portraits, whereas genre scenes and topical events were produced mainly after sketches made by artists sent to the spot where interesting events were expected by the editors.
The fact that the time was ripe for periodicals relying more heavily on pictorial information manifested itself in the appearance a year later of a similar magazine in France, L'illustration, published in Paris, and the Illustrierte Zeitung which started to appear in Leipzig, Germany.
The half-tones of photograph were replaced in copies made after original photos by hatching. The confidence of the public in the printed result was not the same as in the original photograph, because engravers sometimes deprived the pictures of disturbing elements, or being pressed by time, simplified them. The need for relatively large teams of graphic artists meant extra cost for the publisher and slower production rate. For these reasons methods were sought how to use photographs in periodicals more directly. In 1882 George Meisenbach invented the method called autotype. It contributed greatly to the direct use of images in periodicals. Another way led through experiments with photogravure. The most important innovation was the heliogravure, invented in 1878 by Karel Klic.
At the end of the 1880s it was possible to print half-tone reproductions of images simultaneously with the text using either Meisenbach's autotype or Klic's heliogravure methods. Most photographers then used the dry gelatine plate, and photographic films were also becoming available at that time. The state of the art achieved in the 19th century contributed considerably to the completion of the first stage of the development of photography for press purposes.
EXERCISES
Ex. 1. Match English and Russian equivalents.
1. material base
2. industrial revolution
3. to obtain information
4. the invention of photography
5. editorial staff
6. graphical reproduction
7. possibilities of photography
8. to use photographs in periodicals
9. for press purposes
a. изобретение фотографии
b. для (нужд) прессы
c. графическое изображение
d. материальная база
e. использовать фотографии в журналах
f. индустриальная революция
g. добывать информацию
h. Редакционный штат
i. возможности фотографии
Ex. 2. Choose the right word.
1. The industrial revolution greatly … the standard of perio dicals.
a) deteriorate b) improve
2. The use of photographs as a basis for graphical reproduction started with… .
a) magazines b) albums
3. Illustrated London News was to be a periodical relying largely on … information.
a) pictorial b) historical
4. The illustrations were produced by a large team of graphic
a) symbols b) artists
5. The half-tones of the photograph were replaced in copies made after original photos by … .
a) painting b) hatching
6. In 1882 George Meisenbach invented the method called … .
a) autotype b) heliogravure
7. Most photographers used the … at the end of the 1880s.
a) hatching b) dry gelatine plate
Ex. 3. Complete the sentences.
1. Mankind required a new method of … . 2. The invention of photography is frequently described as … . 3. The early stages of the development of photography were marked by … . 4. New conditions were created for the cooperation of some photographers with … . 5. Due to the quality and possibilities of photography, photos were used mainly for … . 6. The need for relatively large teams of graphic artists meant … . 7. At the end of the 1880s photographic films were ….
Ex. 4. Insert the right word:
Press, photographer, reproductions, engraved, periodicals, photos
Many publishers of illustrated … had established good relations with some studios already at the time when portraits were … and found their concept suitable also in the new conditions. Several … began to work only after the introduction of half-tone … . The evolution of portraits meeting best the new requirement of the … was influenced most by contributions originating outside studios. Frequently, they were … taken by nonprofessionals.
Ex. 5. Mark the statements that are true.
1. The invention of photography made reproductions faster than painting and drawing and helped to produce more realistic and detailed pictures. 2. The first book with lithograph illustrations appeared in 1850. 3. Herbert Ingram founded Illustrated London Newsin 1842. 4. The work of graphic artists was based only on photographs. 5. Engravers sometimes deprived the pictures of disturbing elements or simplified them. 6. At the end of the 1880s it was impossible to print half-tone reproductions of images simultaneously with the text.
Ex. 6. Make a short summary of the text.