Nineteenth-century precursors Street photography

louis daguerre: boulevard du temple (1838 or 1839)

in 1838 or 1839 first photograph of figures in street recorded louis-jacques-mandé daguerre in 1 of pair of daguerreotype views taken studio window of boulevard du temple in paris. second, made @ height of day shows unpopulated stretch of street, while other taken @ approximately 8:00 am, , beaumont newhall reports, boulevard, filled moving throng of pedestrians , carriages solitary, except individual having boots brushed. feet compelled of course, of course, stationary time, 1 being on box of boot black, , other on ground. consequently boots , legs defined, without body or head, because these in motion.

charles nègre first photographer achieve technical sophistication required register people in movement on street in paris in 1851. eugene atget regarded progenitor, not because first of kind, result of popularisation in late 1920s of record of parisian streets berenice abbott, inspired undertake similar documentation of new york city. city developed, atget helped promote parisian streets worthy subject photography. 1890s 1920s photographed architecture, stairs, gardens, , windows. did photograph workers people not main focus.

john thomson, scotsman working journalist , social activist adolphe smith, published street life in london (1877) prior atget. thomson played key role in making capture of everyday life on streets significant role medium.