Photos

Photos, or photographs, are images created by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation. In traditional terms, a photo is produced by exposing a photosensitive surface—such as photographic film or paper—to light, forming a latent image that is developed into a visible picture. Digital photography captures light with an image sensor (CCD or CMOS), converting it into electronic data that can be stored, edited, and shared.

The history of photography began with devices such as the camera obscura. The first durable photograph was made by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 using a heliographic process. Louis Daguerre’s daguerreotype arrived in 1839, offering clearer images, and Henry Fox Talbot developed the calotype, enabling multiple prints from a single negative. Color photography progressed through several stages, with early color processes like Autochrome in 1907 and later chromogenic methods.

Photography encompasses film-based and digital forms. Film photography uses chemically developed negatives and prints, while instant photography provides prints at or near the moment of exposure. Digital images are stored in formats such as JPEG, PNG, or TIFF, and may also be captured in RAW formats for post-processing.

Photos are stored on physical media or in digital archives and typically include metadata (EXIF) detailing date, camera settings, and location. They are protected by copyright and licensing, with uses across journalism, science, art, and personal memory. In contemporary culture, photographs are widely shared online and can influence perception, memory, and communication.