The first form of the camera was invented in 1827 by Niepce, who was able to make an exposure of an image onto a metal plate. However, the exposure time took 8 hours, and the image faded quickly afterwards. Following this initial success, various people improved on the camera, gradually decreasing the exposure time. George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, invented roll film, making it very convenient to take photos and brought photography to the masses.
Nowadays, a modern digital camera can take a photograph in a fraction of a second and in colour too. The digital format also lets people conveniently store and view their information digitally, allowing for storage of many more photos.
The invention of the camera has allowed people to record images efficiently and accurately. Before the camera, the only way to record any visual information was to draw it out, and this would naturally include some bias. Finally, in addition to being an art form, photography also allowed for richer documentation of history.
