Introduction of Photograph

Photograph was introduced in Russia, first as daguerreotypes-prints on metal plates that were called so after their inventor, Daguerre. It was a very inconvenient method; one has to pose for quite a long stretch- some twenty minutes or so. Some say even they have to sit for 40 minutes before the camera to get just one daguerreotype, from which, moreover, no prints could be made. still the chance to have one's portrait made without the artist's intervention seemed such a wonderful novelty that it took the general public quite a time to get used to the idea. Many still cannot believe that the daguerreotype acts by itself. The photographer begged one gentleman, who came to have his portrait to be seated, adjusted the lenses, inserted the plate, glanced at his watch and retired. While the photographer was present, the gentleman sat as if rooted to the spot. But he had barely gone out when the gentleman thought it no longer necessary to sit still; he rose, took a pinch of snuff, examined the camera from every side, put his eye to the lens, shook his head, mumbled. The photographer returned stopped short in surprise at the doorway, asked the gentleman why did you got up, you should have sat still. But the gentleman didn't accept the fact.