Hippolyte Bayard

Hippolyte Bayard was born on January 20, 1801. He was a civil servant from France, but took some time off to explore the world of photography. He is thought to have invented photography earlier than Daguerre and Talbot. He invented the method of direct positive printing. It is speculated that Francois Arago persueded Bayard to improve upon his invention before presenting it to the public. Arago supposedly did this so that Daguerre could present his invention first and be credited with the invention of photography. Bayard presented his findings in a thirty photo exhibition on June 24, 1849, but was too late. Daguerre beat him to the punch. Bayard felt cheated. He expressed this feeling through one of his most famous photographs ever taken- Self-portrait of a Drowned Man. Bayard died on May 14, 1887.





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Hippolyte Bayard Photo