|
Did you know that Jan Motyka Jan Motyka (1924–2005) was a photographer from Kraków. The Museum of Photography in Kraków stores his extensive legacy, documented by catalogues of about 200 exhibitions in Poland, diplomas from international competitions (Poland, Romania, France, Great Britain, Spain, the USA, Singapore... |
Did you know that Walery Rzewuski’s atelier — photo laboratories in the 2nd half of the 19th century Walery Rzewuski’s atelier was one of the most famous photo laboratories in the 2nd half of the 19th century in Kraków. The atelier was fully equipped and the owner’s fame, resulting in financial success, allowed him to build a house which was a part of a photographic entourage, and which was arranged with great care. The residence with a garden at Kolejowa Street in Kraków (today’s Westerplatte Street) was designed according to the latest architectural trends. |
Did you know that How were autochromes made? How were autochromes made? It was a process that consisted in producing colour photographs on glass plates, as diapositives invented on 17 December 1903 by Louis and August Lumière who improved the technology in the following years and launched the mass production of autochrome plates... |
Did you know that Pseudo-solarisation Pseudo-solarisation is associated with the Sabatier effect and is visually similar to solarisation. It is characterized by a partial reversal of the negative image to the positive one under the influence of additional — even illumining — photosensitive material during the development. |
Did you know that How was the three-dimensional effect obtained in the 19th century? Stereoscopic photography was the first three-dimensional photography in history. It developed after 1851. Then, it was demonstrated for the first time at the London World Exposition, where spatial photographs aroused the delight of Queen Victoria. From that time on, stereoscopic photography became the entertainment of the bourgeoisie, and it was not until the 1930s — when fascination with film and radio began — that stereoscopy was reduced to the role of a children’s toy. |
Did you know that Photography of Wyspiański and Mehoffer In the collection of the Museum of Ziemia Biecka in Biecz, there is a unique photo from 1889, depicting the students of the second year of thethen School of Fine Arts (today’s Academy of Fine Arts) in Kraków, during an educational trip around the regions of Sądecczyzna and Biecz under the supervision of Prof. Władysław Łuszkiewicz. |
Did you know that On the beginnings of photography technique In the history of photography technique, there are many solutions enabling an improvement to photographic techniques.
The first methods of obtaining photographic negatives (from the 1850s) required the use of glass plates coated with a layer of collodion, which, at the time of shooting, was still wet. After the plate had been covered with a layer of collodion and sensitized in a proper bath, the photographer had only a few minutes to slide it into a cassette placed on the back of the camera and expose it. |
Did you know that Wiesław Tomaszkiewicz — photographer, operator, mountaineer... The collection of the Museum of Photography in Kraków contains many photos by the renowned photographer and cinematographer, Wiesław Tomaszkiewicz. He was born on 1 July 1924 in Nowy Sącz and died in 2009. He was a master of Oriental Philology, a cinematographer — he took photos for documentary films — a photographer, a mountaineer and an amateur radioman. |
Did you know that Amalia Krieger, photographer “She was known in broad communities by artists and citizens both in Kraków and throughout Poland. She was widely liked for her personality and artistic background... |
Did you know that Reflex cameras — how do they work? The idea of placing a movable mirror in the camera, allowing for the projection of the image from the lens onto the horizontally mounted focusing screen, was first attempted at the turn of the 1850s and 1860s. At the end of the 19th century, many companies began to manufacture cameras that used a mirror which allowed... |
Did you know that The third dimension of the 19th century 19th century inventors sought for a method to render three-dimensionality of space; stereoscopic photography was one of such attempts. The technique consisted in taking two photographs from two various points of view. A print included two seemingly identical pictures... |
 Stereoscope viewer from Austro-Hungary The stereoscopic viewer of Brewster’s system for stereoscopic photos (slides), in the single 7 x 7 cm image format, was manufactured in Austria-Hungary in the early twentieth century... |
 KwieKulik, “Actions with a Tube” The series of photographs is a record of one of numerous actions that the two artists carried out in their own flat. It took place in August 1975, with the participation of Przemysław Kwiek’s sister Zofia Kulik and the artists’ son – Maksymilian Dobromierz. A cardboard tube was the centre of the action. It had been made to order as an advertising prop; after the action it went to the client. |
 Tomasz Dobiszewski, from the series “Anecdotes” The area of Tomasz Dobiszewski’s exploration is time and space, constraints of perception, illusion and interaction issues. In his works, which testify to the processes of taming the media, he does not limit himself to purely conceptual cognitive strategies but enriches the discourse with non-intellectual elements: sensual impressions and intuitive cognition. He combines messages which are legible to various human senses, and, while experimenting with the physiology of seeing or hearing, on the one hand he aims at fuller, more complete transfer, while on the other, he deprives the viewer of the possibility to learn about the essence of his work. |
 Dóra Maurer, “What can One do with a Cabble Stone?” The work is a photographic documentation of a performance carried out by the artist in 1971. Fifteen prints, arranged in five rows, three in a row, step by step present actions involving a single paving stone. The work, with its roots in conceptualism, also has feminist and political connotations. |
 The “Mercury” Stereoscope viewer by Underwood & Underwood The “Mercury” Stereoscope is a Holmes system stereoscopic viewer for stereoscopic photographs, with a single 7 x 7 cm image, produced in 1900–1920 by Underwood & Underwood from New York (USA).
One of the simplest designs of stereoscopic viewers was the “open” viewer system, invented by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1861. This was an extremely simple design, equipped with an eyepiece with lenses, including an appropriately curved wooden or metal sun visor. The Underwood & Underwood Company sold millions of stereoscopic photos, thanks to this very cheap production model of the viewer. |
Did you know that Gallery of enthusiasts and collectors The collection of Małopolska’s Virtual Museums is not only composed of extremely valuable objects but also very common things of everyday use, important mainly because they are traces of old practises, customs, coding an image of a world which is already gone. |
 “The main gate to Henryk Jordan’s Park” The photograph shows the main gate of the Henryk Jordan park in Kraków. In the foreground, the road has been flattened (currently, 3 May Avenue), behind which there is a wooden bridge on the River Rudawa. Next, we see a tall wooden gate, with the inscription: Miejski/ Park Dra Jordana. In the background, on the left, a wooden pavilion designated the main pavilion... |
 “The Lajkonik is offered a treat in front of the Town Hall” Lajkonik is photographed slightly from the bottom, framing the torso, turned to the right. He is holding a cup in his hand; he is receiving something to drink. The City Hall is visible in the background. The photograph was taken in the 1960s or 70s. It belongs to a series of five photos by the same author... |
Did you know that Studio cameras Studio photo cameras, also called gazebo cameras, were intended for taking portrait photos indoors. This explains the solid and relatively heavy design of the camera and tripod, allowing for the long exposures of photos.
Cameras equipped with cardboard bellows, covered with leather and canvas... |
