Tag Archives: History

Photography: How Kodak Invented The ‘Snapshot’


Vox (September 20, 2024): In 1888, Eastman Kodak patented roll film, and the company’s business model of selling film, and then processing and printing the photos taken on that film for their consumers, made photography available to the masses for the first time.

Before the Kodak No. 1 box camera debuted, photography was a complicated process involving chemistry and expertise on big, bulky equipment. When Kodak introduced the Brownie and sold it for a dollar in 1900, photography went fully mainstream. The company dominated the film sales and development market during the 20th century and successfully marketed its automatic cameras as crucial to capturing fleeting moments — at home and on vacation.

But digital camera sales began to outpace film camera sales in the early 2000s, and Kodak failed to keep up. They filed for bankruptcy in 2012 but do still exist and sell film, albeit to a much smaller market.

History & Design: Central Park In New York City

Architectural Digest (September 19, 2024) – Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD in New York as he returns to Central Park to explore the thousands of years of history found there.

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:28 Columbus Circle 01:55 Glen Span Arch 03:44 Cleopatra’s Needle 05:45 The Blockhouse 06:41 The Arsenal 08:23 McGown’s Pass 10:40 Strangers’ Gate

Although Central Park itself would not have existed 200 years ago, you can track the use of the land back 13,000 years. From ancient Native American trails to billion-year-old rocks, take an in-depth look at the thousands of years of history housed inside this iconic park.

Science: What Is It That Makes Humans Unique?

DW Documentary (September 14, 2024): What made our ancestors evolve in such an extraordinary way? This film presents the latest scientific theories on how the human species evolved and looks at the shadow side of our unique abilities.

Some animals see, hear or smell better than humans. Others can find their way in the dark much better than we can. Some can fly. All animals communicate, some have excellent memories and others build complex structures and have highly-developed social skills. So what sets humans apart? Why have humans evolved such highly developed cognitive abilities in comparison to animals?

The documentary sheds light on this major question of human evolution — one of the mysteries that has long puzzled the world of science. What is it that makes humans so fundamentally different from other animal species? And will our extraordinary abilities ultimately lead us to self-destruction?

#documentary #dwdocumentary

Preview: Military History Magazine – Oct/Nov 2024

Military History Matters 142 – The Past

MILITARY HISTORY MAGAZINE (September 12, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Napoleon At War’ – The Rise of a Military Colossus…

Napoleon: Rise of a military colossus

In our special two-part feature in this issue, Graham Goodlad explores, first, the part played by Napoleon’s generalship in his progress from unknown artillery officer to ruler of France. Then we analyses in depth two battles he fought in his…

Napoleon by numbers

Infographics: Calum Henderson

Lodi and Arcola: making the myth

Graham Goodlad analyses the clashes that made Napoleon’s name as a soldier of genius.

Hidden figures

The use of ‘native levies’ has long been a feature of foreign wars – but their employment and their sacrifice reached a peak during the British colonial era. Stephen Roberts…

Thunder in the East: Armoured warfare in South-East Asia and the Pacific, 1937-1945

From Burma to Iwo Jima, armoured fighting vehicles played a key role in some of World War II’s most challenging environments. Our military technology expert David Porter takes notes.

Culture: The American Scholar – Autumn 2024

THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR (September 10, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Queen of the Night’ – Behold the wonders of a Carolina moonflower…

Moondance

Experience the marvel that is night-blooming tobacco By Leigh Ann Henion

In western North Carolina, the mountain growing season is short, and autumn is already tossing yellow-and-red confetti against my windshield as I drive the back roads to my friend Amy’s homestead. Curve after curve, I find locust trees that are a few shades lighter than they were last week. Buckeyes also seem well on their way to change. It is now hard to tell the difference between orange leaves falling and monarch butterfly wings rising. The signs of summer and fall, all intertwining.

Thoreau’s Pencils

How might a newly discovered connection to slavery change our understanding of an abolitionist hero and his writing?

By Augustine Sedgewick

Look Out!

Why did it take so long to protect spectators of America’s favorite pastime?

By Debra Spark

Teach the Conflicts

It’s natural—and right—to foster disagreement in the classroom

By Mark Edmundson

Music: Selmer Saxophones History & Craftsmanship

Insider Business (September 6, 2024) – Henri Selmer Saxophones was founded in Paris in 1885. Today, the company is synonymous with high-end saxophones. The most popular saxophone it sells, the Series II alto, starts at about $7,000, but a Selmer can cost you as much as $30,000, depending on the customization and finishes like gold plating.

John Coltrane, one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, used Selmer saxophones in his performances. He recorded his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme,” on a Mark VI. One of his Mark VI tenor saxophones is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Musicians are willing to pay for a Selmer for a variety of reasons: the familiar sound, the history behind the brand, the craftsmanship and attention to detail, and the playability.

National Geographic Traveller (October 2024)

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National Geographic Traveller Magazine (September 6, 2024): The October 2024 issue features hurling oranges in Ivrea to sipping coffee in Trieste, October’s cover story explores local life in Italy’s less-visited corners. Plus, the rangers of New Mexico, the landscapes of County Clare and more.

Also inside this issue:

Bali: A long-distance hike through the Indonesian island’s forested interior
Ireland: Exploring the ancient landscapes of the Burren, County Clare
New Mexico: Meet the rangers protecting the US state’s wealth of parks and monuments
Morocco: Itineraries to experience the country’s bohemian cities, desert villages and more
Athens: A layer cake of ancient and modern, the Greek capital overflows with intrigue
Oxford: Rambling gardens and cosy bookshops in England’s ‘city of dreaming spires’
Cascais: Historic mansions, museums and moreish seafood on the Portuguese Riviera 
Ticino: Mediterranean and Alpine cuisines intermingle in this southerly Swiss canton 
Jamaica: The island’s best hotels, from secluded mountain cabins to intimate beachside escapes 

National Geographic Traveller (September 2024)

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National Geographic Traveller Magazine (June 11, 2024): The September 2024 issue features a look beyond Istanbul and the Turquoise Coast in Turkey to descend into the subterranean cities of Cappadocia, a feast in the blossoming culinary region of Urla, and a marvel at Edirne’s age-old oil wrestling festival. Plus, trekking in Sri Lanka, a weekend in Montenegro and a guide to Miami.

Also inside this issue:

Sri Lanka: The Indigenous Vedda people are leading immersive treks in the jungled highlands 
Valencia:Journey through the parks, wetlands and groves of 2024’s European Green Capital 
Austria: Drink up the views from Carinthia’s lakeside restaurants and lofty mountain trails 
Japan: Itineraries to experience the archipelago’s urban life, scattered islands and more 
Miami: Explore the influences that have shaped Florida’s sun-soaked capital 
Dublin: A guide to the Irish capital, from big-ticket attractions to intimate audiophile bars 
Bay of Kotor: From medieval towns to national parks, this is Montenegro at its prettiest 
PerthThe capital of Western Australia is fresh out of an unprecedented hotel boom 

Plus, a Silk Road adventure in London’s British Museum; Spain’s Parador hotels unveil new tours; the global influences behind Guyanese cuisine; fine dining in Sorrento; the inside scoop on St John’s, Canada; canal boating trips in the UK; a bucolic escape in the Forest of Dean; the best autumn literary festivals; and portable kit for your next adventure.

We talk with author Oliver Smith on finding peace at Britian’s holy sites, and former astronaut José Hernández on reaching for the stars. In our Ask the Experts section, the experts give advice on digital nomad visas, planning a music-themed road trip in the US and more. The Info sets sail for Venice’s historical regatta, while Hot Topic explores the rise of tiger mosquitos across Europe and the Report asks whether costlier safaris really mean more money for conservation initiatives. Finally, photographer and writer Simon Urwin discusses capturing the otherworldly landscapes of Algeria in How I Got the Shot. 

Preview: Archaeology Magazine – Sept/Oct 2024

September/October 2024 - Archaeology Magazine

Archaeology Magazine (August 9, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Egypt’s Island of Many Gods’….

Ancient DNA Revolution

How the rapidly evolving field of archaeogenetics is unlocking secrets of the past

Hunting for the Lost Temple of Artemis

After a century of searching, a chance discovery led archaeologists to one of the most important sanctuaries in the ancient Greek worldRead Article

Trees of the Sky World

Why Australia’s Indigenous Wiradjuri people carved sacred symbols into trees to mark burials of their honored dead

Medieval Italy: “Echoes Of Popes & Power” In Anagni

TRACKS – Travel Documentaries (August 6, 2024): Anagni, a medieval jewel in Italy’s crown, whispers the echoes of popes and ancient power through its storied streets and majestic cathedral. Its intricate Cosmatesque art and historical significance paint a vivid portrait of a city that has long been a beacon of spiritual and artistic heritage.