Remarkable picture

[Basil]

Oldest known photograph of a sitting President. John Quincy Adams in 1843, age 76.

 

[NutmegCT]

Those eyes saw John and Abigail Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and so many others. Wow.

 

[Guest]

What's the record on one standing? :grin:

 

[Banjo]

He had a rather piercing gaze, didn't he?

 

[Basil]

He had a rather piercing gaze, didn't he?

My guess is he had to sit very still and stare due to the camera technology of the day.

 

[Banjo]

My guess is he had to sit very still and stare due to the camera technology of the day.

I bet you're right. 1843 it's likely a daguerreotype.

 

[JPSmit]

OK, I didn't realize Bilbo Baggins was president! :grin:

 

[Gliderman8]

OK, I didn't realize Bilbo Baggins was president! :grin:

You have a hobbit of pointing things like that out.

 

[DrEntropy]

Head brace. "Don't move!"

 

[Basil]

Head brace. "Don't move!"

It was a daguerreotype - very early and complex photographic process that required exposure of 12 minutes or so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daguerreotype

 

[aeronca65t]

You know, for a person of that age in that time, he looks very healthy.

I know people today that are much younger and don't look that good.

 

[DNK]

His dad lived a good long life too

 

[mikephillips]

I always enjoy photos from the dawn of photography, seeing what a person really looked like rather than a painter's interpretation or what the subject wanted to be seen as. Particularly those who probably could never have afforded a portrait. I have a couple of 1850's era photos of family who were in the same age range. Kinda cool to be able to see the faces of folks who were born before Washington became the first president.

 

[DrEntropy]

As a (former/reformed) panderer in reflected light images, the history of the craft has fascinated me since childhood. Was devouring the biographies of folks like Brady, Karsh, Stieglitz, Lang, Steichen. Mentored from my pre-teens by a former Baltimore medical examiner's photog. Spent the better part of my life practicing the craft in some form or other. Always fascinated by the earliest images, in awe of those who had the dedication and means to pursue them.

And always somewhat bemused/confused at the idea that when Daguerre was first introducing his process, portrait painting artists were leaping from balconies and buildings to commit sideways, thinking their livelihood was suddenly obsolete. :shocked:

Now that the Digital Revolution has fairly quickly made the bulk of my knowledge of the craft (the processing portion) useless, I'm "making lemonade" rather than considering some EOL scheme! And plenty of friends and former colleagues managed to make the transition successfully.

 

[coldplugs]

Fascinating photo. I can't help noticing his hands & wonder if he had some major arthritis or other issue. I'm developing it (arthritis) in a couple of fingers and it's no fun. But maybe he just moved them slightly during the exposure(?)