The History of Photography: 1827 to Today (Oct 22 - Nov 19)

Dates: October 22 - November 19, 2026

Meetings: Thursday, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM CST (5 sessions)

Location: Houston Center for Photography

Cost: $450 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount, Photography Foundations students receive a 20% discount)

Instructor: Cammie Tipton-Amini

Skill Level: Open to All

While it is impossible to cover two hundred years of photographic history in a single course, we will explore many of the medium’s key technologies, techniques, and main historical artistic eras. Along the way, we will examine a wide range of remarkable images by both well-known and lesser-known artists, documentary photographers, photojournalists, and other image-makers.

This course also emphasizes reading of important texts in the discourse of photography. Each class will examine one or two readings, drawing from both historical and contemporary writings by influential thinkers whose ideas continue to shape the field and encourage critical thinking and looking. Importantly, many of the texts will be written by photographers themselves, offering firsthand perspectives on the medium. Students will leave with an abundance of resources and, hopefully, plenty of inspiration, with the understanding that our current era is reflective of the history we examine.

Objectives:

• Gain a strong knowledge of nineteenth century, twentieth century, and twenty-first century photographic history

• Identify major photo-historical eras

• Have a working knowledge of each major photo-technological advancement

• Become better (and faster) at analyzing critical texts (using the instructor’s “cheat sheet”)

• Read texts by photographers to help you define your own method of thinking critically about your practice

• Better understand why we “read” photographs the way we do today, and discuss alternative ways of seeing

• Discover where and how your own imagery fits into the history (or future) of photography

Prerequisites: None

Course Prep:

Before our first class, please share a few images of your own work (if you have a photographic practice) and a short artist's statement.