author

active 1854-1890 John Werge

An early photographer and photo historian, this 19th-century writer looked back on the birth of photography while having lived through much of it himself. His best-known book blends technical history, industry milestones, and personal recollections from decades in the field.

1 Audiobook

The Evolution of Photography With a Chronological Record of Discoveries, Inventions, Etc., Contributions to Photographic Literature, and Personal Reminescences Extending over Forty Years

The Evolution of Photography With a Chronological Record of Discoveries, Inventions, Etc., Contributions to Photographic Literature, and Personal Reminescences Extending over Forty Years

by active 1854-1890 John Werge

About the author

Working as a photographer in both New York and London, John Werge was part of photography's early growth in the 19th century. Records from the Photographers’ Identities Catalog place his birth on December 8, 1824, in Bentham, North Yorkshire, note activity in New York from 1853 to 1862 and in London from the 1870s to 1892, and give his death as May 15, 1911, in Hampstead, London.

He is best remembered for The Evolution of Photography (1890), a detailed history of the medium that also draws on his own experience. The book follows photography from its experimental beginnings through major discoveries and practical developments, and it stands out for mixing chronology with personal reminiscence.

That combination makes his work especially appealing for modern listeners: it is not just a history of inventions, but a view from someone who watched photography take shape as a new art and technology.