A walk down the memory lane with the help of some of the oldest surviving collections of daguerreotypes and the fine folks who have digitized and publish them for public.

First developed by French geniuses Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787 – 1851) and Joseph Nicéphorus Niépce (1765 – 1833). Little that they know, the Daguerreotype would spark an era of photographic artistry, as well as industry, as we know it today.

Series of portraits from the people of then Russian Empire. Sharp and well composed, but the slightly taller format would have made composition tricky; wonder what kind of camera it was shot on.

Good question:

My first question to Bono’s publicist: “What are the chances I’ll get to photograph him without his sunglasses?” Her response: “Hmmm. Probably zero. No chance. I don’t see it happening.” So began my date with Bono.

(via LA Times Photography)

© Béatrice de Géa for NY Times

Lovely portrait by Béa de Géa of Sting. Check out her website for more portrait goodies.

(the article’s nice too, by the way.)

Good news for landscape & architecture photographer. Out this month for just $2000.

Excellent wordcraft from press releases of an optics-expert company, Carl Zeiss:

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28: The Expert for Half-light

The breaking dawn is a special time for photographers. When the early-morning sun reluctantly chases away the still-glistening dew on the trees, this delicate transition between night and day creates moments of calm and anticipation. But without a tripod at hand, these shots will only succeed with a lens that can handle intense light.

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/35: A New Lens Takes Center Stage

A squirrel nimbly scampers along a moss-covered tree trunk. It has made a promising discovery amongst the fallen leaves of an oak tree. A deer emerges from the half darkness of the woods. A photographer documents the winter preparations of various woodland creatures. This requires a versatile, high-speed, easy to configure lens that produces razor-sharp images of the details and the entire scenery.

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21: Perfect Lighting For Dramatic Perspectives

Dusk is falling in Manhattan, and a swarm of commuters on their way home is hurriedly crossing the street toward Grand Central Station. Behind them, the skyscrapers reflect the golden light of the setting sun. To capture this unique atmosphere, photographers need a fast wide-angle lens.

I could do this all day, so let’s wrap it up before I get sued, but allow me to share this final classic bit 120 Years of Lenses from Carl Zeiss:

They’ve been to space; they’re Hollywood favorites; and they’ve been the constant companions of demanding photographers around the globe for 120 years.

The release lists Nicole Balle of Camera and Cine Lenses as the editorial contact, it may, or may not be that someone is working with her, whoever it is — thank you and kudos for making the press releases human again.

© Marian Bantjes

She is an angel descending to earth sharing the divinity of beauty. TED picked it up, and here’s what she has to say about her work:

I’m very interested in wonder, in design as an impetus to inquiring. To say I wonder is to say I question, I ask. And to experience wonder is to experience awe. [...] But I really believe that a fully operating, rich society needs these seeds coming from all directions and all disciplines in order to keep the gears of inspiration and imagination flowing and cycling and growing. So that’s why I do what I do, and why I spend so much time and effort on it, and why I work in the commercial, public sphere, as opposed to the isolated, private sphere of fine art. Because I want as many people as possible to see my work, notice it, be drawn into it, and be able to take something from it. And I actually really feel that it’s worthwhile to spend my valuable and limited time on this earth in this way. And I thank you for allowing me to show it to you.

She call herself a Graphic Artist, but she’s mostly a thinker, philosopher & philanthropist playing the roles of a poet, a writer, a designer, a painter, an artist and more precisely an agent of inspiration.

It’s one of the best talk on TED I’ve seen just yet, download the high-res MP4; and have a look at her website for her wide-range of mediums & multi-discipline of practice she is able to create from.

© Kevin Frayer/AP Photo

Best 7.5 minute I spent today.

© Jodi Bieber/TIME

I can’t even imagine the pain and suffering Aisha must have gone through, but her willingness for her story to be told to the world is a courageous and extremely noble act. Jodi Bieber tells more about the photoshoot for TIME’s cover story.