Some of the oldest photos you will ever see

In the spring of 1842, a wealthy scholar and artist called Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey embarked on a grand tour of the Eastern Mediterranean. With the use of his camera, a technology that had been released to the public just three years before, he documented the local sites and people, and created a collection of photos that in many cases are the earliest to survive of the countries depicted. In this video, we’ll use Girault de Prangey’s collection of photographs to retrace his journey, and discover the world of the Eastern Mediterranean as it looked almost two hundred years ago.
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[@Palinghufter]

The photograph itself ages but not what has been photographed. It's closest thing we have to time travel.

[@thebigdog2295]

Indeed they are the closest thing, thankfully they were found and we're able to look at them.

[@markhackett2449]

Yes what has been photographed ages and changes eventually gone.

[@poginip]

Do you know the movie: The picture of Dorian Gray¿. I think you might like it.

[@irvingrosenblat468]

space-time-continuum-travel you mean jajaja

[@Dustin2558]

Your memory is a much more robust and amazing form of time travel. Photos are nothing without eyes to interpret them.

[@zacksung11]

What a tragedy for him to end up ignored and forgotten by society despite his trailblazing journey and photography. I wonder what happened to all his pictures. Did they get the public exhibition they deserve?

[@kingsandthings]

The photographs have been dispersed, with some belonging to private collections and others to various museums. They did finally get the recognition they deserve though!

[@FS-me8mj]

He was an aristocrat of that time, when many people were poor and begging on the streets. It wouldn't have been a big deal for him to cope with this.

[@sirknight4981]

@@FS-me8mj Was going to say the same thing. Still, it's always disheartening to hear of hard work and genius being largely ignored in the author's lifetime.

[@Garbeaux.]

Photography at the time was still viewed as a new novelty. They didn’t realize what they had. Just like with any new technology, many wrote it off and thought it would never replace painting. Of course it didn’t replace painting but opened up a new art form entirely.

[@xyzoub]

The first thing I was thinking of where the exhibits he would be doing back home.

[@Zveebo]

Absolutely fascinating - I’d never heard of this guy, but, my, what a treasure trove his photos are!

[@JohnDoeno.12]

As a photographer, I find historic photography absolutely fascinating. Wonderful video!

[@patriciajrs46]

Thank you for all that you do. My couson posts her nature photos, the Florida skies, and some wildlife, on Facebook. Please continue to share. Our world has many beautiful sights and many different perspectives. What is important to one may not be to another, but someone will appreciate sometime.

[@Man11235]

I know travel was a pain back then but it was probably worth it. I feel like going to these old cities and seeing their cultures so pure and not diluted by internet influence.

[@AmericoVespucioo]

"He inherited a significant fortune which allowed him to spend more time on his passions: photography and travelling." A life to envy

[@JerryFisher]

One of the things I've loved about early photography is how romantic the locations look. There aren't the crushing masses of tourists. The landscape is largely unspoiled. Landmarks and sites haven't been tidied up, restored, and overrun by development. Places that today are an endless urban landscape bursting with millions of people were once tiny and small. They were at a very human scale. These photographs show us a world that wasn't careening at a breakneck speed. These photographs show us a world that is some ways is far more beautiful to the one we all live in now.

[@Superman-xr1oh]

I sometimes tell myself that I was born in the wrong decade. I should've been born in the 20s.

[@ESJonas]

@@Superman-xr1oh Guy in the 20s: "I should have been born in the 1850s". Guy in the 1850s: "I should have been born in the 1790s." Lol

[@Superman-xr1oh]

@@ESJonas Lol

[@michelleheadley2911]

@@Superman-xr1ohno. We are definitely in the right time for ourselves. Unless you come from a wealthy family. No ac. No refrigeration. No vaccinations. Less medication. Poor medical care. Poor dentistry. More segregation and prejudice. Poor work conditions. Aesthetically it’s lovely. Realistically. Horrifying.

[@Superman-xr1oh]

@@michelleheadley2911 Eh, I disagree.

[@Overlorddz]

My great uncle is now 102. Survived most of the generation that came after him by now. He has crazy stories about Europe during the interbellum years. While imprisoned in the East by the nazi's in 43 he was 'liberated' by the Soviets and taken further east for forced labour somewhere near the black sea (i guess current Ukraine). He escaped in 1945 and travelled back west by south, going through romania, Hungary and austria by foot and train. Once he crossed into the UN sector he met a small group of US soldiers who brought him into a nearby bar and Marlene Dietrich was there !! (sorry this video just reminded me of him)

[@carpathiangirl8460]

You need to document your great uncles stories in writing. See if you can tape him

[@kelvinsurname7051]

God bless your great uncle, may you have many more years with him in good health!

[@robkunkel8833]

a great story. Is he still with us 3 months later? I had a mother in law who was marched to a train station on a train for Siberia in 1945 and the train was so full she had to wait for the next one in the afternoon. During that wait the Allies came in and all plans were changed.

[@judasschwarz]

Please document his stories for future generations. The media that exists now is a complete fabrication. It's quite possible that part or all of the history we're taught is a fabrication. His stories even about simple things that seem unimportant could provide truth for future generations.

[@AngelWest58]

cool!

[@erik_gerhard]

Fascinating. When I look at early photography, I often just focus on how different the images look from ours today: faded value ranges, the way the old chemical processes create such a different end result than B&W photography today. With these, though, the subjects themselves are so engrossing, I find myself just wanting to go into that world of the past. 😊 Terrific video; thank you for making it!

[@bobnewmanknott3433]

What a superb video the narrator with his carefully modulated voice added to this delight One of the best offerings on the whole of the KZbin channel My admiration knows no bounds .

[@donutdude6258]

Get a grip

[@bobnewmanknott3433]

I suppose its easer to be stupid and nasty than clever and nice , I hope you feel better soon .

[@AFMMarcelD]

@@bobnewmanknott3433I concur 💯 with you Bob, the world is filled with idiocy.

[@SlumberBear2k]

it's crazy how we never appreciate the value of something(or someone) until it is gone.

[@kmeccat]

Wow. His beautiful house demolished. His vast, amazing collection dispersed randomly. OMG. His works warrant a museum of their own! So glad you showed us a few here!

[@fstopPhotography]

I'm a collector of 19th-century photographs and glass plate negatives and find these to be very valuable in the history of photography. It is quite possible that these photos are the first ever in the countries they were taken. To find a historic treasure in an attic is of itself a once in a lifetime find. Mine is in the wooden crate I found them, still wrapped in the news print from the time they were stored in the crate, 1857. What a great video and I will be looking for any books on Joseph-Philibert Girault Prangey.

[@Miki_big_red_machine]

Yes IT is fascining to see these long gone people ( my oldest photo is from 1940 of my Family i’ve never know i had back then

[@fstopPhotography]

@@Miki_big_red_machine Is it a Daguerreotype? It's very rare, for some reason, that people still have photos of their family back then. It sounds like you cherish. I hope it stays in the family for many more generations.

[@paolodesiato9497]

Hello, do you have daguerrotypes and photographs of Rome?

[@fstopPhotography]

@paolodesiato9497 No, I'm sorry, I don't. My European collection is quite small. Just a few wet and dry plates I picked up in England a few years ago. It's my understanding that European daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes are pretty rare. I'm sorry I couldn't help.

[@mike04574]

Did u watch the video? He literally said they were the first of the countries except italy

[@krcmaine]

Wow, this is an amazing treasure trove/time capsule. Thank you for presenting them with some context of his life and travels.

[@morrisonscott702]

Hey there! I came across your comment and I just had to reach out and say hi. Your perspective really caught my attention and I would love to get to know you better. Would you be interested in chatting sometime? Looking forward to hearing back from you!

[@piper_lori-williams-tudhope]

Absolutely incredible video, and images. It always makes me sad when these artists don’t get the recognition and credit they deserve until they pass away. Then they are noticed generations later and others reap their rewards.

[@morrisonscott702]

Hello how are you doing?

[@onurbikic]

He is the first person to photograph Istanbul. Thanks for the video and your work, it's amazing.

[@AssassinX899]

Constantinople*

[@Redbird_Girl2010]

What an incredible dichotomy between magnificent and huge buildings next to people doing their laundry and pulling carts.

[@WinstonSmithGPT]

What a great video. Thanks so much for putting this together. I never heard of this man or his work before! He owes you for the extra longevity you’ve given him.

[@simplepixel5617]

Ummmm history, art, photography, traveling 🤩- I mean this episode was amazing. More, more, moooooore.

[@monicacall7532]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Having traveled to some of these places it’s mind blowing to see how they looked before world wars and terrorism destroyed so many places. I’m in awe of Girault’s artistry with a camera especially when you realize how big and bulky they were and how long it took to get an exposure.

[@thebigdog2295]

Of all the historical photos I've seen, these are the ones I'm most happy to have seen. Thank you for the wonderful glimpse into the past.

[@Nicksonian]

WOW! Fascinating. As a photojournalist I’m in awe of what this great artist accomplished in the very early years of photography. Thank you so much for this presentation.

[@Milestonemonger]

We took a 2 year assignment to Egypt a while back. We kept renewing the contract because there was so much to see and do. We ended up staying 7 years. It's truly a magnificent place, but it's not for the faint-hearted. Go there only if you have an adventurous spirit.

[@JD.78]

Thanks for making this video. These photographs are a gateway to an era that is seldom if ever captured on camera. The natural beauty of the monuments, landscapes, animals and people are wonderful, they highlight and capture many things that are long forgotten or lost to history. Cheers.

[@patriciajrs46]

As you say, so many are lost now. This is a classic.

[@JD.78]

Indeed, many of these are now long gone. Cheers.

[@olwens1368]

These are amazing. The thought that they were stacked in crates in his attic for years makes you worry about what other treasures have been left in attics and cupboards and carelessly binned by later generations as 'old junk'. I think/hope that there are still old houses with stuff in attics just waiting to be found- where we live there are still very old farmhouses, obviously still owned by the original families, ungentrified, probably with a lot of clutter no-one has had time or energy to look through for a century or more...

[@Kenneth_James]

Thank you for taking the time to tell this story and show us the photographs Girault took.

[@patriciajrs46]

The only one of his family to survive to adulthood. His descendants should be very grateful, and in awe for that is a fact of why they are alive. These pictures are wonderful. I wish we knew what they were. I wish he would have kept a written journal to explain his travels.

[@vicnurse5]

So sad that so many of those gorgeous old buildings probably no longer exist, and when I saw the pics in Syria I wondered how many if still standing, have been bombed!!! So evocative, these old photographs have so much character in them. What an incredible photographer and the time it would have taken him. Thank you I have just found your channel. Love it.

[@poginip]

I was enthralled by this slice of photo history. This coming from a person who is very well-versed on the history of Photography. I want to thank you too for your engrossing presentation. You have a wonderful voice, and your use of music was non-invasive, which is not usually the case. I have actually stopped looking at something if the music bothers me. I am impressed. I will certainly search for more of your presentations. Be well.......Shel

[@swedhamurugesh]

Some live never to see the light of fame ,but fame reaches them much later and cherishes them to immortality

[@patriciajrs46]

Please tell me you're a writer or poet. That sentiment was quite good.

[@GodBless423]

Outstanding Work Sir!

[@Bommogirl]

Wonderful film. It’s mind blowing to think these photographs are almost 200 years old. What an intrepid and interesting man he was. Thank you for sharing this.

[@patriciadonovan4829]

Thank you for publicizing this wonderful collection.

[@Butt_Slayer]

This is such a well put together video. Amazing to see such great examples of so long ago. Thank you.

[@xyzoub]

Super interesting, I had never heard of Girault de Prangey! Thanks for all the hard research work and great video! Prangey is the typical example of the erudite aristocrat who devotes his life to his passion of research and arts. After watching your video I found a book on him at my local library that I checked out. Just as a side note, even in France I am not sure I would be able to locate the city of 'Langres' ;) so when you say next to Langres I have no clue where it is...

[@patriciajrs46]

As he showed it on the map it looked to be South East of Paris, by, maybe, 50 to 150 miles. That's my best guess of what I saw.

[@hussain6469]

This channel is truly a goldmine

[@vin-cc9nk]

People in the past wore such cool hats

[@artisaprimus6306]

The photos of people are fascinating to me. I think what they believed, how they communicated with each other.

[@patriciajrs46]

It makes you wonder what they thought about.

[@theowlfromduolingo7982]

I personally love the topics of your videos. Especially the ones about photography and 18. and 19. century are really interesting. Maybe you can also find an interesting perspective on early cinematography and how people used it

[@louislandi938]

As a professional photographer starting in 1961, I am in awe of the quality considering what he had to work with. Today’s ‘Pro’s’ are too busy patting themselves on the back to pay homage to their roots.

[@AFMMarcelD]

Wish many more years of health and photography to you dear sir, best regards.

[@corybreckon]

Beautiful you still do what you love. That is truly special

[@louislandi938]

@@corybreckon I no longer sell my work. I give back to families with special needs children and to all of my church functions. No cost to any of them. After a heart attack, dying and revived by our rescue squad, I had a strong desire to ‘give back’. VERY enjoyable!

[@corybreckon]

@@louislandi938 bless you. That is truly beautiful. Some things in life truly wake you up to what really matters

[@Mimilikesocean]

One of the most wonderful videos ever! Thank you

[@thislittlelightofmine8776]

Thank you for introducing us to this treasure!

[@danwiberg3778]

How blessed are we to witness these brief moments in history. Amazing. We're so caught up in our daily lives we don't have the chance to consider how we got to where we are today.

[@JackSmith-hx8zh]

I'm not an artist, nor a historian but thank you for providing a very relaxing and fascinating interlude in my day.

[@ikefork2606]

Absolutely stunning photography! This amazing collection of historical photos is a monumental treasure to be celebrated by all. Thanks for sharing! Tm

[@donkeydan5996]

What a great channel! Never seen these photos or heard of this photographer

[@nikitameo8711]

I want to praise the editing of all these videos; the choice of images, the music etc. really makes the topics come to life! Thank you!

[@lennytidwillow3666]

Well done! Fascinating and interesting. Thank you for sharing this story.

[@kritikalmass1334]

13:20 i could only imagine seeing this is person would bring tears to any eye. For the sheer magnitude of time this represents. Grand, magnificent, yet buried in sand lost to time. “My name is ozymandias...”

[@patriciajrs46]

Is that your real name? Wherever you are from take some pictures, write a book, either story or poetry, and capture the life around you for posterity. Future generations will be glad you did.

[@Armistead_MacSkye]

​@patriciajrs46 I believe he or she is quoting from a book, poem, or film. And I agree, we should all document things. I do. Happy new year.

[@myradioon]

It would be interesting to do a whole video on Artists who used photographs as aids to make paintings. It has been noted that artists like Degas etc. started to paint subjects in "Mid-Action" more often after the camera was invented.

[@burningice7371]

Wonderful video, really enjoyed it!

[@dargon1084]

You are amazing for compiling, making commentary and posting this

[@deathdoor]

Now we need to see these photos restored!

[@TrifeLife918]

Excellent!! So glad I found your channel. I love how you narrate all the video on the photos, and in showing of the maps. 👌

[@favorite80]

Your work, passion, and narration in all your videos is unbelievable!!! I salute you!!

[@dagogertduck2600]

One of the best contents on KZbin! These interesting and fascinating stories, and the life behind these beautiful old pictures, are truly captivating. It's a treasure that you present to us in such a pleasant and relaxing way. Through these videos, these people continue to live in a certain sense. Like + Sub + Thank you very much!!

[@jonnyy4088]

This is an excellent channel my friend.Well done.

[@maevependragon]

I'm new and love this channel! Thanks! ❤

[@jackryder-sw9rk]

Interesting video. I have a collection of 19 century photographs by several celebrated photographers. My earliest is from 1842, depicting some children at the port of Newhaven in Sussex, England. it is reported that some of their Fathers fought as young men (& boys) at Trafalgar with Nelson.

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Wonderful video, I will have to research this valuable collection.

[@Peaceshiet812]

I live for these sorts of videos ! Thankyou, just discovered your channel, Love it , both the topics and presentation are wonderful ❤

[@thekarmafarmer608]

Thank you for this fantastic short documentary. It was extremely interesting and well presented.

[@freedpeeb]

What a wonderful collection of photographs! Amazing.

[@jannaodell4492]

Amazing work. I really enjoyed it!

[@ibeetellingya5683]

Thank you for another priceless and timeless documentary. I'm captivated by your revelatory mention of the 'pastore transumante'-their ancient culture, seasonal journeys, musical long-distance communication, and the network of Tratturi 'roads', along with their festivals. I am now on a quest to discover early audio recordings of pastoral cultures. Your works are treasure troves upon treasure troves.

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

This channel is amazing.

[@trojanette8345]

Thank You for giving such context with your videos. It makes the whole viewing experience that much more enjoyable. The only thing I wish (suggestion only) is that you had probable dates or years for some of these photographs. For example the photograph showing at time marker, 9:16. Do you have any idea what year that was taken?

[@patriciajrs46]

Yes, please. His timeline would be greatly appreciated.

[@helge.]

Great video! Thank you very much!

[@edwardkornuszko4083]

Thank you. This was truly fascinating and edifying. Eternal memory to this great man with such singular vision.

[@user-he7wb5in9e]

This was Absolutely stunning, Thank you for sharing this ❤

[@Chris.Davies]

Would love to see these original photographs restored using modern background-aware repair techniques. And I'd like to see the originals, fade into the restorations, and then fade into a modern day photograph of the same scene.

[@HeirOfNothingInParticular]

That would be awesome.

[@jenniferstocks8379]

Thankyou for your beautiful presentation

[@user-zi5zp4ym6c]

If your reading this This is a really outstanding presentation Your Narration is very calming A truley lost piece of history This is a real treasure Thank you for creating this and letting the rest of us know about this

[@euraquitanlopesoliveirajun6598]

Good morning ! When i see these photos from the past , i Wander...how fresh was the Air , the water , food ( the veggies i mean ), etc. I really do apreciate this kind of stuff! Congratulations for this video ! 🌞🌞🌞

[@micahistory]

Wow this is so interesting, I never even heard of this guy or his pictures. Truly fascinating

[@yasmin8851]

Very interesting, so glad some of this history has been preserved in photos.

[@dumitriudaniela]

so beautiful! thank you for showing us these photos. Its like stepping back in time. You can feel the difference of another era through the images. I dont know how to explain but mid 1800s photos carry an atmosphere of quietude and spaciousness that is harder to find in the photos taken 50 years later.

[@patriciajrs46]

Most of the quietude is gone.

[@StarJes1]

​@@patriciajrs46and nowadays we have this... social medias , billions of photos with 4k resolution, how far we've come but i don't like this timeline, it may be easier to live and communicate but it's lame to the old times , internet is destroying us

[@martijnkeisers5900]

How wonderful, thank you for this video!

[@thegovernor1146]

Fascinating indeed. Seen lots of old photos in my time, but none of those.

[@sexydirrtymoney]

Great video! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@PRH123]

Seems hard to believe this work is little known, such leading edge high technology at that time, and such old images... thanks very much, very interesting....

[@iamlalapalooza]

fabulous! i am now your subscribed fan. I love these photos!!

[@patriciaalexander1061]

Thank you for this. Enjoyed the photos and research.

[@dashinking]

Pretty interesting seeing all of these places long before modern day

[@elenafoleyfoley168]

Very special photographs 📷 Moments In Time ⏲️ Thankyou 🕊💙🕊

[@karlkruger3043]

Sehr gute Reportage, vielen Dank.😊

[@janetcohen9190]

Nice presentation of vintage images from early days of photography. Glimpses of recent human history in backdrop of human heritage. Thank you.

[@ohno5880]

Tragic that his home got demolished, it should have have been a museum dedicated to his photos and journey as well as explaining the world he travelled in.

[@antonkider7360]

I AM IMPRESSED. Thank you for enlighten us.

[@katiewray2525]

This video is outstanding! Of very high quality and so interesting! Thank you I will watch this again and again 💞💞💞💓💕😁👍

[@Mality]

The world that was...how I wish I could visit it!

[@zLamron]

all ur videos so far outstanding best history channel on yt

[@karenfitzpatrick6256]

What an amazing journey to go on! The traveling alone was so different than in today's fast moving world. No planes, trains or automobiles. With all the massive equipment he had to bring with him as well. So limited was the concept of photography, no one, including himself, recognized how extremely popular and valuable the then novelty of photographic documentation could be. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same. Instability in the regions because of the constantly changing struggle for dominance creating dangers for travelers. And that money and fame being huge driving factors in his enterprise. Thank you for sharing this unique experience with us. Finally this work can be truly appreciated. It is art and history at it's best and at its very beginning . As interesting as the ancient cities and famous places are, what speaks to me the most is the photographs of the people and the fragile common buildings. The briefest of moments when they existed, almost two hundred years ago, were captured and magically for this period ) actually held time still. Real live individuals so very long gone and who otherwise would have been entirely forgotten. Then these precious items were abandoned to storage. It's remarkable they survived so long undamaged and then were rediscoved. Thank you again for sharing.

[@MrNaKillshots]

Very interesting, and a polished production.

[@marcgrenier9431]

This was an exceptionally enjoyable documentory. Many thanks. 🇨🇦

[@user-mp6yc8kb8k]

Just love that story, Genie! Great job.

[@prisonersforprofit]

his work was amazing, to have the sense of history with the new invention of photography was visionary, and good on his neighbor for realizing its importance.

[@peterpayne2219]

Amazing! Instantly subscribed.

[@stuh9584]

This was amazing thank you!

[@smkh2890]

This is a really valuable collection! fascinating!