These Rarely-Seen Historic Photos You Had No Idea Ever Existed

Have you ever wondered what the world looked like in a time before the digital age? Despite nowadays we can take photos via our smartphones whenever we want, photography of any kind is impossible a century ago. Fortunately, some of the historic moments were shot and saved. These early-taken historic photos of famous people and events are like time-capsules that offer a window into a world that no longer exists. The stories behind each of these photographs are as captivating as the image itself, telling a true story in history that we may never have seen before. Keep on scrolling the gallery below and get ready to be inspired by these crucial moments.

Say Cheese

Today we instinctually smile when taking pictures. However the Victorian era photographs are all known to show little emotions. Except for the images below. In 1890, more than 150 years after the first “modern” camera ever was invented, the couple was captured smiling portraits, while they were trying not to laugh. What’s more astounding is how long it took for someone to take that first selfie.

Unlike taking photos in mere seconds with your smartphone, the whole process of photography in 19th century could take as long as 15 minutes, let alone the couple had to hold that smile for a long time due to the long exposure times.