In early times, the photographic emulsions of glass plates, which recorded the image, and later, film emulsions, had very low sensitivity to light, so that the weak daylight diffusing into the photographer's studio required the subjects to remain absolutely still for long periods while the exposure was made. Up to one and two minutes was quite common. Any movement, or even the slightest change of position during this time would cause the photograph to be blurred, and therefore useless. This explains why we will sometimes see groups of people recorded just fine, but dogs and other animals in the picture are blurred. Try keeping a dog motionless for two minutes. I think holding an engaging smile for two minutes or more while remaining immobile was also quite difficult. For this reason, photographers often used head clamps to hold the subject's head absolutely still.
These days I believe photography is slightly more accessible now because of the digital camera.Yes, it's true that with digital photography, it's easier than ever to take pictures, and unlike film, they seem to be free for the taking, and also us get immediate feedback. However even with today's very sophisticated DSLR cameras, it's still a challenge to get truly great and inspiring photos. Although exposure is handled very well in 99 out of 100 cases, understanding exposure is still important. More importantly, photographers of every skill level still need creative mastery of composition, and a masterful appreciation for—and understanding of—light. It's a matter of improving one's technical and creative skills, and mastering the mindset of the creative photographer. I believe that's what ultimately leads to the brilliant photographer.
