The allure of early photography lies in its ability to transport us to bygone eras, capturing the essence of exploration and discovery. As part of the In Transition program by Foto Arsenal Wien, Mario-Dominik Riedl and Felix Hoffmann led an extraordinary expedition—not to remote mountain peaks or uncharted jungles, but deep into the photographic archives of the Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM Vienna). There, we unearthed a treasure trove of 19th- and 20th-century photographic glass plates and prints, offering a rare glimpse into a forgotten facet of the museum’s vast collection.

More photos can be found here.

A Hidden Legacy: The Photographic Archives of NHM Vienna

While NHM Vienna is celebrated for its exhibitions of fossils, minerals, and taxidermy, its photographic collection remains largely unnoticed by the public (no wonder, its exhibit are usually not shown to the public). Under the expert guidance of the collection's leader Mario-Dominik Riedl, we gained an intimate understanding of this hidden archive, a repository of visual history that documents scientific expeditions and discoveries from over a century ago.

Dating back to the 19th century, these photographs chronicle an age when scientific exploration was expanding the boundaries of human knowledge. Expeditions ventured to remote corners of the world, tasked not only with collecting specimens but also with visually documenting their findings. One notable example is the Novara Expedition where photography was planned to play a key role in preserving the details of its ambitious endeavors.

The Challenges of Early Photography

The photographers of this era faced immense challenges. Unlike today’s lightweight digital cameras, they worked with cumbersome large-format cameras and fragile glass plates. These plates required meticulous preparation, involving heavy chemistry kits and intricate processes. Exposure times ranged from 30 minutes to a staggering 5 hours, making photography a laborious task. Long exposures required still conditions, and even slight vibrations—like the wind shaking a camera’s bellows—could ruin an image. Nevertheless, some succeeded in producing photographs of astonishing quality and sharpness.

Often, the role of photographer fell to the scientists themselves, as professional photographers were rarely included in expedition teams. Though trained in photography, scientists sometimes avoided the task. Before photography was used to document landscapes and mountains, scientists used to draw what they saw. These skills in drawing came in handy in the darkroom later as they used the exact brush strokes to retouch their plates and negatives - 100 years or more prior to the invention of Photoshop.

Among the remarkable works preserved in the NHM Vienna collection are those of Friedrich and Oscar Simony, as well as Victor Pietschmann. These pioneers of photography not only documented scientific phenomena but also captured landscapes and cultures with extraordinary precision and artistry. Their contributions offer a window into the early days of stereo photography, a technique that was surprisingly advanced for its time and added depth to the visual record. Interestingly enough, there are quite some stereoscopic photography examples - already in these early days!

From the Archives to the Public Eye

Foto Arsenal Wien’s mission is to bridge historical and contemporary photography, and this program perfectly encapsulates that goal. By shedding light on these early images, we honor the dedication of those who carried heavy equipment into the wilderness and labored over glass plates to capture fleeting moments of history.

A Journey Worth Remembering

This journey into NHM Vienna’s photographic archive reminded us of the interplay between science, art, and technology in the pursuit of knowledge. These images, painstakingly created under arduous conditions, remain a testament to the human spirit of curiosity and resilience. They also remind us how far we’ve come, with modern photography allowing us to document our world with unprecedented ease and immediacy.

The legacy of these early photographers deserves to be celebrated—not only as a historical curiosity but as an enduring source of inspiration. With the opening of Foto Arsenal Wien, these stories and images will find a broader audience, ensuring their place in the continuum of photographic history. If you’re in Vienna this March, don’t miss this opportunity to witness the convergence of past and present in the art of photography.

The event is part of Foto Arsenal Wien’s In Transition series, a lead-up to the grand opening of the new photography center on the weekend of March 21–23, 2025.

More photos of this event can be found on my Gallery Website.

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