Artificial light

Jacob Riis is famous for his pictures of the poor in "How the Other Half Lives." His pictures were taken in the dark tenement homes in the slums of New York City during the 1880's. Jacob became a stepping stone for future "muckrackimg" journalism. But how was he able to do this in the lightless tenements in New York? Simple, flash powder.

Before artificial lights for cameras, photographers needed to use the natural light of the sun. This could be tedious for even the most expert photographer so a mixture of chemicals were created to make a flash. The flash would last a few seconds and then go out. This was useful but couldn't be used outside and must be in a studio to prevent disasters.

But then in 1862 a scientist named Edward Sonstadt expiremented with magnesium wire. With the new wire and better mixture of chemicals the flash was shorter, more predictable and more controlled now able to use indoors safer then before(was still kinda dangerous cause hey the mixture was part gun powder). Now, Jacob Riis armed with this new technology would bring the poor to the light, showing people how bad it really was for the poor in the 1880's.