Since its inception, photography has relied upon diverse forms of knowledge (ranging from chemistry, physics, and mechanics to the arts) and in turn has produced knowledge across a wide array of fields.
Yet, much of this knowledge remains tacit. Researchers attempting to recreate early photographic techniques know all too well that faithfully following historical manuals or recipes does not always yield successful results. These instructions often depend on implicit knowledge, unspoken assumptions, or experiential skills acquired only through practice and repetition. Similarly, photography’s epistemological contributions to areas such as medicine and industry, where cameras and photographs have functioned as instrumental tools, are frequently overlooked or under-acknowledged.
Even in efforts to recover these unspoken practices, scholars and historians may inadvertently reinforce their invisibility. While historiographical approaches may attempt to bridge these gaps, the absence of explicit methodological reflection often perpetuates reliance on assumed, unspoken knowledge.
Given this persistent invisibility, it would seem timely to examine the political, social, and cultural implications of photography’s tacit knowledge. In other words, as photography studies grow increasingly interdisciplinary, and as generative AI reshapes research and creative practices, it appears to be more important than ever to clearly articulate methods and theoretical frameworks.
For the 2026 PHRC Annual Conference, we invite papers that investigate the many ways in which photography has relied upon, generated, challenged, or perpetuated tacit knowledge. We are particularly interested in contributions that interrogate the politics of this knowledge and offer methodological or theoretical insight.
Photography's Tacit Knowledge
Photographic History Research Centre
15-16 June 2026
Hybrid event, Online and at De Montfort University, Leicester.
Conference hashtag #PHRC26
See full details here: https://photographichistory.wordpress.com/annual-conference-2026/
Image: A photographer using a process camera for printing plate making. 1934 (Deutsche Fotothek).
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