Rethinking discursive origins:

speculations on Alexander von Humboldt and the place of photography in historical and cultural geography

Abstract

This paper reconsiders the discursive origins of photography through the lens of historical and cultural geography, arguing that the medium’s early development was closely linked to the pursuit of geographical knowledge. Central to this analysis is Alexander von Humboldt, whose explorations, writings, and engagement with Daguerre’s photographic process exemplify the intersection of photo-graphos (light writing) and geo-graphos (earth writing). The study explores the influence of Humboldt’s ideas on travelers, scientists, and early photographers, and examines the application of photography in plant geography, landscape studies, and scientific expeditions. By situating photography within the broader intellectual, social, and technological contexts of the nineteenth century, this paper underscores the medium’s role in knowledge production and highlights the enduring interplay between geographical imagination and photographic practice.