Early Photography in Laos Early Photography in Laos

Abstract

This article entitled “Early Photography in Laos” is a study of Lao Photography from the beginning of the early 19th century to the colonial period. The objective of this article is to describe how photography was introduced to Laos in the 19th century by comparing it with its neighbors, such as Siam during the reigns of King Rama 4 and 5 when Laos was colonized by Thailand  and Vietnam during the French colonization during the Nguyen Dynasty. Photography was widely used in those countries during these periods. Early photography using western technologies was introduced to Laos  by the people of its neighboring countries- Siamese, which colonized the country, and the Vietnamese who operated photography businesses in Loungprabang - in the middle of the 19th century. Therefore, photography in Southeast Asia arose from interactions with people from the West and was  originated in Siam and Vietnam, but not in Laos. Therefore, to understand the beginnings of photography in Laos, one must have a thorough understanding of how photography began in these two countries and compare the forms and techniques of photography found there with those found in Lao photography.