What can be said about batteries? They are everywhere! We have come a long way since the first ones. There are more sizes than can be counted in a short time. They are in all forms of equipment, tools, personal and recreational devices. (Sometimes, "batteries not included".)
The earliest record of a “battery” is a 1936 discovery near Baghdad. Replicas have worked by adding lemon juice or vinegar to produce some low voltage electricity. Speculation is that it was used in electroplating gold to a silver surface. No iPods or cameras have yet been found, however.
Serious research of electricity took place in the 1700s. You do remember Ben Franklin and his kite, but did you know he allegedly coined the term “battery”?
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Another name from the era is Alessandro Volta. He is charged with making the “world’s first true battery”. A picture of it shows it to be very awkward and cumbersome.
Called the “Voltaic Pile”, it was made by stacking pairs of zinc and copper discs separated by layers of cardboard or cloth, then covered with brine. The fact that it produced only a small amount of power did not matter since again, no iPods or cameras have been found.
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By now you probably thinking, "What does this have to do with photography?". This article provides just a little background on the thing that makes your camera work. Try using your camera without batteries.
Always have extra batteries on hand so you can keep shooting when your camera dies. This is especially important if you are shooting outside in the winter, but keep them warm as well.
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