[Tents, Algeria], 19th century - Early photography, Public domain image

John Beasley Greene was a pioneering French photographer of the mid-19th century. He was born in France in 1832, the son of an American family. Greene became interested in photography at a young age and began experimenting with the medium in the early 1850s. Greene's work is characterised by his use of the calotype process, which allowed him to produce highly detailed and nuanced images. He was particularly interested in capturing the landscapes and architecture of Egypt, where he travelled extensively in the mid-1850s. Greene's photographs of Egypt are considered some of the earliest and most important examples of photographic documentation of the country. His images captured the grandeur and mystery of ancient Egyptian architecture, as well as the everyday lives of the people who lived there. Despite his relatively short career, Greene's work had a significant impact on the development of photography as an art form. His images continue to inspire and influence photographers today. Greene died at the age of 24 in Cairo, Egypt, of undisclosed causes.