Bid on Board. Portraits by the minute" at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona

The photographic camera has always offered play possibilities since its birth, almost two centuries ago. Thanks to it, one could have the illusion of living in a palace, flying, or sailing. Only people with money could be portrayed on ships, and not always, because water moves and makes photography difficult.

For the common people, the solution came from humble professionals —men and women— who traveled through towns during the main festivals with a homemade camera, a decorated cloth, and some props (a painted piece of wood simulating a little boat). These people were known as "minute photographers" because they took pictures "in a minute" and delivered them to customers instantly. Moreover, the whole process took place in public, adding interest and entertainment to the act of being portrayed.

These types of photographs, which started in the 20th century, were cheap, and that is why they continued to be made during the Civil War and in the post-war years until, in the 1960s, the Kodak Instamatic brought photography to every household.