French scientist and inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce conducted experiments leading to the invention of photography at his summer estate in St-Loup de Varennes, in France's burgundy region. From 1816, Niepce used a process he called Heliography - sun writing - to record images. During the 1820's Niepce corresponded with Daguerre and the two men worked briefly together in this house. The earliest know photograph was made in 1827 from Niepce's workshop window and is now part of collections at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, at the Univeristy of Texas in Austin.