Sir William Herschall qoined the phrase, "Photo"-"Graphy" in the early 19th century, meaning to draw with light. the First Photos were Called Derraguotypes (I hope I spelled that right, dang french names) because the inventor named his machine and it's products after himself. Camera is a fairly new term. If you were discussing what it does, it is argueable that it might be termed a Neptune invention as Neptune was discovered in 1844 and the Darraguotypes were incredibly popular by 1850.

Just a thought to toss into the mix.

Granny

If we?re looking for astrological principles then wouldn?t the purpose of the object be the defining quality for assigning signification?. Or at least an important consideration?. For example we assign writing desks to Mercury even through the desk itself might not be at all Mercurial in nature.

I cast my vote for the Moon because she governs the ?reflected image?, therefore the instruments used in that process. The Moon brings its light into the dark night sky and with a camera it isn?t the black box that makes the image manifest, it?s the light that captures it and the process that makes it tangible.
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Jeff,
You stated it so clearly and convincingly. I'm with you. No talk of black boxes. The Moon reflects the image.

And furthermore... I just realized that this ties in with what I wrote in the Sun and Moon subject. The picture is taken and we have an image of a past moment. It becomes a memory. Even if you were not present when the picture you are viewing was taken, you are aware that it is an image of the past. But wait a minute. Now I am talking about the picture. Maybe that is Moon ruled and not the camera itself. I don't know; I still favor the Moon as ruling the camera.

It would be easier being a blob in front of the television. Thinking hurts.

I've always thought of photography as being Neptunian. Unless I'm mistaken, wasn't Neptune in some influential placement at the dawn of the film industry? Also, it seems to me that a well-aspected placement of Neptune had something to do w/the 'kindness' of the camera in relation to the subject, i.e. the photogenic quality and one spoken of as having 'a love affair' w/ The Camera. Of course, the enormous impact of the Illusion itself. Just my two cents...

I've always thought of photography as being Neptunian

Me too, but the question was what rules a camera, and qua concrete, structured device, Frawley's answer (Saturn) is fine by me. One needs to distinguish the object, the process (not the chemical, mechanical, etc - but the use of the object: lighting, positioning, etc), and the wider intent. One can "lie" with photography just as easily as "tell it as it is". Same as with words - tho noone would accuse a poet of lying, even with a prominent Neptune in their chart.

Well, in that regard, how about Mercury, as information (could be an image) is being gathered/recorded? There are a lot of us who assign qualities surpassing 'just a tool' to the camera. Use and intent could place it under Venus or Saturn..(Fashion? Art? Forensic?) Lying to the camera is not that easy, or photos wouldn't be routinely used as evidence. Still, I imagine someone could endeavor to make poetry out of a car wreck....