image of the day: George Eastman

George Eastman’s Birthday
George Eastman of Rochester, New York, sought to improve the chemistry and the processes of photography that had, for 40 years, required subjects to remain perfectly still for exposure times of up to a minute. In 1879 Eastman devised a ready-to-use dry plate and by 1884 he had invented a flexible paper-backed film that could be wound on rollers. To encourage amateur photography and film sales, Eastman developed a simple black box camera that cost $25 and came already loaded with a 100-exposure roll of film. When the roll was used up, the entire No. 1 Kodak camera was shipped back to Eastman’s factory for developing and reloading, at a cost of only $10. Eastman’s photographic improvements proved successful with 13,000 cameras sold in 1888.

Photo: Library of Congress

today’s birthday: George Eastman (1854)

George Eastman (1854)

In the late 1800s, Eastman invented roll film, devised the Kodak camera, and founded the Eastman Kodak Company. His affordable cameras were an essential part of the development of photography as a popular hobby, and his experiments with Thomas Edison made motion pictures possible. Known for his philanthropy, Eastman donated $100 million to various institutions. In his later years, he suffered from a debilitating spinal disorder and committed suicide in 1932. What were his last words? More… Discuss