In the 21st century, it is hard to picture living without photography. Selfies have become a regular routine for saving important memories and pausing time. However, it can be hard to believe that in the 19th century, for many people around the world, photography was a great luxury, and photo shoots were carefully planned. New Yorker George Eastman was a key figure in the development of photography in the 19th century. His invention changed the perception of the world around us forever. Do you know what Eastman invented that revolutionized the world of photography as we knew it before? Find out at i-new-york.
Who is George Eastman?
George Eastman was a well-known American businessman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He rose to prominence as the inventor of the roll film. Thanks to him, amateur photography has become available to people all over the world. He was also the founder and president of Eastman Kodak, a company that produces this same film.
The inventor of the film roll was born in New York in 1854. He grew up on a farm in the family of George Washington Eastman. By the age of 8, Eastman was self-educated and then attended a private school.
However, the health of Eastman’s father, the family breadwinner, began to worsen fast afterward. In 1862, when Eastman was 9 years old, his father died of a brain disorder. In 1870, Eastman’s sister fell ill with polio and died. As a result of these events, the young man had to grow up very early. In particular, he got a job to feed his family.
Despite the obstacles, Eastman was a bright child who was fascinated by science and technology. He was mostly self-taught, and his insatiable curiosity led him on a path that would change the world. When he grew interested in photography, he promised his mother that he would repay her for all the difficulties she had in raising him.
Passion for photography
In the 1870s, Eastman worked part-time as a clerk at a local bank, and, at the same time, he was particularly interested in photography. He even attended photography classes with George Monroe and George Selden. In the late 1870s, he developed his first innovation, a machine for coating dry plates. In the 1880s, this invention inspired him to establish a corporation to sell such plates.
However, Eastman never stood still. This was not enough for him. He aspired to make every possible improvement to the world of photography. Furthermore, he wished to make it available to everyone. It should be mentioned that photography was a true luxury in the 19th century that not everyone could afford. So, in the 1880s, Eastman began work on a flexible roll film that could completely replace plates. Already in 1885, he received a patent for a roll film and soon focused on creating a special camera that used film rolls.
1888 saw a truly revolutionary event – Eastman invented and patented the Kodak camera.
Revolution in photography
The discovery of film in the form of a roll was a true revolution in the world of photography, and it was made by New Yorker George Eastman. Thanks to him, it was made to create the world’s first incredibly practical, strong and flexible film roll. It should be mentioned that prior to the creation of the film, photographers utilized bulky and fragile glass plates. However, Eastman’s invention changed everything. His invention made the lives of millions of photographers much easier, while also making photography accessible. The film roll allowed photographers to take several pictures at once, and they no longer had to carry a heavy and fragile supply of glass plates with them.
Eastman’s roll film looked like a strip of paper coated with a light-sensitive emulsion that could be spun on coils. This breakthrough marked the transition from bulky and complex processes using wet plates to a more convenient and portable method. The film, in the form of a roll, made the photography accessible to a wider audience. At the end of the 19th century, the camera and film became available not only to photographers but to anyone who wanted it, because they were easier to operate and cheaper.
An equally significant discovery was the development of a film roll camera. Eastman realized that film alone would not be enough to make photography truly accessible to the general public. He set himself the goal of simplifying the photography process as much as possible. So, in 1888, the world was introduced to a new Kodak camera, a small and lightweight gadget with an already inserted film roll. It was a groundbreaking concept since it allowed everyone to take photos without the need for expensive equipment or darkrooms.
Eastman’s innovative film camera cost $25 (equivalent to about $700 in the 21st century). This kind of camera allowed for taking up to 100 pictures. Following the end of the film, the camera needed to be returned to the Kodak factory, where the film would be developed and printed, and the camera reloaded.
Eastman truly transformed the field of photography. People all across the world began to employ his technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Furthermore, despite the fact that the 21st century is considered the age of digital technology and transformation, and everyone has access to a smartphone with a digital camera, many photography lovers still use old cameras and Kodak film, the one that Eastman once invented.