Kodak Homepage's Posts
Mystery Shrouded in Mist
Last week, we lost a dear friend and an invaluable source of inspiration and leadership here at Kodak. Paul Porter, Director of Kodak Design Strategy and VP was the driving force behind the redesign of the Kodak homepage, and the overall new look. His leadership and guidance throughout helped ensure the initial concept became reality.
One of the key elements of the new design is the emphasis on the big picture. (The process of selecting images for the page is worthy of a blogpost itself, but that is for another day.) The team selecting the images and developing the common themes for presentation include several visual designers and a staff photographer. You've got some very strong personalities in this group, all with distinct points of view. The meetings can get pretty 'animated'. Paul, not a photographer by trade, brought his own insights to the discussion.
Now, it's important to remember that Paul was a VP here, highly respected and carrying some serious weight in the corporate world, but you'd never have known it in these meetings. That's part of what made Paul so special - his total lack of pretension and his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him.
So, the team would meet every week to push images around on a big table. Invariably some of the images get pushed to the side but there was this one group that just kept 'reappearing'. We'd push 'em aside and Paul would slip them back in again. They all have a common element that clearly appealed to Paul, a certain air of mystery shrouded in mist and possibility. "What's out there?' Paul would say as he presented these images again.
In honor of Paul, we are presenting those images on the homepage for your enjoyment, and Paul's as well.
- - - - - - - -
Morning Tree
Marius Visser
Picture of the Day, March 24, 2008
At a very early and quiet moment in the morning, this situation lasted for just one minute. Taken in the Drents Friese Wold in the provence of Drenthe in the Netherlands.
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Not Even a Ripple
David A. Luzi
Picture of the Day, February 19, 2008
Sometimes you have to push yourself to go get a great photo. I got up early one foggy October morning to drive around Bantam Lake and take quite a few shots. This is the only one I was happy with. I'm glad I did it.
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A November Morning in Yorkshire
Colin Venables
Picture of the Day, May 3, 2003
This picture was taken with my new DX4330 digital camera during my stay in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, November 2002.
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Foggy Harbor
Emma Lupton
Picture of the Day, May 26, 2004
This was taken in May 2003, overlooking the town harbor in Oriental, NC. This is where I call home but it is a vacation destination for many. The town dock sees hundreds of sailers each year traveling north to south and back again. Oriental is a favorite stop over. Right at sunrise the colors are awesome. I 'm always looking for unusual boats at the dock. This image is special to me because this is what I think of when I think of Oriental, a mix of sailboats and work boats.
- - - - - - - -
The Morning Paddle
Jan D. Novak
Picture of the Day, June 24, 2008
Cool and foggy fall morning in the back country in Algonquin park, Ontario. We kayaked and portaged over few hills, lots of beaver dams and even rolled the kayak with all the camera gear. The next morning, sun was just coming up and the solo canoe went by our campsite. It was so nice to be at the right place and at the right time.
- - - - - - - -
I don't thnk I'll ever look at another image with this sort of 'atmosphere' again without thinking of Paul and hearing his voice saying, "What's out there?"
- Joel Rosen
One of the key elements of the new design is the emphasis on the big picture. (The process of selecting images for the page is worthy of a blogpost itself, but that is for another day.) The team selecting the images and developing the common themes for presentation include several visual designers and a staff photographer. You've got some very strong personalities in this group, all with distinct points of view. The meetings can get pretty 'animated'. Paul, not a photographer by trade, brought his own insights to the discussion.
Now, it's important to remember that Paul was a VP here, highly respected and carrying some serious weight in the corporate world, but you'd never have known it in these meetings. That's part of what made Paul so special - his total lack of pretension and his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him.
So, the team would meet every week to push images around on a big table. Invariably some of the images get pushed to the side but there was this one group that just kept 'reappearing'. We'd push 'em aside and Paul would slip them back in again. They all have a common element that clearly appealed to Paul, a certain air of mystery shrouded in mist and possibility. "What's out there?' Paul would say as he presented these images again.
In honor of Paul, we are presenting those images on the homepage for your enjoyment, and Paul's as well.
- - - - - - - -
Morning Tree
Marius Visser
Picture of the Day, March 24, 2008
At a very early and quiet moment in the morning, this situation lasted for just one minute. Taken in the Drents Friese Wold in the provence of Drenthe in the Netherlands.
- - - - - - - -
Not Even a Ripple
David A. Luzi
Picture of the Day, February 19, 2008
Sometimes you have to push yourself to go get a great photo. I got up early one foggy October morning to drive around Bantam Lake and take quite a few shots. This is the only one I was happy with. I'm glad I did it.
- - - - - - - -
A November Morning in Yorkshire
Colin Venables
Picture of the Day, May 3, 2003
This picture was taken with my new DX4330 digital camera during my stay in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, November 2002.
- - - - - - - -
Foggy Harbor
Emma Lupton
Picture of the Day, May 26, 2004
This was taken in May 2003, overlooking the town harbor in Oriental, NC. This is where I call home but it is a vacation destination for many. The town dock sees hundreds of sailers each year traveling north to south and back again. Oriental is a favorite stop over. Right at sunrise the colors are awesome. I 'm always looking for unusual boats at the dock. This image is special to me because this is what I think of when I think of Oriental, a mix of sailboats and work boats.
- - - - - - - -
The Morning Paddle
Jan D. Novak
Picture of the Day, June 24, 2008
Cool and foggy fall morning in the back country in Algonquin park, Ontario. We kayaked and portaged over few hills, lots of beaver dams and even rolled the kayak with all the camera gear. The next morning, sun was just coming up and the solo canoe went by our campsite. It was so nice to be at the right place and at the right time.
- - - - - - - -
I don't thnk I'll ever look at another image with this sort of 'atmosphere' again without thinking of Paul and hearing his voice saying, "What's out there?"
- Joel Rosen
On The Path to the White House with Bob McNeely
Bob McNeely has been accompanying President-elect Barack Obama in the days leading up to his historic Inauguration as the 44th President of the United States. Bob has been generous enough to share these historical moments with us as he is capturing them. Over the next few days Bob will continue to send us photographs of his journey.
Viewing President Obama's Inaugural Speech from the Mall, on the large screens.
Obama speaking from the first event of the day in Philadelphia at the 30th Street station in the North waiting room
President-elect Obama and Vice-President -elect Biden placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden walking is from Baltimore. They are entering the rally site where 40,000 people waited in 10 degree weather for them to come
Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden on the back of the train as they are departing from Wilmington Delaware
Bob took a few moments to talk to us about photography and his experience as a political photographer.
Robert McNeely's interest in photography began while he was serving in the US Army in Southeast Asia. When he returned to the US he took several workshops at the Center of the Eye in Aspen, Colorado and then began to photograph full time. In 1972 his fascination with politics started when he became a staff photographer on the McGovern for President campaign.
In 1977 he entered the White House as a staff photographer with a primary responsibility to cover Vice-President Mondale. Throughout the 1980's and early 90's he traveled the world for editorial and corporate clients. In 1992 he became the campaign photographer for Bill Clinton and entered the White House with Clinton as his personal photographer. His work from the years with President Clinton was published in the book "The Clinton Years".
Upon leaving the White House he began work on a two year documentary project called Photo 2000 that documented the election cycle of the year 2000 at the local, state and national level. This work was published all over the world and in a 30 page, award winning portfolio in Fortune Magazine. Since then he has continued to photograph personal projects and for editorial and commercial clients. He also lectures and teaches workshops on documentary photography.
Bob McNeely is just one of the world's most influential photographers who will be documenting their personal celebrations of President-elect Obama's inauguration festivities and they want YOU to get involved. Share your photos with the rest of the nation at obamaphotobook.com
Viewing President Obama's Inaugural Speech from the Mall, on the large screens.
Obama speaking from the first event of the day in Philadelphia at the 30th Street station in the North waiting room
President-elect Obama and Vice-President -elect Biden placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden walking is from Baltimore. They are entering the rally site where 40,000 people waited in 10 degree weather for them to come
Barack & Michelle Obama and Joe & Jill Biden on the back of the train as they are departing from Wilmington Delaware
Bob took a few moments to talk to us about photography and his experience as a political photographer.
Robert McNeely's interest in photography began while he was serving in the US Army in Southeast Asia. When he returned to the US he took several workshops at the Center of the Eye in Aspen, Colorado and then began to photograph full time. In 1972 his fascination with politics started when he became a staff photographer on the McGovern for President campaign.
In 1977 he entered the White House as a staff photographer with a primary responsibility to cover Vice-President Mondale. Throughout the 1980's and early 90's he traveled the world for editorial and corporate clients. In 1992 he became the campaign photographer for Bill Clinton and entered the White House with Clinton as his personal photographer. His work from the years with President Clinton was published in the book "The Clinton Years".
Upon leaving the White House he began work on a two year documentary project called Photo 2000 that documented the election cycle of the year 2000 at the local, state and national level. This work was published all over the world and in a 30 page, award winning portfolio in Fortune Magazine. Since then he has continued to photograph personal projects and for editorial and commercial clients. He also lectures and teaches workshops on documentary photography.
Bob McNeely is just one of the world's most influential photographers who will be documenting their personal celebrations of President-elect Obama's inauguration festivities and they want YOU to get involved. Share your photos with the rest of the nation at obamaphotobook.com
A tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. from Ben Fernandez
In commemoration of Martin Luther King Day, we are proud to present a series of historic images of Dr. King created by renowned photojournalist, Ben Fernandez.
Benedict J. Fernandez is a renowned photo-journalist, although he prefers to refer to himself as a "Photo Anthropologist". He founded the Hoboken Almanac of Photography, the Almanac Gallery and the Departments of Photography at the New School/Parsons School of Design.
In 1999 Fernandez was appointed Senior Fellow in Photography at the Corcoran Museum in Washington DC. He was at the Corcoran until 2003. Fernandez is now fully engaged in archiving his considerable collection of work that covers the last 50 years of photojournalism.
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Benjamin Spock, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Reverend Rice from Pittsburgh, march against the Vietnam war, Broadway and 50 St., New York. April 15, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Portrait of Martin Luther King, Central Park South. March to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, April 15, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Surrounded by supporters, advisors and security personnel, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prepares for his speech at the United Nations on April 15, 1967. At left is NBC correspondent, Ponchita Pierce
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Headquarters. He is shown working on one of his speeches. Atlanta, Georgia, February, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King and Bernice Albertine (Bonnie) King at home for Sunday lunch with guests in Atlanta, Georgia. November 1967
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In addition to these images, Ben has graciously provided a selection of additional images of Dr King and others from his collection.
In preparation for the presentation of these images, Ben took a few moments to shared his thoughts about these images with us.
See more of Ben's work and learn more about him at benedictjfernandez.com
To see everything going on at Kodak for inauguration week check out kodak.com/go/inauguration
Benedict J. Fernandez is a renowned photo-journalist, although he prefers to refer to himself as a "Photo Anthropologist". He founded the Hoboken Almanac of Photography, the Almanac Gallery and the Departments of Photography at the New School/Parsons School of Design.
In 1999 Fernandez was appointed Senior Fellow in Photography at the Corcoran Museum in Washington DC. He was at the Corcoran until 2003. Fernandez is now fully engaged in archiving his considerable collection of work that covers the last 50 years of photojournalism.
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Benjamin Spock, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Reverend Rice from Pittsburgh, march against the Vietnam war, Broadway and 50 St., New York. April 15, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Portrait of Martin Luther King, Central Park South. March to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, April 15, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Surrounded by supporters, advisors and security personnel, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prepares for his speech at the United Nations on April 15, 1967. At left is NBC correspondent, Ponchita Pierce
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Headquarters. He is shown working on one of his speeches. Atlanta, Georgia, February, 1967
Copyright Benedict J. Fernandez
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King and Bernice Albertine (Bonnie) King at home for Sunday lunch with guests in Atlanta, Georgia. November 1967
- - - - - - - - - - - -
In addition to these images, Ben has graciously provided a selection of additional images of Dr King and others from his collection.
In preparation for the presentation of these images, Ben took a few moments to shared his thoughts about these images with us.
See more of Ben's work and learn more about him at benedictjfernandez.com
To see everything going on at Kodak for inauguration week check out kodak.com/go/inauguration
Homepage Designs: The Iteration Process
An image became an idea, an idea became a question, and the question became reality that was the iteration process. Not too long ago, like a few weeks ago, we were presented with a question - can you create a new dynamic homepage that we can reveal during the Consumer Electronics Show the first week of January? Initial response, absolutely!
Let me take a minute to introduce myself, Paulette, project manager, new to Kodak. Imagine my excitement when I was handed the project to help redesign the homepage for our web site. Wow, this is incredible! I will meet so many other teams, interact with everyone.
Now let me tell you about the "real" process we went through to achieve the final result....
With so many businesses, so many objectives, how does one go about understanding what the vision for the homepage is? Where do you start? With the designers? Consumers? Business units? Conducting research? Walk around the street and take a survey?
Do it all, keep it under budget. Oh and by the way, can we have it next week?
Time to get started.
Design 1: Clean up the homepage, keep it simple. No clutter. Less says more.
Design 2: Add in a photo, we are a photography company. Make it big, be edgy, but not too edgy, dare to cross the line, but don't really cross the line. When in doubt go big, go blue.
Design 3: Don't forget to add in the navigation, we want everything to be one click away.
Design 4: We also need to be able to tell customers about our promotions, we need to tell them about our events, we need to tell them about our technology, we need to tell them what is going on, we need to use the homepage to communicate everything.
Design 5: There is just too much, but we need it, just do it without making it so busy. Can you make it not so cluttery?
What do you think of our new homepage? Share your thoughts with us, who knows, maybe our next version will be influenced by your comments!
Let me take a minute to introduce myself, Paulette, project manager, new to Kodak. Imagine my excitement when I was handed the project to help redesign the homepage for our web site. Wow, this is incredible! I will meet so many other teams, interact with everyone.
Now let me tell you about the "real" process we went through to achieve the final result....
With so many businesses, so many objectives, how does one go about understanding what the vision for the homepage is? Where do you start? With the designers? Consumers? Business units? Conducting research? Walk around the street and take a survey?
Do it all, keep it under budget. Oh and by the way, can we have it next week?
Time to get started.
Design 1: Clean up the homepage, keep it simple. No clutter. Less says more.
Design 2: Add in a photo, we are a photography company. Make it big, be edgy, but not too edgy, dare to cross the line, but don't really cross the line. When in doubt go big, go blue.
Design 3: Don't forget to add in the navigation, we want everything to be one click away.
Design 4: We also need to be able to tell customers about our promotions, we need to tell them about our events, we need to tell them about our technology, we need to tell them what is going on, we need to use the homepage to communicate everything.
Design 5: There is just too much, but we need it, just do it without making it so busy. Can you make it not so cluttery?
What do you think of our new homepage? Share your thoughts with us, who knows, maybe our next version will be influenced by your comments!
A new big focus for the Kodak homepage
If you're a regular visitor to the Kodak website, you may have noticed something new on our homepage, which may have brought you to this blog you're reading now. If you've haven't seen our homepage recently, go take a look (we'll wait right here for you).
One of the many changes we made to the page is space for some humungous images. After all, we're all about pictures, we think our homepage should be, too. But even more important than the size is the style. While we still have a place in our hearts for those pictures of puppy dogs and sunsets, they're not where photography is at these days. Our new images may be a bit different that what you've come to expect from us, but that's cool, that's all part of becoming a new Kodak.
In the future, we'll be featuring images from all sorts of places: pros, journalists, and hopefully, from you, too. All of the images on the homepage today were selected from the archives of our Picture of the Day program. If you refresh the page, you'll see a different image.
Each group of images presented on the homepage will be related in some way, perhaps subject matter or composition, or color, or whatever. See if you can find it and tell us what you think, leave us a comment.
And like the song goes, 'every picture tells a story'. Here are the all of the pictures from our 'inaugural' group and little bit of the story behind each one.
- - - - - - -
Graffiti Gait
Photographer: Kathy Schneider
Picture of the Day March 27, 2003
Taken on the streets of Detroit. This sharply dressed lady just happened by as I was shooting the mural behind her. She instantly "made" the photograph!
- - - - - - -
Walk to Work
Photographer: Andy Williams
Moon River Photography
Picture of the Day, April 26, 2004
The Brooklyn Bridge is a favorite subject of mine. I was out there one January morning and it was pouring rain. Not the ideal conditions for man or photography - but I was struck by the amount of people that walk to work across the Brooklyn Bridge. This person was walking by as I was shooting the downtown New York City skyline, so I captured the moment.
- - - - - - -
Winter Walk
Photographer: Ilona Wellmann
Picture of the Day, January 2, 2005
This is a picture of my husband -- out on a winters walk. It was taken in Germany near Gummersbach, my hometown. I think I captured the beauty of nature in this season, but also a moment of solitude and sense of loneliness.
- - - - - - -
Birds
Photographer: John Lee
Picture of the Day, March 5, 2008
A mother holding her baby amongst a swarm of pigeons. Taken in Istanbul, Turkey. October 2007
- - - - - - -
Morning Light
Photographer: Andy Williams
Moon River Photography
Picture of the Day, May 22, 2004
Yesterday, on my way to a meeting in New York City, I passed through Grand Central terminal as I've done thousands of times. Never have I seen "that magical light" that comes through the eastern windows until now! Needless to say, I was late for where I had to be that morning, but it was worth it to get this picture.
- - - - - - -
We hope you like our new homepage design and the big focus on the pictures.
Every couple of weeks, we'll put up a fresh batch of images for you to see. Be sure to bookmark us and come back and take a look every so often. You may love them, you may not. Either way, let us know what you think. We really want to know.
Also, go take a look at today's Picture of the Day and while you're there, submit some of your favorites. Who knows, maybe everyone will get to see it on our homepage one day soon.
- Joel Rosen
One of the many changes we made to the page is space for some humungous images. After all, we're all about pictures, we think our homepage should be, too. But even more important than the size is the style. While we still have a place in our hearts for those pictures of puppy dogs and sunsets, they're not where photography is at these days. Our new images may be a bit different that what you've come to expect from us, but that's cool, that's all part of becoming a new Kodak.
In the future, we'll be featuring images from all sorts of places: pros, journalists, and hopefully, from you, too. All of the images on the homepage today were selected from the archives of our Picture of the Day program. If you refresh the page, you'll see a different image.
Each group of images presented on the homepage will be related in some way, perhaps subject matter or composition, or color, or whatever. See if you can find it and tell us what you think, leave us a comment.
And like the song goes, 'every picture tells a story'. Here are the all of the pictures from our 'inaugural' group and little bit of the story behind each one.
- - - - - - -
Graffiti Gait
Photographer: Kathy Schneider
Picture of the Day March 27, 2003
Taken on the streets of Detroit. This sharply dressed lady just happened by as I was shooting the mural behind her. She instantly "made" the photograph!
- - - - - - -
Walk to Work
Photographer: Andy Williams
Moon River Photography
Picture of the Day, April 26, 2004
The Brooklyn Bridge is a favorite subject of mine. I was out there one January morning and it was pouring rain. Not the ideal conditions for man or photography - but I was struck by the amount of people that walk to work across the Brooklyn Bridge. This person was walking by as I was shooting the downtown New York City skyline, so I captured the moment.
- - - - - - -
Winter Walk
Photographer: Ilona Wellmann
Picture of the Day, January 2, 2005
This is a picture of my husband -- out on a winters walk. It was taken in Germany near Gummersbach, my hometown. I think I captured the beauty of nature in this season, but also a moment of solitude and sense of loneliness.
- - - - - - -
Birds
Photographer: John Lee
Picture of the Day, March 5, 2008
A mother holding her baby amongst a swarm of pigeons. Taken in Istanbul, Turkey. October 2007
- - - - - - -
Morning Light
Photographer: Andy Williams
Moon River Photography
Picture of the Day, May 22, 2004
Yesterday, on my way to a meeting in New York City, I passed through Grand Central terminal as I've done thousands of times. Never have I seen "that magical light" that comes through the eastern windows until now! Needless to say, I was late for where I had to be that morning, but it was worth it to get this picture.
- - - - - - -
We hope you like our new homepage design and the big focus on the pictures.
Every couple of weeks, we'll put up a fresh batch of images for you to see. Be sure to bookmark us and come back and take a look every so often. You may love them, you may not. Either way, let us know what you think. We really want to know.
Also, go take a look at today's Picture of the Day and while you're there, submit some of your favorites. Who knows, maybe everyone will get to see it on our homepage one day soon.
- Joel Rosen