Kodak Homepage's Posts
Patience Rewarded
Taking a portrait takes patience and perseverance. Waiting for that moment when the planets align and everything comes together. The images on our homepage are wonderful portraits reflecting elements of craftsmanship and foresight.
What makes a great portrait? Lighting, viewpoint, the subject - all of these elements combined with the photographer's eye for detail.
Here are a few tips I have found helpful over the years:
Relax. And help your subject to relax. Have them do something they enjoy. Talk to them. If they are camera shy and fidgety give them something to hold in their hands.
Observation. Watch the mannerisms of the subject, watch their body language, what makes them comfortable. Then start taking pictures.
Lighting. Try using natural light to set the mood of the portrait.
Background. Look for backgrounds that will add interest to the photo. This week's photos kept the backgrounds clean, without distractions. It helped to keep the focus on the person.
Interesting angles. Climb a tree. Lay down on the ground. Try various photos at different angles.
Once your subject is relaxed they will start to do what comes natural to them. You will be able to have a genuine expression and capture their true essence.
What do you think makes a great portrait? Share your thoughts and tips with us.
Title: Laura's Window
Photographer: Angie Chauvin
Description: This was taken at our cottage in Northern Ontario. It was my daughter's 6th birthday and she was enjoying her new Window Writer markers. The sunlight shone in through the window, illuminating her. This photo really caught her creative character and grace.
Title: Up in the Air
Photographer: Wendy Bristol
Description: This is my daughter on the swings at a park that is across the street from our home. She seems to have no fear, and will even close her eyes as she is swinging - because she loves the feeling of flying.
Title: Those Days
Photographer: Susannah Benjamin
Description: I like the green of the grass and the light behind her. I thought it was really interesting because it was shot from above. :)
Title: Pondering
Photographer: Traci Bender
Description: This is my little girl pondering the life of a three year old...such as which teddy bear should I snuggle with tonight, should I have regular milk or chocolate, pigtails or braids, peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese...and so on and so on! :) You know deep thinking life questions.
What makes a great portrait? Lighting, viewpoint, the subject - all of these elements combined with the photographer's eye for detail.
Here are a few tips I have found helpful over the years:
Relax. And help your subject to relax. Have them do something they enjoy. Talk to them. If they are camera shy and fidgety give them something to hold in their hands.
Observation. Watch the mannerisms of the subject, watch their body language, what makes them comfortable. Then start taking pictures.
Lighting. Try using natural light to set the mood of the portrait.
Background. Look for backgrounds that will add interest to the photo. This week's photos kept the backgrounds clean, without distractions. It helped to keep the focus on the person.
Interesting angles. Climb a tree. Lay down on the ground. Try various photos at different angles.
Once your subject is relaxed they will start to do what comes natural to them. You will be able to have a genuine expression and capture their true essence.
What do you think makes a great portrait? Share your thoughts and tips with us.
Title: Laura's Window
Photographer: Angie Chauvin
Description: This was taken at our cottage in Northern Ontario. It was my daughter's 6th birthday and she was enjoying her new Window Writer markers. The sunlight shone in through the window, illuminating her. This photo really caught her creative character and grace.
Title: Up in the Air
Photographer: Wendy Bristol
Description: This is my daughter on the swings at a park that is across the street from our home. She seems to have no fear, and will even close her eyes as she is swinging - because she loves the feeling of flying.
Title: Those Days
Photographer: Susannah Benjamin
Description: I like the green of the grass and the light behind her. I thought it was really interesting because it was shot from above. :)
Title: Pondering
Photographer: Traci Bender
Description: This is my little girl pondering the life of a three year old...such as which teddy bear should I snuggle with tonight, should I have regular milk or chocolate, pigtails or braids, peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese...and so on and so on! :) You know deep thinking life questions.
It's Time to Smile!
"Every snapshot a person takes or keeps is a type of self-portrait, a kind of "mirror with memory" reflecting back those moments and people that were special enough to be frozen in time forever." From PhotoTherapy Techniques by psychologist and art therapist Judy Weiser, Director of the PhotoTherapy Center.
Throughout the summer Kodak has been doing some pretty cool things in support of our new marketing campaign - It's Time to Smile! What's the campaign about? Relationships with friends and family are more important than ever, technology has made it easier to keep in touch, yet the quality of our relationships with friends and family is declining causing many people to feel lonely and disconnected, yearning for richer, deeper relationships with friends and family. We believe in the emotional connection images bring to our lives. It's time to smile.
Here are the things we have been working on:
Our facebook page is the center of our activities. We are continually updating interesting facts, discussion topics about relationships, tips & tricks and photo challenges. It is the place to be! Come join us for some engaging conversations and of course, a few smiles!
We teamed up with The Compliment Guys, their mission - to give out as many compliments as they can. The Compliment Guys are two college kids from Purdue who started giving out compliments on campus to brighten others days - what a great idea!
On the homepage we also wanted to have some smiles. We teamed up with the Kodak flickr group What's Your Story? to see what we could come up with. Every month there is a discussion thread based on a theme, members are encouraged to share their photos which best represent the theme. In June, we tried something a little different for the theme:
Smile! - We're trying something new! We would love to showcase some of your images on our web site.
The theme is Smile. But we want something unique, not your everyday posed portrait. What makes you smile? Where do you see a smile? Be artistic, show off your creative side, have some fun.
What would be really cool - tell us the story about the photo. What about the photo makes you smile? What was happening when you took the picture? Don't be shy; more than 140 characters are encouraged!
How will we showcase your images? We will select 5 to place on our homepage (www.kodak.com). We will contact you before we present them on our homepage. Look for the discussion group below!
We were absolutely amazed and excited by the number of photographs that were uploaded.
What do you think?
Title: Me Happy
Photographer: Parks925
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/parkeedoo/
Title: Hazabina
Photographer: Joker 74
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joker1974/
Title: Young Photographer
Photographer: combinatorial
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/combinatorial/
Title: I Heart U
Photographer: Deepa
Caption: The Valentines Day fever is all over the place, even my office caterer didn't want to be left behind. Today's menu: Tomato Soup, Green Salad, Dal Dilruba, Sajini Pulav, Tawa Veg, Paneer Tikka Masala, Flooda
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51886699@N00/
Title: Shawna - Smirk or Smile? What's the story?
Photographer: Lady Ducayne
Caption: This photo was not planned or posed. I just happened to capture the moment at Disneyland. But, is that a smile, a smirk, or something else? I feel that this photograph tells whatever story YOU would like it to tell...is that prince charming?
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodladyducayne/
You may have noticed my plea for stories above...have you ever noticed how challenging it is to get photographers to chat about their photos?
The Art of Observation
"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place.... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them". - Elliott Erwitt
The quote from Elliott Erwitt is very fitting to the photos on our homepage today. Each photograph was captured because of how the photographers saw the people. They saw something special about each person and captured their true essence. The pictures make you wonder, what are they thinking about? It is left to viewers to really see the story.
There are myriad tips & techniques to take into consideration when photographing people. The one thing that is hard to teach - is really seeing the photo before taking it. Our featured photographers this week saw the photo and then applied their knowledge of lighting, composition, and exposure to capture the pictures - the art of observation.
What I love about the photos this week, they speak to me. They are not your typical posed portrait. There is an emotion in each photo. I have been looking at these pictures, wondering, what are they thinking about? Are they in deep thought? Are they just taking a break from their lives?
Here are some ideas for you to think about the next time you are out and want to photograph someone. Ask yourself these questions:
What is it about this person I want to capture?
Is it in what they are doing?
Is it the environment they are in?
When you identify the answers, can you see the photo emerging? Now, take the picture. Try a few different things, walk around the subject, take pictures from different angles, zoom in, and zoom out. Our Tips and Project Center has some great tips for photographing people - check them out!
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Title: Who Am I?
Photographer: Mark Iyer
Description: This photo was taken in Kolar, India, in a village called Gangapura.
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Title: Three Generations
Photographer: Vera I. Sytch
Description: The day before we set up a medical clinic in this building, we came to scout out the facilities: two concrete rooms. But the light in the rooms was magical! Just outside the door to the right, there was total bedlam - a noisy festival, music, dancing, people vying to get into the room where I sat - but inside I caught this serene moment: three generations of Wolof women in Mbaakhe, Senegal, West Africa. The picture was taken with a KODAK DC 4800.
Read the blog post Vera wrote about this journey.
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Title: Violinist
Photographer: Glenn Losack
Description: A street musician in Lima, Peru. I took the picture was taken in 2007.
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Title: Selling Handiwares
Photographer: Mustafa Kizilcay
Description: I took this image during holiday in Turkey in a small village in Sept. 2008.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It has been just over seven months since we launched our new homepage design. Are you coming back to the site to check out the new photos? How are we doing? Let us know your thoughts and comments!!
The quote from Elliott Erwitt is very fitting to the photos on our homepage today. Each photograph was captured because of how the photographers saw the people. They saw something special about each person and captured their true essence. The pictures make you wonder, what are they thinking about? It is left to viewers to really see the story.
There are myriad tips & techniques to take into consideration when photographing people. The one thing that is hard to teach - is really seeing the photo before taking it. Our featured photographers this week saw the photo and then applied their knowledge of lighting, composition, and exposure to capture the pictures - the art of observation.
What I love about the photos this week, they speak to me. They are not your typical posed portrait. There is an emotion in each photo. I have been looking at these pictures, wondering, what are they thinking about? Are they in deep thought? Are they just taking a break from their lives?
Here are some ideas for you to think about the next time you are out and want to photograph someone. Ask yourself these questions:
What is it about this person I want to capture?
Is it in what they are doing?
Is it the environment they are in?
When you identify the answers, can you see the photo emerging? Now, take the picture. Try a few different things, walk around the subject, take pictures from different angles, zoom in, and zoom out. Our Tips and Project Center has some great tips for photographing people - check them out!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Title: Who Am I?
Photographer: Mark Iyer
Description: This photo was taken in Kolar, India, in a village called Gangapura.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Title: Three Generations
Photographer: Vera I. Sytch
Description: The day before we set up a medical clinic in this building, we came to scout out the facilities: two concrete rooms. But the light in the rooms was magical! Just outside the door to the right, there was total bedlam - a noisy festival, music, dancing, people vying to get into the room where I sat - but inside I caught this serene moment: three generations of Wolof women in Mbaakhe, Senegal, West Africa. The picture was taken with a KODAK DC 4800.
Read the blog post Vera wrote about this journey.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Title: Violinist
Photographer: Glenn Losack
Description: A street musician in Lima, Peru. I took the picture was taken in 2007.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Title: Selling Handiwares
Photographer: Mustafa Kizilcay
Description: I took this image during holiday in Turkey in a small village in Sept. 2008.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It has been just over seven months since we launched our new homepage design. Are you coming back to the site to check out the new photos? How are we doing? Let us know your thoughts and comments!!
One of these days...
One of these days happened on July 20, 1969 for Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Do you remember what you were doing? Where you were? If you were around then chances are pretty good you were either listening to the radio or glued to the TV watching Apollo 11 landing on the moon.
Kodak went along with them to the moon - in a couple of ways. We provided three different types of film:
These films were used in three forms 16mm motion pictures, 70mm stills, and 35mm in the stereo close-up camera. The 70mm still film had a special thin-based and thin emulsion double perforated film that was able to capture 160 color pictures or 200 black and white pictures.
Kodak created a stereo close-up camera that was beamed up on Apollo 11. About seven months before Apollo 11 landed on the moon NASA commissioned a new camera - - a 35mm camera for creating stereo photos. The purpose of this camera was to take close-up photos of the soil and rocks. It was to be used to determine what the lunar rocks were made of? How craters were formed - by meteors, volcanic action or a combination and where the moon came from?
A few of the camera features:
The final product was just a pinch bigger than a cigar box with a long handle. An astronaut could pick it up and set it down with out bending over. The handle was also used as the trigger for taking the picture because of limited amount of dexterity of their hands with the gloves on. In the foreground of the picture below is the stereo camera.
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Aldrin unpacks experiments
Description: Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, prepares to deploy the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP) on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70 mm lunar surface camera. In the foreground is the Apollo 11 35 mm stereo close-up camera.
Now that is the ultimate point-and-shoot. Amazingly - it was built in 6 months!!
Here are the images side-by-side
Photo courtesy of NASA
Here it is with the stereo effect
Photo courtesy of NASA
Now onto our homepage photos and a few interesting trivia facts:
While taking pictures Neil could not see what he was taking pictures of - camera being strapped to his chest there was no view finder. Now that is a photo challenge...
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
Description: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the Moon near the leg of the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" during the Apollo 11 exravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the Moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia" in lunar orbit.
The crosses you can see in the photos - they were on the plate of the camera, the purpose was to have a means to determine distances between objects
Photo courtesy of NASA
Description: Leftward of 5960. Down-Sun photograph of the LM from the rim of East Crater. We can see Neil's shadow and the shadow of the Gold camera. Note that the doors of the SEQ bay are closed. This frame gives us a feeling for elevation of the rim. When he took this picture, Neil was clearly standing above the level of the LM footpads. Note the darkened tracks leading leftward to the EASEP deployment area and rightward to the TV camera. Compare with the LPI traverse map ( 1.32Mb ).
The size of Neil Armstrong's boot was 13x6 inches...is that a big ol' boot?
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Close-up view of astronaut's foot and footprint in lunar soil
Description: Close-up view of an astronaut's footprint in the lunar soil photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the moon.
The Eagle has landed derived from when the lunar module when it landed in the Sea of Tranquility - the name of the lunar module was Eagle
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Aldrin Looks Back at Tranquility Base
Description: Astronaut Edwin E."Buzz" Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the Moon. He has just deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). In the foreground is the Passive Seismic Experiment Package (PSEP); beyond it is the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (LR-3); in the center background is the United States flag; in the left background is the black and white lunar surface television camera; in the far right background is the Lunar Module "Eagle". Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera.
Originally, little was expected from photos taken in space. But that changed, quickly. Almost 100,000 photos were taken to help map Apollo's landing sites. The first photographs from the moon came in 1964
Photo courtesy of NASA
Description: View of Earth from orbit
References and additional sources of information
http://www.nasaimages.org
http://history.nasa.gov/apollo_photo.html
http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/shooting-moon.html
Kodak went along with them to the moon - in a couple of ways. We provided three different types of film:
- Ektachrome EF film SO168
- Ektachrome MS film SO368 35mm film used in the stereo
- Panatomic-X recording film - this was specially developed for use on the moon
These films were used in three forms 16mm motion pictures, 70mm stills, and 35mm in the stereo close-up camera. The 70mm still film had a special thin-based and thin emulsion double perforated film that was able to capture 160 color pictures or 200 black and white pictures.
Kodak created a stereo close-up camera that was beamed up on Apollo 11. About seven months before Apollo 11 landed on the moon NASA commissioned a new camera - - a 35mm camera for creating stereo photos. The purpose of this camera was to take close-up photos of the soil and rocks. It was to be used to determine what the lunar rocks were made of? How craters were formed - by meteors, volcanic action or a combination and where the moon came from?
A few of the camera features:
- Able to withstand temperature fluctuations of +/- 250 degrees
- Collapse for easy storage
- Easy buttons for "fat fingers" (the astronauts gloves)
- Built in flash
- Removable film cassette - because the camera was to be left on the moon
- And of course keep it simple to use
- Resulting photos were 2 side-by-side 3 inch photos - the actual exposed film was 1 inch square
The final product was just a pinch bigger than a cigar box with a long handle. An astronaut could pick it up and set it down with out bending over. The handle was also used as the trigger for taking the picture because of limited amount of dexterity of their hands with the gloves on. In the foreground of the picture below is the stereo camera.
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Aldrin unpacks experiments
Description: Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, prepares to deploy the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP) on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70 mm lunar surface camera. In the foreground is the Apollo 11 35 mm stereo close-up camera.
Now that is the ultimate point-and-shoot. Amazingly - it was built in 6 months!!
Here are the images side-by-side
Photo courtesy of NASA
Here it is with the stereo effect
Photo courtesy of NASA
Now onto our homepage photos and a few interesting trivia facts:
While taking pictures Neil could not see what he was taking pictures of - camera being strapped to his chest there was no view finder. Now that is a photo challenge...
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
Description: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the Moon near the leg of the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" during the Apollo 11 exravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the Moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia" in lunar orbit.
The crosses you can see in the photos - they were on the plate of the camera, the purpose was to have a means to determine distances between objects
Photo courtesy of NASA
Description: Leftward of 5960. Down-Sun photograph of the LM from the rim of East Crater. We can see Neil's shadow and the shadow of the Gold camera. Note that the doors of the SEQ bay are closed. This frame gives us a feeling for elevation of the rim. When he took this picture, Neil was clearly standing above the level of the LM footpads. Note the darkened tracks leading leftward to the EASEP deployment area and rightward to the TV camera. Compare with the LPI traverse map ( 1.32Mb ).
The size of Neil Armstrong's boot was 13x6 inches...is that a big ol' boot?
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Close-up view of astronaut's foot and footprint in lunar soil
Description: Close-up view of an astronaut's footprint in the lunar soil photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the moon.
The Eagle has landed derived from when the lunar module when it landed in the Sea of Tranquility - the name of the lunar module was Eagle
Photo courtesy of NASA
Title: Aldrin Looks Back at Tranquility Base
Description: Astronaut Edwin E."Buzz" Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the Moon. He has just deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). In the foreground is the Passive Seismic Experiment Package (PSEP); beyond it is the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (LR-3); in the center background is the United States flag; in the left background is the black and white lunar surface television camera; in the far right background is the Lunar Module "Eagle". Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera.
Originally, little was expected from photos taken in space. But that changed, quickly. Almost 100,000 photos were taken to help map Apollo's landing sites. The first photographs from the moon came in 1964
Photo courtesy of NASA
Description: View of Earth from orbit
References and additional sources of information
http://www.nasaimages.org
http://history.nasa.gov/apollo_photo.html
http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/shooting-moon.html
Color... at the intersection of science and emotion
Images presented this week all play on the color saturation. Saturation refers to the intensity of the color. The photographers have used light to intensify the color.
How do you do it? How can you play with the saturation in your photos?
The easiest way is to use photo editing software after the image is captured. Some cameras do offer the ability to set controls.
Tips for KODAK EASYSHARE Software:
• Use the enhance button it uses KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology to automatically enhance the color.
• Try the scene effects that intelligently adjust color depending on the scene (ie sunset, forest)
• Feeling daring, use the manual sliders to adjust exposure highlights etc
If you don't already have KODAK EASYSHARE software - download it for free!
Camera tips:
If your camera provides compensation or bracketing try using these controls to increase or decrease the color saturation. Over exposure by as little as 1/3 can add some intensity to color while still providing details in the highlights. Have some fun, play with the settings.
Some digital cameras allow users to adjust between color modes - high color or natural color.
Natural color is great for skin tones - typically this is the default setting
High color is great for landscapes where you really want the color to come to life
Let's take a look at the images on the homepage!
What do you think? How did they achieve the saturation in each image?
Tell us what you think in the comments below
Title: hfc514
Photographer: Steven Greaves
Caption:
Old Havana is a warren of ambling streets and alleys. It is here where you will find the real Cuba and the one removed from the tourist sites. Old folks sit behind wide-open doors and windows and peer out upon the street-scenes. Boys coo, in that typical Latin fashion, at girls and women that pass by. Kids, shirtless and shoeless, run amok kicking rocks and cans up and down the street. Baseball, all the rage on this island, is played in the streets with fashioned bats and balls. Framed by old and dilapidated art deco structures and beat-up antiquated American cars, this is the real Cuba.
Title: Train Station
Photographer: Bill Merlavage
Caption:
Late night at the train station
Title: My Father's Beach
Photographer: Tracy Moore
Caption:
This picture was taken in Tampa, Florida, in January '05. I think it captures the essence of the beach my parents remember. Cars cruising by...
Title: Varsha
Photographer: Vinayak More
Caption:
I took this picture in Bombay, India. I used Kodak Max film, and then manipulated the picture in Photoshop.
Title: Albergo Abruzzi in Rome
Photographer: Jessica McDonald
Caption:
I was on vacation in Rome and the man in this photo looked out of his hotel window right as I snapped this picture. I was in such awe of the piazza I was in, I didn't even notice the man in the picture until I got home and printed my photos!
How do you do it? How can you play with the saturation in your photos?
The easiest way is to use photo editing software after the image is captured. Some cameras do offer the ability to set controls.
Tips for KODAK EASYSHARE Software:
• Use the enhance button it uses KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology to automatically enhance the color.
• Try the scene effects that intelligently adjust color depending on the scene (ie sunset, forest)
• Feeling daring, use the manual sliders to adjust exposure highlights etc
If you don't already have KODAK EASYSHARE software - download it for free!
Camera tips:
If your camera provides compensation or bracketing try using these controls to increase or decrease the color saturation. Over exposure by as little as 1/3 can add some intensity to color while still providing details in the highlights. Have some fun, play with the settings.
Some digital cameras allow users to adjust between color modes - high color or natural color.
Natural color is great for skin tones - typically this is the default setting
High color is great for landscapes where you really want the color to come to life
Let's take a look at the images on the homepage!
What do you think? How did they achieve the saturation in each image?
Tell us what you think in the comments below
Title: hfc514
Photographer: Steven Greaves
Caption:
Old Havana is a warren of ambling streets and alleys. It is here where you will find the real Cuba and the one removed from the tourist sites. Old folks sit behind wide-open doors and windows and peer out upon the street-scenes. Boys coo, in that typical Latin fashion, at girls and women that pass by. Kids, shirtless and shoeless, run amok kicking rocks and cans up and down the street. Baseball, all the rage on this island, is played in the streets with fashioned bats and balls. Framed by old and dilapidated art deco structures and beat-up antiquated American cars, this is the real Cuba.
Title: Train Station
Photographer: Bill Merlavage
Caption:
Late night at the train station
Title: My Father's Beach
Photographer: Tracy Moore
Caption:
This picture was taken in Tampa, Florida, in January '05. I think it captures the essence of the beach my parents remember. Cars cruising by...
Title: Varsha
Photographer: Vinayak More
Caption:
I took this picture in Bombay, India. I used Kodak Max film, and then manipulated the picture in Photoshop.
Title: Albergo Abruzzi in Rome
Photographer: Jessica McDonald
Caption:
I was on vacation in Rome and the man in this photo looked out of his hotel window right as I snapped this picture. I was in such awe of the piazza I was in, I didn't even notice the man in the picture until I got home and printed my photos!
Happy Birthday George!
Mr. Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Company, is heralded as the father of popular photography and inventor of motion-picture film. He was born July 12, 1854 in the Central New York village of Waterville. This year he would have been 155. In honor of his birthday we would like to highlight a few images that tell the stories of the milestones throughout his life.
Self-portrait
Eastman's journey with photography began in 1878 when a colleague suggested he take a camera on a vacation to Santo Domingo. He became fully engrossed in photography and in trying to improve the materials required to take and develop photos. He spent three years experimenting with gelatin emulsions, in his mother's kitchen (oh my!). While he was experimenting he often wrote details directly on the photos - as can be seen in the self-portrait.
George Eastman on board S.S. Gallia - on his way to London to apply for a patent
By 1880, Eastman had invented and patented a dry-plate coating machine. He secured patents in England and America on his coating machine, the returns began to flow in. This brought an increased wealth that he shared making him one of America's leading philanthropists, giving away more than $100 million.
In 1888, George Eastman invented dry, transparent, and flexible, photographic film (or rolled photography film) along with a simple Kodak camera that could use the new film. "You press the button, we do the rest" was the promise in the advertising slogan.
Construction of the Kodak buildings
Eastman founded the Eastman Kodak Company in 1880, this revolutionized photography through simplification. Through a series of innovations the company created small, easy-to-use cameras. Eastman is known as the man who brought the joy of photography to millions around the world.
George Eastman & Thomas Edison
In 1889, Eastman began working with Thomas Edison, inventor of the motion picture camera. Edison's increasingly sophisticated models required a stronger, more flexible transparent film, which Eastman was able to deliver.
George attending to a campfire
After enduring years of long hours at Kodak he retired in 1925. Eastman enjoyed his leisure time, much of it was spent enjoying the outdoors and traveling. He pursued adventures in the American West and the African jungle.
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In doing research for this week I learned so much about George Eastman that I want to share. I was trying to think of a unique way to do this.
Let's have a little fun with trivia questions - How well do you know George?
Use the comments to provide your answers - - I will post the answers in the comments later in the week!!
How well do you know George Eastman?
1. Why did George choose the name Kodak?
a. Randomly picked letters until they made up a word
b. "K" was his favorite letter
c. His mother's maiden name was Kilbourn
d. All of the above
2. How much did the first "Kodak" camera sell for in 1888 and what did it include?
a. $2.50 and a camera bag
b. $10 and a roll of film to take up to 36 pictures
c. $25 loaded with enough film to take 100 pictures
d. $25 with a carrying case
3. What was George's favorite color?
a. Yellow
b. Blue
c. Green
d. Red
4. How did Mr. Eastman market the first brownie camera?
a. He offered brownies with the camera
b. He used the Brownie character from Palmer Cox
c. He demonstrated the ease-of-use at key events
d. None of the above
5. How much money did George donate to MIT and what name did he use?
a. $1 million dollars under the name of Mrs. Kilbourn
b. $10 million dollars under the name of Kodak
c. $15 million dollars under the name of Mr. Jones
d. $22 million dollars under the name of Mr. Smith
6. What inspired Mr. Eastman to invest in Dental Care?
a. He lost all of his teeth
b. His mother suffered from dental issues
c. He wanted everyone to have a perfect smile in pictures
d. He was interested in becoming a dentist when he was younger
For help answering the questions above and to just find out additional Information:
George Eastman's life, legacy and estate
George Eastman House
History of Kodak
Self-portrait
Eastman's journey with photography began in 1878 when a colleague suggested he take a camera on a vacation to Santo Domingo. He became fully engrossed in photography and in trying to improve the materials required to take and develop photos. He spent three years experimenting with gelatin emulsions, in his mother's kitchen (oh my!). While he was experimenting he often wrote details directly on the photos - as can be seen in the self-portrait.
George Eastman on board S.S. Gallia - on his way to London to apply for a patent
By 1880, Eastman had invented and patented a dry-plate coating machine. He secured patents in England and America on his coating machine, the returns began to flow in. This brought an increased wealth that he shared making him one of America's leading philanthropists, giving away more than $100 million.
In 1888, George Eastman invented dry, transparent, and flexible, photographic film (or rolled photography film) along with a simple Kodak camera that could use the new film. "You press the button, we do the rest" was the promise in the advertising slogan.
Construction of the Kodak buildings
Eastman founded the Eastman Kodak Company in 1880, this revolutionized photography through simplification. Through a series of innovations the company created small, easy-to-use cameras. Eastman is known as the man who brought the joy of photography to millions around the world.
George Eastman & Thomas Edison
In 1889, Eastman began working with Thomas Edison, inventor of the motion picture camera. Edison's increasingly sophisticated models required a stronger, more flexible transparent film, which Eastman was able to deliver.
George attending to a campfire
After enduring years of long hours at Kodak he retired in 1925. Eastman enjoyed his leisure time, much of it was spent enjoying the outdoors and traveling. He pursued adventures in the American West and the African jungle.
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In doing research for this week I learned so much about George Eastman that I want to share. I was trying to think of a unique way to do this.
Let's have a little fun with trivia questions - How well do you know George?
Use the comments to provide your answers - - I will post the answers in the comments later in the week!!
How well do you know George Eastman?
1. Why did George choose the name Kodak?
a. Randomly picked letters until they made up a word
b. "K" was his favorite letter
c. His mother's maiden name was Kilbourn
d. All of the above
2. How much did the first "Kodak" camera sell for in 1888 and what did it include?
a. $2.50 and a camera bag
b. $10 and a roll of film to take up to 36 pictures
c. $25 loaded with enough film to take 100 pictures
d. $25 with a carrying case
3. What was George's favorite color?
a. Yellow
b. Blue
c. Green
d. Red
4. How did Mr. Eastman market the first brownie camera?
a. He offered brownies with the camera
b. He used the Brownie character from Palmer Cox
c. He demonstrated the ease-of-use at key events
d. None of the above
5. How much money did George donate to MIT and what name did he use?
a. $1 million dollars under the name of Mrs. Kilbourn
b. $10 million dollars under the name of Kodak
c. $15 million dollars under the name of Mr. Jones
d. $22 million dollars under the name of Mr. Smith
6. What inspired Mr. Eastman to invest in Dental Care?
a. He lost all of his teeth
b. His mother suffered from dental issues
c. He wanted everyone to have a perfect smile in pictures
d. He was interested in becoming a dentist when he was younger
For help answering the questions above and to just find out additional Information:
George Eastman's life, legacy and estate
George Eastman House
History of Kodak
