Friday 4 October 2013

The original Kodak moment: Snapshots taken from the camera that changed ...


  • The Kodak No.1 gave amateurs the chance to capture everyday life

  • Leather-bound box camera was created by founder George Eastman



By

Jill Reilly




PUBLISHED:


10:14, 1 October 2013




|

UPDATED:


10:58, 1 October 2013




Kodak may have hit hard times in recent years, but 120 years ago it was the pioneer of home photography.


In 1888 it created the Kodak No.1, which gave consumers a chance to capture relaxed scenes which had previously only been taken by professional photographers.


These snapshots taken by amateurs give a charming insight into everyday life in the 19th century. 


Captured on camera: A snapshot taken from Kodak No.1, the camera that changed photography in 1888


Captured on camera: A snapshot taken from Kodak No.1, the camera that changed photography in 1888


Fun in the garden: Two young girls dressed in their Sunday best push along a miniature wheelbarrow


Fun in the garden: Two young girls dressed in their Sunday best push along a miniature wheelbarrow


Day out: A woman rows a boat on day out on the river


Row your boat: These snapshots taken by amateurs using a Kodak No.1 give a charming insight into everyday life in 1888



It was simple to use – users would simply point in the direction of their subject, although it was a guessing game as there was not a viewfinder yet, reports Gizmodo.


They would then wind the film, open the shutter, and press a button to actually capture the picture.


The No. 1 came pre-loaded with enough negatives to produce 100 photos.


New beginnings: It sold for $25, loaded for 100 exposures, and the whole camera was shipped back to the factory for developing, printing and reloading


New beginnings: The Kodak No,1 sold for $25 which was pricey to consumers back then



National Media Museum photographs


National Media Museum photographs


Snap happy: The No. 1 came pre-loaded with enough negatives to produce 100 photos



Dip in the sea: A trio roll up their skirts to take a stroll into the sea


Dip in the sea: A trio roll up their skirts to take a stroll into the sea in this charming photo




National Media Museum photographs


National Media Museum photographs


Fruits of labour: The user sent the whole camera back to Kodak to develop the circular, 2.5 inch-wide images



National Media Museum photographs


Partnership: Eastman designed the cameras in collaboration with a cabinetmaker, Frank A. Brownell, who set up the production line




STATISTICS: REVOLUTION IN PHOTOGRAPHY


Type: Box camera


Manufacturer: Kodak


Years of production: 1888-1889 (Kodak); 1889-1895 (Kodak No.1)


Price: US$25 (quite expensive at that time)


Films: paper film rolls – changed by manufacturer, alternate loading with transparent film (only Kodak No. 1)


Lens: Bausch Lomb 57mm f/9 Rapid Rectilinear wide angle lens


Shutter: string set; cylindrical (Kodak), rotary sector shutter (Kodak No.1)


Weight: 900 g


Dimensions: 8.3×9.6×16.5cm


Source: Camerapedia


The user sent the whole camera back to Kodak to develop the circular, 2.5 inch-wide images.


According to Camerapedia,

the round image was a design decision -  it ensured that

the user did not have to hold the camera too straight as well as to compensate for the poor image quality at the

corners of the image.


Along with the images, Kodak would also return the camera—fully-loaded with paper for 100 more snaps. 


The camera, with box joints and a strong leather covering was marketed with the slogan ‘You press the button, we do the rest.’


Eastman designed the cameras in collaboration with a cabinetmaker, Frank A. Brownell, who set up the production line at the factory.


Years later Kodak is now seen as one of the biggest corporate casualties of the digital age, having failed to quickly embrace modern technologies such as digital photography, its own invention.


It was filed for bankruptcy protection last year and announced it would stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and and digital picture frames in the first half of 2012, in a bid to cut costs.


National Media Museum photographs


Downfall: Years later Kodak is now seen as one of the biggest corporate casualties of the digital age, having failed to quickly embrace modern technologies such as digital photography, its own invention



National Media Museum photographs


National Media Museum photographs


Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection last year and announced it would stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and and digital picture frames in the first half of 2012, in a bid to cut costs



Down time: A woman who looks like an actress is photographed reading her lines on stage


Down time: A woman who looks like an actress is photographed reading her lines on stage


But last month it was revealed that the company will now concentrate on selling printing equipment and services to businesses.


‘We

have emerged as a technology company serving imaging for business

markets – including packaging, functional printing, graphic

communications and professional services,’ said Antonio Perez, chief

executive of Kodak.


‘We have been revitalized by our

transformation and restructured to become a formidable competitor –

leaner, with a strong capital structure, a healthy balance sheet, and

the industry’s best technology.’


National Media Museum photographs


National Media Museum photographs


The camera, with box joints and a strong leather covering was marketed with the slogan ‘You press the button, we do the rest’



National Media Museum photographs


According to Camerapedia, the round image was a design decision, partly as a way of ensuring that the photographer didn’t have to hold the camera exactly level with the horizon, and partly to compensate for the poor image quality at the corners of the image


National Media Museum photographs


National Media Museum photographs


The very first amateur photographs captured pictures of vacations, families, and every day life










Comments (81)


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The comments below have not been moderated.





Ginistera,


Eldorado, United Kingdom,


2 days ago


“Came preloaded with 100 negatives”??





Pompey boy,


Malaga, Spain,


2 days ago


When you see old photos like this the people are always wearing lots of clothes no matter the weather.





Toad,


Toadhall,


2 days ago


No selfies





Scott,


Hampshire., United Kingdom,


2 days ago


Its nice to see personal pictures, and not posed ones





Quinsman,


London, United Kingdom,


3 days ago


It’s always fascinating to see people relaxing or involved in leisure activities before the advent of casual clothes. What on earth would they have thought about someone walking along the street in a pair of shorts and flip flops?





xoxoks,


newark, United States,


3 days ago


hauntingly beautiful photographs





Sue Gould,


Saundersfoot,


3 days ago


Wonderful photo’s.





Bagpiper13,


Calgary, Canada,


3 days ago


It’s all about the composition and lighting. Oh, and the subject.





yorkie england,


york, United Kingdom,


3 days ago


When Americans were slim





Max Wilson,


Dallas,


3 days ago


Pot meet kettle.





GoodLightKnight,


Nottingham, United Kingdom,


3 days ago


¿One day men will look back and say i gave birth to the twentieth century.¿ by Jack the Globalist!



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Article source: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/photo-video/3408540/pentax-k-01-review/



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