Friday, January 27, 2012

The invention of roll film helped to bring photography in to the mainstream.


George Eastman, the inventor of roll film, helped to bring photography into the mainstream. What would George think today? The digital world has enabled everyone to be a photographer. Has digital photography devalued photographers?

4 comments:

Matteus Maximus said...

I think the technology and the ubiquitousness would have delighted him but he would have no idea what a camera and a telephone could possibly have in common. Just today I read a story about a kid in school who took a photo of a sleeping substitute teacher and was suspended because using a telecommunications device during school is prohibited. Did he use a phone, or did he use a camera? The abstraction between the device and the activity, the intent and the outcome, all becomes very blurry, and the photograph=a thousand words equation almost literally becomes true when they both blend together on the bitstream into one single form: communication.

Unknown said...

Well said Matt!

Forever Afternoon said...

It is interesting that one would suggest digital photography allows everyone to be a photographer. In reality if we look at roll film that is the moment everyone could be a photographer, all I needed was a camera, load the film into the back pop it shut point and shoot.

The fact that more people could take photographers and of course buy roll film is the foundation which George Eastman and Kodak made their millions that funded their future endeavors in the digital space ie invention of the digital camera.

As with anything just because we can buy the technology does not mean we are a GOOD photographer, in fact all those non professional photographers out there a great reminder of what separates good from mediocre and bad.

Kyle said...

"in fact all those non professional photographers out there a great reminder of what separates good from mediocre and bad"


The only problem FA is that doesn't mean somebody is willing to "PAY" a good photographer what he is worth.