George Eastman

George Eastman was a brilliant inventor, who created and patented the dry-plate formula, and the Kodak camera. When Eastman first started photography, the method of wet-plating was messy and a struggle to carry around. Eastman strived to create a dry-plate method that would be easier to carry around and easier for people to use. George Eastman was born on July 12, 1854 in Waterville, New York. Eastman's first photography experience was when he was 24, and went on a trip to Santo Domingo. Before he left, his friend suggested that he make a record of the trip, so Eastman bought his own camera, supplies, and plates. When he was first taking pictures, he realized how difficult it was to just take one picture. You had to set the camera up, find the right lighting, take the picture, go into a dark room where it was then combined with chemicals to form a picture. He was fed up with the amount of time, energy and money it took to just produce one picture. He knew he had to create an easier way, and set about it. He worked at a bank during the day, and at night he would work on his dry-plate formula in his mother's kitchen. By 1880, he had created a dry-plate formula, and a large machine for mass-producing them. During his career, Eastman had made millions of dollars, and decided that before he died, he would give most of his money away to organizations, schools and charities. Because of his generosity and determination, George Eastman lived a full life and paved the way for more future photographic technology to come.

George Eastman was not only an inventor, but a generous man who gave his fortune to others in need. George Eastman gave most of his fortune to schools, organizations for needy kids and adults, and also set up benefits for his workers in his factories. He began giving to nonprofit institutions when his salary was only $60 a week and he donated $50 to the young and struggling Mechanics Institute of Rochester. He hired a lot of students as his assistants, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was so impressed with the assistants, he decided to donate to the school. "It was given anonymously from a "Mr. Smith," and for several years the identity of mysterious "Mr. Smith" was speculated about, even finding expression in a popular M.I.T. song" (Kodak). When he only had a $60 income, he donated $50 dollars to organizations. He was not looking for fame or to be noticed for his donations, he was doing it because he truly wanted to give back to the community, and that's why he donated anonymously. He was a selfless man, who before he died gave away his fortune for the benefit and well-being of the community around him. Eastman believed that even his employees deserved a thank you present of sorts, and set up benefits for his workers. Early in his business, Eastman began planning for dividends on wages for employees. "His first act, in 1899, was the distribution of a substantial sum of his own money -- an outright gift -- to each person who worked for him" (Kodak). He was grateful for his workers, and wanted to show them that he cared for them, and respected them by giving some of his own money to help them. He made sure his employees were happy, and did not live in poverty, and helped his employees through tough times, and hardships. George Eastman was a dedicated inventor who throughout his fame and fortune gave away that fortune before he died for the benefit of others

George Eastman was a dedicated photographer who wanted to change the way photos were taken and produced. Through his experiences using a wet-plate method, he knew he disliked it, and strived to perfect a dry-plate method. In the 1870s American photography was still slow, difficult, and expensive. Equipment included a huge camera, strong tripod, large plate holder, dark tent, chemicals, water container, and heavy glass plates. Eastman experimented with dry-plate techniques. He was the first American to contribute to photographic technology by coating glass plates with gelatin and silver bromide. In 1879 his coating machine was available in England. In 1880, he sold his English patent and opened a shop to manufacture photographic plates in Rochester. To eliminate glass plates, Eastman coated paper with gelatin and photographic emulsion. The developed film was removed from the paper to make a negative. This film was rolled on spools. "Eastman and William Walker devised a lightweight roll holder to fit any camera" (George). His invention of the dry plate changed the way photographs were taken, and paved the way for more technology to come. His invention, made taking pictures less expensive and a lot easier to access and allowed more people to use it, than the original wet plate formula. Also, it allowed easier use for amateur photographers. Again, by his invention of the photographic film, he made it possible for average people to enjoy, and learn about photography. The simple camera was named the "Kodak" and was first marketed in mid-1888. "Eastman and his emulsion-maker, Henry M. Reichenbach, soon developed thin celluloid film to replace the paper film that was first used" (Jenkins). This portable and easy to use camera, struck it rich on the markets, and soon Eastman had his own company producing Kodak. His new invention changed the face of photography from long and exhausting, to quick and easy. George Eastman was the wizard of photography and he created amazing things like the dry-plate and Kodak camera.

George made his decision to give away most of his money, before he died, so that he knew where it would go. He wanted to ensure that his money would go to a good cause, so he donated most of it before he died. George Eastman was quoted as saying "If a man has wealth, he has to make a choice because there is the money heaping up, he can keep it together in a bunch and then leave it for others to administer after he is dead, or he can get into action and have fun while he is still alive." (Huso). It was extremely important for him to give back to the community, because he valued education, and research programs. He wanted to make sure his money was credited and put into immediate action, and to making his plans work. Even though Eastman had lots of money, he never married, had children or had any close relationships. By the time he was in his 70s, he had given away the majority of his wealth. " He never married and had no close relationships, and on March 14, 1932, after leaving a simple note--My work is done. Why wait?--Eastman committed suicide" (George). By the time he had reached his point of retirement, his wealth was nearly gone, and his love life had never been accomplished. His loneliness drove him to a point of suicide. He left behind a simple note that described how he felt, and what he was thinking. George Eastman was a successful man, who through his fame gave back to the community, but when his work was done he took his own life. He felt he was done; he was a successful inventor, business man, philanthropist and a selfless man.

George Eastman was a generous and determined man, who through all of his fame gave back to the community and paved the way for more photographic technology to come. Because of Eastman's determination to find a better method for photography, he made millions, but in the end gave his fortune away to benefit the community around him. He was a successful man, who changed the way photographs were taken, produced and sold, and led others to follow in his footsteps and advance the photograph. George Eastman inspires me to be a successful person, and with determination, I can fulfill anything I set my mind to. I think some people would look at Eastman and think that he was just a guy. If they got to learn the history about him, I feel that they would connect with his life, and be able to see how someone changed something for the better. Some people would look at him and be amazed by the things that he created. For example, the dry-plate method, rolled film and the Kodak camera. He paved the way for newer and better photographic technology to come. George Eastman started photography just as a recording method on a vacation. When he realized the method for taking pictures was so hard, and in-efficient, he knew he had to change something for the better. In the end, Eastman was a successful man who earned the title "The Wizard of Photography."

Works Cited
"George Eastman." American Decades .Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 1988 Biography in Context. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. "George Eastman." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. Web. 31 Mar. 2013 Huso, Deborah. "Father of invention: an inventor, entrepreneur and corporate titan, George Eastman was ever mindful that his success was due to the hard work and leisure time of everyday people." Success July 2011:78+. Biography in context. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. Web. 31 mar 2013. Jenkins, Reese, V. Great Lives from History: The twentieth Century; September 2008, Ebsco Biography Reference Center. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Kodak.com. Kodak, 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2013