An Eastman Kodak camera, 1904, price $5.00
The original concept of camera dates from Grecian times, when Aristotle referred to the principle of the camera obscura (Latin=dark chamber).
The first diagram of a camera obscura appeared in a manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci in 1519.
In 16th century brightness and clarity of camera obscuras were improved by enlarging the hole and inserting lens.
In 1800 Thomas Wedgwood makes "sun pictures" by placing opaque objects on leather treated with silver nitrate; resulting images deteriorated rapidly, however, if displayed under light stronger than from candles.
In 1814 Joseph Nicéphore Niépce achieved first photographic image with a camera obscura - however, the image required eight hours of light exposure and later faded.
In 1837 Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre uses his daguerreotype method (called after his name) - the first image that was fixed and did not fade and needed under thirty minutes of light exposure.
In 1841 William Henry Talbot patented the Calotype process - the first negative-positive process making possible the first multiple copies.
In 1851 Frederick Scott Archer invented the Collodion process - images required only two or three seconds of light exposure.
In 1859 the panoramic camera is patented - the Sutton.
George Eastman (1854 - 1932) founded the Eastman Kodak Co. (1881) and invented roll film (1885), which brought photography to everybody. The roll film was also the basis for the invention of the motion picture film, used by early filmmakers Thomas Edison, the Lumiere Brothers, and Georges Méliès.
On September 4, 1888 Eastman registered the trademark Kodak, and received a patent for his hand-held camera which used roll film. He coined the phrase "You Press The Button and We Do The Rest."
Upon Eastman’s death, his entire residuary estate went to the University of Rochester. His former home at 900 East Avenue in Rochester, New York, was opened as the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House in 1947. On the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1954, Eastman was honored with a postage stamp from the United States Post Office.
In 1936 were developed Kodachrome, the first color multi-layered color film and the Exakta, pioneering 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera.
In 1963 Polaroid introduces instant color film.
In 1980 Sony demonstrates first consumer camcorder.
In 1990 Eastman Kodak announces Photo CD as a digital image storage medium.
Many contributed to the development of the camera and photography, during the years, in the fields of chemistry, optics and mechanics but we dedicated this page to George Eastman since we think his inventions of dry, rolled film and the hand-held camera that could utilize it revolutionized photography in a manner not seen before.
The following list of links is divided into three sections: basic projects, advanced projects and history of camera and photography.
Basic Projects and Experiments
Making a Pinhole Viewer - Exploratorium
What Speed of Film Is Most Tolerant to Light? - Bethany G., Selah School District
The Pinhole Camera - John Pius, St. Bonaventure’s College
How Cameras Take Pictures - Andrew B., - St. Bonaventure’s College
Oatmeal Box Pinhole Photography - Stew Woodruff
Another Pinhole Camera - Exploratorium
View Sunspots Through a Telescope or 'Pinhole' Camera - MadSci Network
Camera & Photography Science Fair Projects and Experiments
Advanced Projects and Experiments
How to Build a Panoramic Camera - Giorgio Carboni
Build Your Own Ring Flash - DigiHack
The Homemade Trail Camera Project - Hag's House
Using a Camera to Determine pH - Adam Field, Kirby Preparatory High School
Let's Build a Stereoscope - Giorgio Carboni
Let's Build a Stereo-Zoom Microscope - Giorgio Carboni
View Camera Construction - Jon Grepstad
Build Your Own Water-Proof Camera Housing - Chris Orzech
History of Photography
George Eastman House
History of Kodak
George Eastman: The Wizard of Photography - PBS
The Photography Hall of Fame Inductee List
George Eastman - about.com
George Eastman - answers.com
History of Photography Timeline - Philip Greenspun
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