Kodak, Portra 160 - 35mm

Eastman Kodak Company, commonly known as Kodak, was founded by George Eastman in 1888 in Rochester, New York. Eastman’s early work focused on simplifying photography for the general public. He introduced the Kodak camera in 1888—preloaded with a roll of film and marketed with the slogan “You press the button, we do the rest”—which made snapshot photography accessible beyond professionals and hobbyists.

In 1889 Eastman replaced glass plates with flexible roll film, then patented a dry-plate coating process and formed the Eastman Dry Plate Company, later reorganised as Eastman Kodak Company in 1892. Kodak grew rapidly through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dominating consumer film and camera markets and expanding into photographic paper and chemical processing.

Kodak played a major role in innovations across the 20th century: roll film enabled the rise of motion pictures, colour film systems set industry standards, and Kodak’s research labs produced numerous advances in photographic chemistry, optics and imaging technology. The company also established a global network of manufacturing and retail operations.

Kodak emerged from bankruptcy in 2013, refocusing on commercial imaging, printing technologies, film for professional and cinematic markets, and specialised chemicals. The company has since maintained a niche presence in photographic film—supplying motion picture film and certain still films for enthusiasts and professionals—while diversifying into packaging, flexographic plates and industrial printing solutions.