The World’s Biggest Photo Album

In 1932, George Eastman the inventor of Kodak committed suicide. He left a note that said, “My work is done. Why wait?” But with his death, he left behind a lasting legacy — Kodak. Kodak is a household name. It is synonymous with photography, cameras, films and framed happy family moments. George Eastman is considered the father of popular photography and the inventor of motion-picture film. He invented a dry-plate process and established a factory at Rochester, N.Y., for making the plates. He also devised a roll film and the Kodak camera to use it, as well as a process for color photography.

Eastman’s love affair with photography started when he bought a camera he would use on a vacation with his mother. Although he did not make it to the trip, Eastman spent much of his time working on the camera which was clumsy, heavy and expensive and he experimented with the apparatus. In his mother’s kitchen, Eastman looked for ways to develop negatives. And by 1880, he had developed and patented a dry-plate coating machine.

After developing the first negatives, Eastman established the Eastman Kodak Company. He also registered the name Kodak. The letter K is Eastman’s personal favorite. “It seems a strong, incisive sort of letter.” He and his mother had thought of the name Kodak. Using the motto, “You press the button, we do the rest,” Kodak camera was introduced in 1888. It was easy to carry and was handheld during its operation. It was also pre-loaded with enough film for 100 exposures. When all the film was exposed (all the shots taken), the whole camera was returned to the Kodak company in Rochester, New York, where the film was developed, prints were made, new photographic film was inserted, and then the camera and prints were returned to the customer. Kodak camera became a big hit. And almost 10 years after the first Kodak camera was issued, 100,000 Kodak cameras were sold.

Eastman was an avid photographer. He wanted to simplify picture taking. He also wanted to make it available to everyone not just to trained photographers. And he had succeeded in bringing Eastman Kodak Company to the forefront of photography.

With his success, Eastman built his dream house. Thus, in 1902 plans to build his house began. He hired architect J. Foster Warner but got involved in every aspect of the construction. The total cost of the construction was $335,000, and the 35,000-square-foot, 50-room house included state-of-the-art heating and electricity, telephones, a centralized clock system, and an elevator. With the completion of his mansion in 1905, Eastman held a gala celebration. The mansion is now the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. There, one can find significant objects related to photography and films, while being educated about the history of photography and motion pictures and getting a glimpse of the life and times of George Eastman — his house, gardens, archives, among others. Eastman lived a full life. He was an inventor, a scientist. He also loved music and the arts. And he was close to his dear Nanay.

Kodak knows how important it is to preserve memories immortalized in photo prints. A picture can say a thousand words, as the old adage says. And Kodak brings back its claim to fame by staging the World’s Biggest Photo Album. Kodak believes that nothing can compare to an actual printed photo stored in an album or framed on a wall.

Kodak’s proposition has always been simple — Print it. Show it. While digital photography allows consumers to keep their images in their computers or CDs, nothing can compare to an actual printed photo. Consumers often think that by keeping their photos in their software, their photographs are safe. What they don’t know is that there’s no difference between keeping them there and in the age-old technique of keeping photos in shoe boxes. For photos to last a lifetime, it should be printed and stored in albums and Kodak’s superior technology imprinting makes this possible,” says Raymond Albert, Kodak Philippines country manager.

Among the celebrity contributors to the World’s Biggest Photo Album are Francis Magalona, Phoemela Baranda, Tim Yap, Mojofly, Lino Cayetano, Juddha Paolo, Patty Laurel, Jed Madela, and Sam Oh. I contributed a photo of mine taken by my friend Raymund Isaac.

Print It, Show It — The World’s Biggest Photo Album aims to place the Philippines in the Guinness Book of Records. The existing record of World’s Largest Album is held by Dubai Shopping Festival Records Venture which measures 2.4 meters by 1.2 meters (7.8 ft. x 3.9 ft.). Kodak Philippines aims to break the record with its own album standing 8 ft. x 5 ft. for one page and 8 ft. x 10 ft. at center spread. The campaign is ongoing until Aug. 11 and by September, Kodak Philippines will mount all photos collected nationwide into the World’s Biggest Photo Album.