I saw this ad in the paper recently and it got me thinking how far technology has come in the world of photography over the years. I’d never seen anything like this before, and I’m curious to see the effects it will have on business in the coming years. Of course, the photography I can produce in the studio is unmatched by anything as simple as what the camera in this advertisement could create. The professional equipment and the time and effort I put into each image guarantees the customers will be happy with their photographs. However, I was thinking about how having a simple camera like this one could be fun to purchase for capturing more candid moments with the family to look back on in the future. I think if I put in the extra work in these next few months, I could purchase it in time for the holidays. I know Gerty and Fanny will love it when we all see each other again, and I bet Phyllis would have loved to have something like this too. I miss her more and more every day. It’s hard not being so close to my sisters these days, but we were bound to start lives apart sometime. Maybe having this new camera would be good for me, I could take some shots of Frank and the children and show Gerty and Fanny a glimpse into my life away from them. I find the whole concept of this Kodak camera fascinating, and I hope to do some research soon to find out just how it works. Maybe I’ll reach out to Mr. Russell and see if he has any opinions on the matter.
Editorial Commentary: As with many professions in the Victorian era, the art of photography was a largely male-dominated field of interest. The idea that a woman like Lucy is both passionate about photography and has made a successful business out of her work would have been rare. Educational opportunities were limited for women during the Victorian era, so finding a woman with a successful career was uncommon. The lack of educational opportunities along with the stigma surrounding businesses owned by women at the time meant that Lucy had to put in much more work to compete with male photographers. This extreme dedication to her work makes an advertisement like this one bound to catch her eye. The original Kodak camera that this advertisement is selling was released in 1888, meaning it would have been a new development in photography at the time Lucy read this newspaper (Fineman). Looking at Lucy’s behavior it would make sense for her to be interested in something like this. It’s clear to see how close Lucy is with her sisters and the importance of family in her life, along with her hardworking nature and intelligence. She continued her career even after she was married with children, which was extremely rare for Victorian women, further illustrating her embodiment of a modern woman in this period. An invention like the Kodak camera would not only allow her to capture more moments with her loved ones, but it would also be something that she could further explore regarding the work she’s so passionate about.
Citation:
Eastman, George. "The Kodak Camera." Getty Images, The Eastman Museum, 1888, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/advertisement-for-the-kod…. Accessed 9 November 2020.
Fineman, Mia. “Kodak and the Rise of Amateur Photography.” Metmuseum.org, 2004, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kodk/hd_kodk.htm. Accessed 9 November 2020.