Kodak --- at the end of an era

It was a sad and unbelievable " Kodak Moment " when we recently discovered that another American institution was dying a slow and painful death. Eastman Kodak had been a household name in many countries for well over one hundred years and was the professional's choice for quality and reliability in all of their photographic products and processes. For a photographer of over fifty years, like myself, it is difficult to comprehend that a lifelong friend like Kodak could be bankrupt.
I fully realize that we have moved on to the digital age but what we have lost cannot be replaced. There was a unique time when carrying a few rolls of Kodachrome 25 or Panatomic X was all that a devoted camera enthusiast could ask for. Whether you took your film to the drug store or developed it in your personal darkroom the anticipation of prints or slides was always worth the wait. Those of us that used large format cameras can still appreciate the luminance and beauty of a well shot and processed negative.
I know that there are those who would say I am just an old photographer stuck in yesterday's memories; but I'm not. I use digital cameras exclusively and they function quite well but it isn't the same. The digital age has made everyone a photographer without ever learning how to read light or understand the manual functions of a camera. The latest software can transfer a total camera failure into a seemingly, satisfactory picture and if we have a large enough image card the odds are in our favor. Film and the wet process will never die completely because there is a romance and elegance that maybe only an old eye can distinguish and appreciate.
Kodak will be sorely missed by everyone except those capturing images on a mini card in a cellular phone.
I have attached a small selection of vintage Kodak advertisements that are predominantly from pre World War 2 National Geographic magazines. I sincerely hope the ads recall memories and please leave a comment by clicking on COMMENTS within the blog.