English Drills
A2 English · Inventions · 109 words

The Snapshot Camera Changes Photography

An early Kodak camera
Early Kodak camera. Historic image.

Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.

In the early days of photography, taking a picture required knowledge, equipment and patience. George Eastman wanted to make photography easier for ordinary people. In 1888, his company introduced the Kodak camera. It came loaded with a roll of film, so users did not need to prepare photographic plates themselves. After taking their pictures, customers sent the camera back to the company. The film was developed, prints were made and the camera was returned with fresh film. This simple system helped turn photography from a specialist activity into a popular hobby. Cameras continued to change, but the idea was important: people could capture everyday moments without being professional photographers.

Comprehension questions

  1. Why was early photography difficult?
  2. Who wanted to make photography easier?
  3. When was the Kodak camera introduced?
  4. What did customers send back to the company?
  5. What did the simpler camera help photography become?

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