Good-by Kodak

Its always amazing how the mistakes of the few can effect so many. Just little over a decade ago Kodak was selling hundreds of million of rolls a film a year and was the master of the photographic world. Apple was a company on the edge of bankruptcy. Several weeks ago Kodak announced it was going into Chapter 11 bankruptcy around the same time Apple was again named the world's most valuable company.

Today, Kodak announced they were ending the manufacturing of digital cameras, video products, digital picture frames and other digital capture products. The company that literally invented digital imaging has left its market. Kodak will concentrate on licencing its name and intellectual products as did past photo giant Polaroid. Kodak's demise is attributable to its lack of vision and poor management just as Apple's success can be attributed to great management and the incredible vision of Steve Jobs. Kodak refused to believe that film was dinosaur and struggled to find itself in the new world order. Its a classical lesson in 21st century business management.

Its kind of sad to see a name you grew-up with, a giant of American industry, fade into the past. Yet on the other hand I remember well attending photo shows in the 80's and the Kodak reps would look down their noses at the photo world and scoff at the idea of giving away even a roll of their newest film to the mere mortals of the professional photography world.

There is an old expression to be careful who you alienate on the way up as you will have to pass them on the way down. Good-by Kodak.