Instant Photography - Publications - Faculty & Research

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Instant Photography Is Launched | Baker Library

Instant Photography Is Launched Edwin Land, positive test photograph (left) and negative test photograph (right), April 1946. Polaroid Corporation Records Related to Meroe Morse, b. VII.80, f. 5, f. 19.... View Details

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The Idea of Instant Photography - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

introduced in the photographic field, which he considered ripe for invention." 42 The inspiration for instant photography planted itself in Land's imagination during a family vacation in 1943: “I recall a... View Details

March 2017 (Revised February 2025)
Case

Edwin Land: The Art and Science of Innovation

By: Tom Nicholas, Christopher T. Stanton and Matthew G. Preble

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Polaroid first invented—and then continuously reinvented—the field of instant photography. Under the leadership of its mercurial founder Edwin Land, the company regularly released new instant cameras and films, often... View Details

Keywords: Instant Photography; Company History; Change Management; Disruption; Forecasting and Prediction; Entrepreneurship; Business History; Innovation Strategy; Disruptive Innovation; Innovation and Management; Intellectual Property; Patents; Product Marketing; Brands and Branding; Product Launch; Product Development; Chemical Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States

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Clarence Kennedy and the Art of Photography | Baker Library

continued during her years at Polaroid, contributing to the advancement of instant photography and the ongoing recruitment of Smith art history majors by the company. In 1949, Kennedy introduced a course at... View Details

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Introducing One-Step Photography - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

February 21, 1947, at a meeting of the Optical Society of America in New York City, Edwin Land introduced the one-step photography process. "Land's introduction of the concept of instant View Details

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Edwin Land in a new factory space. Produced for Polaroid, Dr. land Stockholders Meeting, 1969-1970

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Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century - Leadership

to expand nationwide Influence: Medium 10 1910 19 First widespread use of auto assembly line Self-starter increases popularity of automobile Influence: Medium-High 20 1920 19 KDKA, first radio station First talking movie, Influence: Medium 30 1930 19 Advances in... View Details

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Impact of the New Medium - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

copies, enlargements, or negatives of their prints. Polaroid advertising copy highlighted the wonder, ease, and instant rewards of a revolutionary system that "telescopes all the developing, fixing and stabilizing operations of ordinary... View Details

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Research & Development, Project Code SX-70 - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

Vectographs, a process that entailed the use of a roller to deposit an image on a film base—similar to the way instant photography would employ rollers in the development of the process. 54 Maxfield Parrish,... View Details

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Invention of the Polarizer - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

product." 14 EXPLORE MORE OF THE EXHIBIT EXPLORE x HOME EMERGENCE OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY The Invention of the Polarizer A RESEARCH & MANUFACTURING COMPANY Commercialization of the Polarizer Innovation and the War Effort A Rewarding Working Life View Details

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Commercialization of the Polarizer - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

EXPLORE x HOME EMERGENCE OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY The Invention of the Polarizer A RESEARCH & MANUFACTURING COMPANY Commercialization of the Polarizer Innovation and the War Effort A Rewarding Working Life INSTANT View Details

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The 20th Century Zeitgeist - Leadership

Influence: Medium 30 1930 s 19 Advances in aviation Nylon Fiberglass Instant photography Air-conditioning begins to realize commercial potential Influence: High 40 1940 s 19 Planes and ships built in less... View Details

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Charts & Statistics - Leadership

popularity of automobile Influence: Medium-High 20 1920 s 19 KDKA, first radio station First talking movie, Influence: Medium 30 1930 s 19 Advances in aviation Nylon Fiberglass Instant photography... View Details

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From Concept to Product | Baker Library

culture within his research and manufacturing enterprise—building an interdisciplinary community devoted to the technical and artistic excellence of the new photographic medium. A key contributor to the development of instant View Details

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A Polaroid Timeline 1932–1977 | Baker Library

work at Polaroid Morse graduates from Smith College in art history and is hired by Polaroid. Polaroid net sales: $16,752,465. Net profit: $449,424. 1947 Demonstration of instant photography Land demonstrates... View Details

01 Apr 1998
News

Snapshot: Gary DiCamillo, Polaroid's CEO

progress." DiCamillo is seated before a tall cabinet displaying a collection of Polaroid cameras and equipment spanning six decades - including famed inventor-founder Edwin Land's "Land" camera and the all-time best-selling "One Step" camera. He explains that Polaroid,... View Details

Keywords: Nancy O. Perry

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Site Credits - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

EXHIBIT EXPLORE x HOME EMERGENCE OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY The Invention of the Polarizer A RESEARCH & MANUFACTURING COMPANY Commercialization of the Polarizer Innovation and the War Effort A Rewarding Working Life INSTANT View Details

Edwin H. Land

Land was a brilliant innovator whose instant photography invention created a billion-dollar corporation. He is responsible for inventing the Polaroid camera and 3-D glasses. Polaroid Corporation was viewed... View Details

Keywords: Fabricated Goods

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Medium of Artistic Expression - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

rendition. Instant photography put users in command of an art form in which they could create, compose, and share images instantaneously. "By making it possible for the photographer to observe his work and... View Details

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Digital Archival Resources - Edwin H. Land & Polaroid | Harvard Business School

specifications, and monetary value of Edwin Land's new instant photography system that would be commercially released in 1948. Memorandum to Polaroid Company: Submitted by George Albert Smith, Jr. and John... View Details

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