Introduction: According to an essay written by David Singleton published online on the Articlesbase website, industry statistics published by the Photo Marketing Association International indicate that between May of 2006 in May of 2007 the number of digital photograph prints produced in the United States grew by 34 percent. During the same period of time, sales of traditional film cameras decreased by 49 percent. Not only is the quality of digital photographs improving each year, but there is a significant potential cost savings associated with digital photography for the average user (Singleton).
According to an article published by Advertising Age, companies including Kodak and Polaroid were undoubtedly caught off-guard by the speed at which the traditional film and photography industry collapsed beginning in the 1990s following the introduction and widespread consumer acceptance of digital photography and digital cameras. This was a time when consumers, and in fact the overwhelming majority of camera users, simply stopped using film and film development in the traditional sense. Companies with significant investments in traditional film photography struggled to adapt to this new digital age and stay one step ahead of their competition (Kodak's Ink Play is Shrewd Move).
According to an article published in Digital Arts Monthly, the Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) made a strategic decision to essentially abandon its traditional film photography business in favor of digital photography. When the trend toward digital photography became apparent, Kodak decided that it would not make any additional significant investments in its traditional film photography business. This was a sound business decision given that digital photography and use of digital cameras as well as ancillary devices including computers, photo editing software, camera phones, color printers, and the rapid spread of online businesses handlin...