Edwin Herbert Land (1909-1991)

Edwin was a Harvard Graduate and by the late 1920s he had already produced the first filters used to polarize light and began marketing their use for sunglasses, glare free automobile headlights, and 3D photography.

Land founded the Polaroid company in 1937 and he was instantly immortalized. Inspired by his three year old daughters question, "Daddy, why can't I see my picture right now?"; Land's invention took the world by storm. The camera was first offered on November 26, 1948 in black and white. In 1963 color film was introduced along with Land's theory of color perception. In this theory, Land belileved three different mechanisms in the camera (similar to the eye)worked together to create the colors seen by the eye.

 

 

Land was considered one of the most passionate inventors of his time. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom (highest honor awarded to civilians of the United States)because he had produced over 500 patents for his various inventions during his lifetime.