George Eastman: A Life Dedicated to Photography & Philanthropy Early Life and Origins Born: July 12, 1854, in Waterville, New York. Eastman’s early life was marked by modest circumstances. His father died when he was young, and his mother worked to support the family. A self-taught innovator, Eastman developed an early interest in photography as a hobby, which would ultimately shape his life's work. The Birth of Kodak & Revol…