Rangefinder Magazine
November 2005
Click Here for printable version of this article.
Focus
Industry News
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© Adam Nadel, USA, Polaris Images
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© Marcello Bonfanti, Italy
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© Paul Vreeker, The Netherlands, Reuters
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© David Robert Swanson, USA, The Philadelphia Inquirer
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© Carsten Peter, Germany, National Geographic
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• World Press Photo Contest
The World Press Photo Foundation,
an independent non-profit organization in the Netherlands,
is calling for entries to its annual photo contest. Open to professional photographers, photo agencies, newspapers and magazines, the global contest serves as an international forum, which reflects the latest trends and developments in photojournalism. First, second and third place prizes are awarded in 10 categories (for picture
stories as well as single images) to encourage the submission of across-the-board as well as in-depth news photography.
The overall first prize, the World Press Photo of the Year award, is given for the single photograph that represents an issue, situation or event of great journalistic importance. The deadline for entries is January 12, 2006. Additional details and entry forms are available at www.worldpressphoto.nl or by emailing contest@worldpressphoto.nl. There is no entry fee.
• Industry Icon Bill Clark Dies
Willard (Bill) Clark, a photo industry icon and former executive director of the Photoimaging Manufacturers & Distributors Association
(PMDA), died September 24. He was 77. Associated with the photo industry for more than 40 years, he worked as a photographer for the United Press before becoming associate editor of U.S. Camera magazine, founding editor of Camera 35 magazine, and eventually associate
publisher of Photo Weekly magazine, which evolved into Photo Business magazine. During his career Clark served as confidant and advisor to many of the senior executives in the photo industry.
• Purchase Durst Darkroom Equipment Online
Durst Image Technology U.S. (Rochester,
NY, www.durst.it/shop) is now selling the complete line of Durst darkroom
equipment, parts and accessories
from its online store. According to Durst, the new Internet-based store is designed to be a single source for all the new, discontinued and hard-to-find darkroom photographic equipment, parts and accessories that are offered by the company. The online store includes a downloadable 38-page product catalog,
titled “Number 1 in the Lab,” as well as instructions and advice that will help photographers get the most out of their Durst darkroom equipment.
• David Williams Fall Seminars
David Williams, an award-winning wedding and portrait photographer
from Australia, is offering three-day seminars of practical professional
photographic enhancement and education for wedding and portrait photographers. Expected topics will include: existing light as the primary light source, supplementary and single light sources, creating
an “Homage Portrait,” art and design influences, and fine-quality inkjet printing and digital hand printing. Locations: Vancouver, BC, November 3–5; Toronto, November 8–10; Leesburg, VA, November 14–16. Additional details: dwhworks@bigpond.net.au.
• Pulitzer Winner Joins Brooks’ Staff
Noted photojournalist Rick Rickman has joined the Visual Journalism
faculty of Santa Barbara-based Brooks Institute of Photography.
Rickman brings more than 30 years of experience with him, including assignments with the Des Moines Register, TIME, Newsweek, National Geographic, Smithsonian and Sports Illustrated
magazines. He was part of the Orange County Register photo team that won the Pulitzer Prize for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer
Games and he has been asked by Newsweek to cover the 2006 Winter Games. Rickman also specializes in holding photography workshops and is a part of the Nikon college workshop team. Joining
Rickman in the Visual Journalism department are 20-year Los
Angeles Times photographer, Anacleto Rapping,
and TIME and Newsweek photographer
P.F. Bentley.
• Auction to benefit Photo Review
An auction benefiting The Photo Review, a well-known photography journal, will be held November 5, at the Dorrance-Hamilton
building of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. The auction will feature the vintage work of Berenice Abbott, Ansel
Adams, Bill Brandt, Edward S. Curtis, Walker Evans, Milton Greene, Philippe Halsman, William Henry Jackson, August Sander and Todd Webb. Bids will also be accepted for the contemporary work of Tom Baril, Elinor Carucci, Lois Greenfield, Michael Kenna, Mark Klett, George Tice, Jerry N. Uelsmann and William Wegman. Prices are expected to range from $50 to $6000. Proceeds from the auction fund an annual juried competition for emerging photographers as well as other similar programs.
Admission is free with the purchase of an illustrated catalog, which is available at (215) 891-0214. Buyers may preview the auction online and place bids at www.
photoreview.org/.
• X-Rite Offers Free Upgrade to
MonacoOPTIX Pro
X-Rite Photo Marketing
(Elmsford NY, www.xritephoto.com) is offering a special upgrade for photographers who purchase Monaco
OPTIX Pro between now and December 31, 2005. The free upgrade
to MonacoOPTIX Pro contains all the features of the original calibration package, in addition to time-saving features like the ability to validate a profile, track monitor drift, set up a good profiling schedule, and calibrate and profile all the computers in a workgroup.
• Pelican Promotes John Padian and Rick Kern
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| John Padian |
Rick Kern |
Pelican Products, Inc. (Torrance, CA, www.pelican.com), a leading manufacturer of professional grade flashlights and Protector
Cases recently promoted John Padian, formerly vice president of sales and Rick Kern, the current chief financial officer. Padian
has become the chief operating officer while Kern assumed the tittle of executive vice president. Padian, who started with the company at the age of 15, has managed Pelican’s
Purchasing, Production and Inventory Control departments. Kern was senior vice president at the Republic Bank in Torrance, California, before joining Pelican in 1991.
• Noritsu Mourns Loss of Founder Kanichi Nishimoto
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| Kanichi Nishimoto |
Kanichi Nishimoto,
the founder of Noritsu
and pioneer in the photo industry, passed away August 27. He was 90 years old. He was succeeded by Tsutomu Satani, who has served as executive
vice president and Co-CEO. Nishimoto’s introduction to photography
began with a simple Kodak camera his father gave him. Following that he served as an assistant in a photography studio, and in 1951 he founded Noritsu (a Japanese word meaning “efficiency”).
One of the largest manufacturers of photo processing and digital imaging systems
in the world, Noritsu is well known for a variety of photographic products, including
Quick Service System (QSS) One Hour Photo Systems. Nishimoto was inducted into the PMA Hall of Fame in 1990 and in 1992 he was given an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Rochester, William E. Simon School of Management.
• Chinese Photo-imaging Market Grew 12.9 Percent in 2004
According to a recent report from Photofinishing News, Inc. and the China-based KingStar Photo Research, photo imaging revenues in China rose 12.9 percent in 2004 to 33.0 billion Yuan or about $3.98 billion. The report attributes
the upswing in revenues to a 233 percent increase in the sale of digital still cameras. By way of comparison, the sale of film-based cameras in China only rose 38 percent during the same period. The 41-page report is available as a PDF file for $1950. Contact info@photo-news.com for details.
• Ilford and Calumet Sponsor
Conference
Ilford Photo and Calumet Photographic are jointly sponsoring Silver, an international forum for the devotees of traditional black-and-white photography. The three-day conference and photo competition will take place March 3–5 at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Conference speakers will include Keith Carter, George DeWolfe, Jeff Dunas, Les McLean, Alan Ross, John Sexton, and Mary Virginia Swanson. In addition to the conference, the Silver Photo Competition winner will receive $3000, plus a Santa Fe Workshop session. Second and third place winners will be awarded $2000 and $1000 respectively.
The Pasadena Hilton will host attendees (800/445-8667, reference code: Silver) and American Airlines is offering a 5 percent discount on travel (800-433-1790, reference code: A4126AL). Registration, which is limited to 350 participants, is $300. Additional details: (800) 225-8638 or visit www.calumetphoto.com/.
• Princess Cruises Select Pixel Magic Kiosks
Pixel Magic Imaging (San Marcos, TX, www.pmimaging.com) was chosen by Princess
Cruises to provide photo kiosks for the company’s entire fleet of cruise ships. Pixel Magic was chosen after completing a six-month test involving an in-depth analysis of several digital photo kiosk providers. Testing
involved evaluating image quality, overall guest experience, employee acceptance and feedback, print-per-day volume and upgrade potential. Pixel Magic kiosks will be integrated
with Princess Cruises’ onboard payment system.
New Products:
• Ron Nichols Production Retouching Interactive CD
Ron Nichols is a well known Photoshop practitioner. His new CD features an extensive
array of retouching scripts and an actions palette that contains all the tools you’ll need to retouch portrait and wedding images in a fraction
of the time you might now be spending. The scripts and actions guide you through the process step by step and are completely interactive
within Photoshop as are a series of instructional
videos. Each time you select an action, instructions and video training are only a click away. Price: $159.95.; $149.95 as a download. Info: www.ronnichols.com/.
• The Quick Answer Box
The Quick Answer Box, by Suzette Allen, is the perfect tool to have beside your workstation to help you find the answers you need when working in Photoshop®. This handy file box is full of 98 color-coded cards with all the solutions to your photographic enhancement
questions, from layers and retouching to masks and adjustment layers. The Quick Answer Box covers the photographic applications
and techniques that photographers need and use. Remembering exactly how to do every task or enhancement is often difficult
with such a complex program like Photoshop
®, especially if you do not use it every day. Step-by-step directions are written and illustrated by Suzette Allen and presented on 4x6 color-coded cards that are easy to find and easy to reach in a handy 4x6 card file box. Keep the box next to your computer
for quick reference and direct answers—anytime—to get the job done. Information: www.SuzetteAllen.com/.
• Photoshop Tutorials on CD
Claude Jodoin’s (www.claudejodoin.com) collection of four instructional CDs covers every aspect of Adobe’s flagship Photoshop image editing application. Each CD is filled with Quicktime movies that use full resolution
images to display the techniques Jodoin talks about in the voiceover. Every step in the process is covered. Jodoin’s four CDs cover a variety of topics, including Printing and Color Management, Creative Photoshop
Enhancements, Corrective Photoshop Techniques, and Image Capture, Color and Exposure. Available online, individual CDs list for $49.95, all four cost $147.
• Color-management for Microsoft Vista
Microsoft (Redmond, WA, www.micro
soft.com) and Canon (Lake Success, NY, www.canonusa.com) are currently working
on a new color-management system for Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system.
Designed to give digital camera owners
additional options, the new color management supports better screen-to-printer color matching, better overall colors, and high-fidelity printing. It supports Canon’s RAW image files, Extensible Markup Language Web services (XML) and Kyuanos technology, which expands color bit depths and color spaces. Vista’s color management will include multiple color channels,
alternative color space and a monitor calibration wizard. It is designed to compensate for the color characteristics of different imaging devices.
• Economical AG Neovo LCD Displays
AG Neovo (San Jose, CA, www.neovo-usa.com) markets high-end 17- and 19-in. LCD displays at consumer-level prices. As part of the new E-Series line of LCD displays, the E-17DA and E-19A, both with DVI (Digital Visual Interface), feature a folding base with tilt support. They can be wall or arm mounted or used on a desktop. The new displays include
a NeoV Optical Filter, which is a layer of specially formulated hardened optical glass that significantly enhances the image quality, while protecting the panel from various types of damage, including scratches, repetitive touching, and washing. The E-17DA 17-in. display
features a 12ms response time, a brightness of 260, and a 450:1 contrast ratio, while the 19-in. E-19A offers a 500:1 contrast ratio, a 12ms response time, and a brightness of 250. Both the E-17DA and the E-19A support SXGA resolution (1280x1024 pixels). The 17-in. model lists for $319, the 19-in. for $399.
• Microtek’s ScanMaker i800 Delivers Professional Results
Microtek USA (Carson, CA, www.microtekusa.com) recently introduced a consumer-level flatbed scanner that offers high resolution, professional results. The new ScanMaker
i800, which has an optical resolution of 4800x9600 dpi and 4.0 Dmax, accepts multiple film sizes including 35mm filmstrips (24 frames), 12 35mm slides, two 4x 5-in. transparencies, and medium format slides/negatives up to 6x17cm. It has a maximum film scanning area of 8x12 inches and accepts reflective
originals up to 8.5x14 inches.
The ScanMaker i800 features the company’s EZ-Lock Film Holders
with spring-actuated tension grips. EZ-Lock holders keep 4x5s and medium-format negative/slides perfectly flat for edge to edge sharpness. In fact, all of the i800’s film holders lock into place. Its integrated
TMA with moving light source delivers even, consistent color scans in true 48-bit color. The i800 ships with Microtek’s PictuRescue
system with Kodak DIGITAL ICE Technology and ColorRescue. PictuRescue is a one-button solution that removes creases, dust and scratches while automatically restoring faded color. OCR software is also included. The ScanMaker i800 carries a list price of $399.99.
• Leaf and Mamiya Debut 22-megapixel ProDigital II D-SLR
Leaf America (Elmsford, NY, www.LeafAmerica.com) and Mamiya are jointly marketing
the new 22-Megapixel Leaf Mamiya ProDigital II D-SLR. The new hybrid, medium format camera is comprised of Mamiya’s new 645AFDII camera and the Leaf Aptus 22 digital back. Designed to focus
and shoot fast, the ProDigital II can be used as a standalone unit or tethered to a computer. Setup, image settings and the creation and naming of folders and images files takes place on the camera’s large 3.5-in. touch screen. The ProDigital II features user-selectable spot focus or wide focus area modes and it displays all critical exposure and shooting information, including available image storage space, on the viewfinder. It supports 36 custom functions and individual camera
preferences and stores images on CompactFlash cards or Leaf’s Digital Magazines.
• Memory Card Security From Lexar
Lexar Media (Fremont, CA, www.lexar.com) markets 80X CompactFlash memory cards and compatible card readers that use built-in security
technology to prevent unauthorized access. The new LockTight security system includes CompactFlash cards that only work in LockTight
enabled cameras. Each card works in one LockTight enabled camera or one set of LockTight enabled cameras. Images saved on LockTight enabled memory cards can only be accessed with a Lexar Professional CompactFlash Reader and a Mac or Windows computer that has the appropriate software installed. LockTight memory cards, which can not be accessed by unregistered cameras, card readers or computer systems, are available in 512MB and 2GB configurations for Nikon D2X and D2Hs digital cameras.
Xenophon A. Beake is a well-known commercial and advertising photographer serving his many local, regional and national clients from his studio in Wilbraham,
Massachusetts. He can be reached at XenoBeake@
charter.net or www.xenophonabeake.com/.
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