Rangefinder Magazine
Departments, August 2001

Suppliers News

Westcott Turns 75
2001 is the 75th anniversary of the F.J. Westcott Company. Westcott offers products for the still, film/video & broadcast markets. Westcott has grown from a small product line of three dozen, to the nearly 300 products offered today. To help celebrate, Westcott will be giving away three studio packages to end users with an approximate retail value of $2500 each: the Wedding/Portrait Package, consisting of backgrounds, softboxes, light-control umbrellas, Octabank, Stripbank, Apollo and Halo light modifiers and Illuminator Reflectors; the Commercial/Digital Imaging Package, consisting of Scrim Jim flags and scrims, Octabank, Stripbank, softboxes and backgrounds; and the Video Broadcast Package, consisting of Chroma-Key backgrounds, Scrim Jim, FV2K boxes, softboxes, Run & Gun and Illuminator Reflectors. To be eligible to enter to win the packages, users need only submit proof of purchase of any Westcott product during the 2001 calendar year. Send in your name and address on a postcard along with a copy of your receipt or return the Product Warranty card and specify which package you are interested in winning. Send to F.J. Westcott Co., PO Box 1596, Toledo OH 43603; (419) 243-7311, info@fjwestcott.com; www.fjwestcott.com.

New Hasselblad Programs
Hasselblad USA Inc. has announced a broad series of programs targeted to the photo educational market. Marketed under the Hasselblad University banner, these initiatives cover everything from educational seminars to purchase incentives and lease programs, and include: Career Expo 2001, which offers a glimpse into the work and studios of eight of the country’s leading photographers; Hasselblad HERO Program, a purchase incentive program; and Student Financing Plan, a special lease program. Information: Hasselblad USA, (973) 227-7320.

Also new from Hasselblad: Hasselblad USA Inc. has announced a new 12-month, 0 percent financing plan for qualified commercial photographers. The program is offered through Marlin Leasing Corp., a growing fund source in the industry and a specialist in the photographic market. Hasselblad Commercial Financing offers a 0% interest rate, one-page lease documents, and application approval within 24 hours. Information: Hasselblad USA, (973) 227-7320.

NikonNet Launched
Nikon has re-launched NikonNet (www.nikonnet.com). The site’s new community features and improved navigation work seamlessly with the new One Touch Upload To The Web feature on Nikon’s new Coolpix 775 Digital Camera to simply upload photos to the web at the touch of the camera's “transfer” button. In addition, the site’s new “your turn” community allows NikonNet visitors and members to submit pictures to the Editor’s Choice and Publish Your Passion sections for a chance to have their images published on the site and win prizes. Information: www.nikonnet.com.

3Visions of Venice2 Photo Contest
Join youth and adult photographers to share your visions of Venice, California. for the second annual Visions of Venice Photo Contest. Sponsored by the Venice Arts Mecca (VAM) and the Julia Dean Photo Workshops, this contest is open to professional, amateur and youth photographers. All photographs must be taken anywhere in Venice, California during the year 2001. Photographers can shoot in any manner, with any type of camera, in any medium. The three categories are Professional, Amateur and Youth (18 or younger). There will be a first place winner in each of the categories, as well as an exhibit and reception opening at the Julia Dean Photo Workshops for the top 20 photographs chosen. Prizes include: Professional Division—airfare to London; Amateur Division—airfare to any city in the U.S.; and Youth Division—a Canon camera. Deadline for Entries: January 15, 2002; Announcement of Winners: February 15, 2002. For more information call: Jim Hubbard at (310) 578-1745 or Julia Dean at (310) 821-0909. Julia Dean & Associates, 3111 Ocean Front Walk, Suite 102, Marina del Rey, CA 90292; www.juliadean.com.

New Marketing Director at Buckeye
Buckeye Color Lab has appointed Carrie DeVille-Hart to marketing director in charge of all advertising, marketing and research products. DeVille-Hart joins the company after working as an account executive for Innis Maggiore Group in Canton, Ohio. Information: (330) 499-0695.

Expresss Digital Gains Distribution
Express Digital announced recently that is has signed agreements with some of the industry’s premier digital professional photographic dealers and system integrators to distribute its ExpressPhoto family of software solutions. Effective immediately, Calumet Photographic Inc, Imaging Spectrum, Professional Marketing Services, Professional Photographic Resources, United Color Lab along with international partners Bray Imaging (UK), Treck-Hall Limited (Canada) and Vistek Ltd. (Canada), will begin presenting and integrating ExpressPhoto software solutions with the industry’s best digital hardware. With open architecture workflow solutions such as Portrait & Wedding, Sports & Event and Attraction, Express Digital is empowering digital photographers with easy to use software applications. Information: (888) 584-0089, www.expressdigital.com, www.photoreflect.com.

Fujifilm Honored by Smithsonian
Fujifilm has received the Smithsonian Institution’s 2001 Corporate Leadership Award for its role as lead sponsor of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the new giant panda pair at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. In a ceremony at “The Castle,” the Smithsonian Institution’s headquarters building, Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small presented the award to William DiMinno, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Photo Imaging Group, Fuji Photo Film, U.S.A. The award recognizes Fujifilm’s $7.8 million gift to the zoo, the largest single donation in the zoo’s long history. Information: (800) 800-FUJI, www.fujifilm.com.

Kodak Professional Appoints Gaub
Eastman Kodak Company has named Janice Gaub Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for Kodak Professional reporting to David Swift, President of Kodak Professional and Senior Vice President of the company. Prior to joining Kodak, Gaub was Vice President of Marketing and Site Management for drugstore.com, responsible for all aspects of marketing, including brand advertising, site traffic, new customer acquisitions and retention and new site features. Gaub also served as Divisional Vice President, Brand Marketing for Eddie Bauer. Information: (716) 724-9035, www.kodak.com.

Philly Gets Facelift
The Print Center has announced the Digital Mural Project, an urban beautification initiative in collaboration with The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program to produce Philadelphia’s first digitally-printed, building-sized outdoor artist murals on fabric. The project is a marriage of digital technology and grass roots community organizing that uses art as a weapon to combat urban blight. It will target distressed communities seeking to revitalize their neighborhoods and will benefit hundreds of at-risk kids. The murals will hang in their initial sites for at least six months, before being moved to different locations throughout Philadelphia. Information: (215) 735-6090, www.PrintCenter.org.

New Drytac Catalog
Drytac has released the 25th Anniversary Edition of its 2001-2002 Mounting and Laminating Solutions Catalog. The new catalog includes an Application Solutions section, a systematic approach for the fabrication of common types of graphics. In addition, Drytac has added 30-plus new products, including the ChronoExpo banner stands, specialty inkjet materials, specialty magnetic materials and several floor graphic solutions. Information: (804) 222-3094, www.drytac.com.

Julien Levy Collection Acquired
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has acquired the Julien Levy collection of photographs, a trove of nearly 2000 images amassed by one of the most influential and colorful proponents of modern art and photography in the U.S. during the ‘30s and ‘40s. More than 130 artists are represented in the collection, which bears witness to Julien Levy Gallery’s activities on behalf of photography in New York from 1931-1948. The collection contains major and little-known works by American and European photographers active between the World Wars, including Eugene Atget, Imogen Cunningham, Charles Sheeler, Man Ray and Lee Miller. Information: (215) 684-7862, www.philamuseum.org.

New ASF Web Site
Applied Science Fiction (ASF) has launched its newly designed web site, www.asf.com. New features of the site include: ASF News Flash, where users can receive news and updates for free via e-mail; What’s New, allowing visitors to access the most recent news about ASF; Technologies, which provides information on unique AFF technologies and solutions; Image Galleries, where users can upload and showcase their favorite Digital ICE, Digital ROC™, Digital GEM™ or Digital ICE™ restored images; and the Digital PIC Image Gallery, where users can view examples of images produced with Digital PIC. Information: (512) 651-4076.

Kodak Professional Thinks Big
Kodak Professional urges imaging pros to “Think Big!” as they submit their most creative, high-impact work for the Second Annual Innovator Awards for large-format image output applications. The awards recognize the most innovative applications of large-format inkjet printing. Contest winners will be honored and their work will be displayed at Seybold 2001 in San Francisco, September 24-28. One Grand Prize Winner will receive a free trip to the Seybold show and $1,500 worth of Kodak Professional inkjet media. Information: (716) 724-9035, www.kodak.com.

New Calumet CEO
Calumet Professional Imaging Group has appointed Peter Biasotti as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Biasotti has been in the photographic industry for nearly 30 years, and first joined Calumet as Vice President of Sales in 1985. He went on to start up and lead the company’s Professional Imaging Division in 1997. Biasotti, who will also sit on the board of directors of Calumet Professional Imaging Group, will be responsible for all U.S. photographic operations. Information: (312) 944-2680, www.calumetphoto.com.

Fuji Names Most Photogenic Cities
Boasting scenic views, diverse neighborhoods, rolling fog and many historical sites, San Francisco was named the Most Photogenic City in the U.S. in a survey commissioned by Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. The survey was conducted by Bert Sperling, who performs the data collection and analysis for Money magazine’s annual “Best Places to Live” feature. Rounding out the Top 10 list, in order, are: Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Honolulu, Seattle, New Orleans and Philadelphia. Consumers can log on to www.fujifilm.com/finepixtour and find out where their hometown ranks. Information: (914) 789-8148, www.fujifilm.com.

Epson Unveils Archival Inks
From Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art to the Gallery of the Midwest Photo Exchange, museums and galleries are increasingly showcasing inkjet prints created with Epson America’s archival inks. Epson’s Archival Ink technology is a lasting solution for portrait studio photography, fine art and museum prints or heirloom portraits. The process uses MicroCrystal Encapsulation technology, which bridges the gap between pigment ink longevity and silver-halide color quality. It outperforms Lightjet and Pegasus prints in lightfastness and media options, and Iris prints in lightfastness and color gamut. Information: (562) 290-5683, www.epson.com.

New Olympus Business Solutions Site
Olympus America has launched its new business solutions web site, www.olympusamerica.com/business_solutions, devoted to the specific digital imaging needs and applications for vertical markets including Medical, Insurance, Law Enforcement and Real Estate. The web site provides industry-specific applications, educational content, case studies and testimonials, as well as information on relevant trade shows. It will also serve as a “cyber community” for professionals who will be able to share ideas and imaging techniques, as well as communicate with Olympus. Information: (631) 844-5700, www.olympus.com.

Minolta Student Photography Awards
Minolta Corporation has awarded Fuquay-Varina High School student Marcy Teague with the First Prize for its second annual “Show Us Your World” student photography contest. Co-sponsored by National Geographic, the contest generated more than 5,500 entries from high school students across the United States. An exhibit of the winning entries in Washington, D.C. is planned for later this year. Information: (201) 818-3512, www.minolta.com.

New President of ASMP
Baltimore photographer Dave Harp has been elected president of the American Society of Media Photographers, ASMP. Harp, who operates a commercial and editorial photography business, has a newspaper, magazine and commercial photography background. He brings to the ASMP leadership position a well-honed understanding of ASMP matters and chapter and national levels, and concern that photographers need to make a united effort to become a force in the marketplace. A former photographer for The Baltimore Sun Magazine, Harp was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1984. Information: (360) 293-7959, www.asmp.org.

Hall of Fame to Feature Daguerreotypes
The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum will present an original exhibition documenting the world’s first photographic process and a series of historical workshops. The exhibition features more than 40 daguerreotypes on loan from individual and museum collections from across the U.S. as well as the Photography Hall of Fame’s permanent collection. A 19th century daguerreotype studio replica will also be on display as well as a special hands-on area for guests. Contemporary daguerreotypist Jerry Spagnoli of New York City will give a special demonstration of the process on Saturday, July 7 from 1pm-3pm. Information: (405) 424-4055, www.iphf.org.

New Konica Online Store
Stocked with entertaining, innovative and easy-to-use photo imaging products, the new Konica Online Store, www.konicaonlinestore.com, gives consumers a fun and convenient way to rediscover the brand. Also accessed through the company’s corporate web site, www.konica.com, the new online store allows photographers to purchase Konica digital, 35mm and APS cameras, films, inkjet paper and more. Included in the online inventory are the just-released SnapShare™--which offers a digital Internet photo studio-in-a-box—and the Hexar RF, a 35mm rangefinder camera. Information: (718) 398-4009.

New Ernst Wildi Book
Focal Press has announced the upcoming publication of “Medium Format Advantage” by Ernst Wildi. This second edition book provides new material on panoramic format, apochromatic lenses, aspheric lenses, tele extenders, glass and relative illumination and motor drives. It also includes updated information on perspective control, tilt controls, built-in metering systems and use of apertures. Wildi has written several hundred articles on photography and filmmaking and is the author of “The Hasselblad Manual.” Information: (800) 366-2665, www.focalpress.com.

Fuji Donates $300,000
Minoru Ohnishi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (right) and Harry Watanabe, President, Fuji Photo Film, Inc. (left) present a $300,000 contribution toward the establishment of the new Fujifilm Medical Imaging Center for Women of Self Memorial Hospital. Pictured with Ohnishi and Watanabe are Bubba Fennell, Chairman, Self Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees (second from left) and John Heydel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Self Memorial Hospital (second from right).