Rangefinder Magazine
Departments

Suppliers News

• Capri Appoints S.E. Regional Rep
Capri Album is pleased to announce that Danilo Fajardo has been appointed Southeast Regional account representative. Danilo joins Capri with over 10 years experience as a photographer and studio manager. Information: Capri Album Company, Inc., (800) 666-6653, www.caprialbum.com.

• Nikon Promotions
Nikon Inc. has promoted John P. Brown to Vice President and General Counsel. In his new role, Browne will continue to supervise Nikon’s legal department and any outside firms responsible for handling Nikon Inc. legal affairs. He will also oversee all human resources functions, and serve as the corporate secretary for Nikon Inc. The company has also promoted David C. Lee to vice president, Photo Sales Division. In his new position, Lee will oversee sales of Nikon’s photography products in the photo specialty channel via its national sales team and network of photo dealers. Lee’s work will include day to day supervision of Nikon’s photo sales force activities in the U.S. and he will be responsible for continuing to develop and build the photo dealer channel. Information: Nikon Inc., (516) 547-4200; web site: [www.nikonusa.com].

• New Standards to Simplify Digital Imaging
The Photographic Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has approved a new standard to simplify digital photography. This picture transfer protocol (PTP) enables digital cameras to talk to computers, printers, and other devices using a common language. PTP eliminates the need for camera-specific drivers for computer operating systems and other devices. In their place, it provides one simple protocol with the flexibility to support devices such as digital cameras, photo printers, set-up boxes and handheld devices. With a PTP-enabled platform and a PTP-enabled camera, users can plug in their digital camera and quickly view and use the images on their personal computer or printer without having to install software. Information: PIMA, (914) 698-7603.

• PIMA Changes
The Photographic & Imaging Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has announced that Tom Dufficy, executive vice president of the association for the past 15 years, will be retiring at the end of 2000. PIMA has named Michael Nier, presently director of corporate standards at Eastman Kodak Company, to be Dufficy’s successor. Dufficy is a 33-year veteran of PIMA, and prior to his promotion to the top spot in 1986, served as director of governmental regulation and legislation. Information: PIMA, (914) 698-7603.

• Kodak and PhotoAlley.com Form Partnership
Eastman Kodak Company recently announced an agreement with and equity investment in PhotoAlley.com, a photo enthusiast web site. In addition to Kodak’s equity investment, the two companies will collaborate on joint initiatives to drive sales of conventional and digital photography products and services among the photographic community.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kodak will be the exclusive provider of digital print fulfillment through Print@
Kodak, Kodak’s new Internet photofinishing service, for PhotoAlley.com customers. Kodak will also provide Photo
Alley with photoprocessing, scanning and uploading services through Qualex, Kodak’s photofinishing subsidiary.
PhotoAlley.com plans to offer online amateur photo galleries and photo-sharing functionality in conjunction with these new services.

• National Press Photographers Association Board
The National Press Photographers Association elected its new board of directors, including new president David Handschuh, at its recent annual convention in San Francisco. The NPPA’s 28-member board elected Handschuh, a staff photographer with the New York Daily News, as president of the 9700-member association, a position he will serve for one year. Other officers elected were: Clyde Mueller, director of photography at The New Mexican in Santa Fe, NM, (VP); Thomas P. Costello, II, staff photographer at The Asbury Park Press in Neptune, NJ, as secretary; Michael duCille, picture editor at the Washington Post, as board representative; and Manny Sotello, president during the previous year, remains on the Executive Committee for one year while duCille retains his title as region 3 director and serves as the liaison between the other board members and the Executive Committee.

• PMA Distinguished Service Award Winners Announced
Five prominent photo-industry members received the PMA Distinguished Service Award during the PMA 2001 Annual Convention and Trade show in Orlando, Florida in February. The recipients have all had productive lifelong careers in photo imaging, and they have all contributed to the advancement of the photographic industry. The five individuals are W. Gordon Addington, formerly of Walgreen; John Bogosian, a 50-plus-year veteran of the photo imaging industry and of currently of Visual Sound Company; Ilgvars Broks of BGM Imaging; Joe Leach of Noritsu America, and G. Michael Likierman of Grand Vision.

• Over 100 Firms Displayed Digital Cameras at PMA 2001 Orlando
Over 300 firms displayed digital imaging products for amateur and professional photographic imaging applications. The most explosive category at this year’s PMA was digital cameras with over 100 companies displaying such products. An increasing number of nontraditional photo imaging firms participated at PMA 2001. Notable names present included Adobe, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Sony, Texas Instruments and Yahoo. PMA reports that digital camera sales increased a whopping 75 percent over the prior year.

• Shirilla Joins Universal Electronics Industries
John Shirilla, former marketing director for Photogenic Professional Lighting, has joined Universal Electronics Industries as regional account executive for North America. Shirilla will primarily work with Kodak, Photogenic and the BKA Group to sell Universal Electronic’s products to dealers and represent the companies at major professional photography shows throughout the year. Information: Universal Electronics Industries, (330) 757-8159.

• Kodak Names Kent McNeley Chief Marketing Officer
Eastman Kodak Company has named Kent McNeley chief marketing officer for Consumer Imaging, its largest business. McNeley had been worldwide director of marketing for Consumer Imaging, a post he has held since joining Kodak last March. Prior to joining Kodak, McNeley was with Citibank, where he was country manager in Singapore and head of Client Management in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Information: Eastman Kodak Company; web site: [www.kodak.com].

• Tamron’s 50th
Tamron Co. Ltd. recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since the founding in 1950 of Taisei Optical Equipment Mfg. Co., the predecessor of today’s Tamron, the company has been at the forefront of creating a wide array of imaging devices, including technological innovations in optical design, engineering and manufacturing. Information: Tamron; (631) 694-8700; www.tamron.com.

• Eastman House and ICP Form Alliance
George Eastman House, the International Museum of Photography and Film, and the International Center of Photography (ICP) have formed an alliance to make their collections and programs more widely available to the public. Their five initiatives include: exhibitions in both museums drawn from their permanent collections; creation of a triennial exhibition of contemporary photography from around the world; inauguration of a joint web site; development of a joint cataloguing system and joint development of five internationally touring exhibitions. Information: George Eastman House, (716) 271-3361, ext. 347; glbrandt@geh.org.

• W. Eugene Smith Grant Goes To…
An ongoing photographic essay examining the influence of the crack cocaine culture on urban neighborhoods has earned Brenda Ann Kenneally of Brooklyn, New York, the $20,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for 2000. The grant, sponsored by Nikon Inc., recognizes photographers who have demonstrated a commitment to documenting the human condition. Information: W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, c/o International Center of Photography (ICP), 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, (718) 625-1521.

• New Hasselblad Promotions
Hasselblad U.S.A. has announced a series of new programs targeted to students, schools and photo educators. The Hasselblad Educational Rewards Offer, or HERO, is a purchase-incentive plan that offers 35-50% discounts on many products. In conjunction with Marlin Leasing Corp., the company has also designed a new financing plan to purchase Hasselblad and Visatec products. Information: Hasselblad U.S.A., 10 Madison Rd., Fairfield, NJ 07004, (973) 227-7320.

• Konica’s Gordon Promoted
Paul Gordon has been promoted to senior vice president, sales, for Konica Photo Imaging. Gordon, a 15-year veteran of the company, will direct all sales activities of consumer products. He was previously vice president, sales, Eastern Region. Information: Konica Photo Imaging, 725 Darlington Ave., Mahwah, NJ 07430, (201) 574-4000; www.konica.com.

• Hasselblad Foundation Award
The Erna and Victor Hasselblad Foundation has selected Ukrainian photographer Boris Mikhailov as winner of the 2000 Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography.Information: Hasselblad U.S.A., 10 Madison Rd., Fairfield, NJ 07004, (973) 227-7320.