Rangefinder Magazine
May 2002

Industry News

Going Digital for Wedding Photojournalism
A two-day workshop and wine tasting with Denis Reggie and special guest Jeff Gunderman will be held in Napa Valley on July 29–30, 2002. Digital experts Reggie and Gunderman are coming to Napa Valley to present their proven steps to making a successful move to digital.

You’ll see and learn cutting-edge techniques for creating a “digital negative” so that you can enjoy the dynamic range and exposure latitude that fast-paced wedding shooters demand.

Finally, a digital workflow that’s ideal for coverage in real time and for the 21st century marketplace. In one of America’s most scenic and relaxing places—Napa Valley—Denis and Jeff will take time to teach you, make time to know you, and find time to share some of Napa’s prized wines with you. Participants will have a chance to handle Canon EOS-1D and Kodak Professional 720 and 760 Professional Digital SLR cameras. Personal camera equipment is not required for workshop participation. If you have questions or to check session availability, call Ashley Collins at (404) 873-8080 or e-mail: ashley@denisreggie.com.

Mathieson Elected WCPP President
Well known past president of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and recent Chair of Jurors of the Australian Professional Photography Awards, Malcolm Mathieson was elected president of the World Council of Professional Photographers at a General Assembly held by the WCPP in Orvieto, Italy. The assembly, attended by member associations from around the world, met to discuss the future direction and goals of the WCPP. The meeting was a success with the members showing great enthusiasm and foresight by electing a new and more representative board than had been in place in the recent past. The board, with members from the U.S., Italy, Czech Republic, Belgium, Canada and Australia, is moving ahead with plans for a World Congress in Norway in March 2003 as well as a new website and in dealing with issues of intellectual property and ownership rights and branding.

Excel Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Excel Picture Frames, Inc. celebrates its 10th Year Anniversary in 2002. The company has been providing professional photographers nationwide with quality picture frames and presentation solutions for a decade now and welcomes all professional photographers to join in the celebration. The company is offering an extensive selection of handcrafted, quality picture frames and presentation solutions designed specifically for the professional photographer. As part of their celebration they have released two new catalogs, which contain their entire product line, including one specifically for their Custom Presentation Products. Information: Excel Picture Frames, Inc., (800) 578-7252, fax: 877-949-1396, www.excelpictureframes.com.

Fuji’s Ron Dubner Dies
Photo industry veteran Ron Dubner, vice president and general manager, New Business Development Group, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., has died of cancer in Florida. Dubner, who founded the New Business Development Group in 1996, was responsible for developing and servicing new, non-traditional channels of distribution of Fujifilm’s photographic products. Among his many notable achievements, Dubner was largely responsible for finalizing Fujifilm’s long-term sponsorship with SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. Information: (212) 704-8147; www.fujifilm.com.

New Konica President
Konica Photo Imaging has announced that Robert Striano, president and CEO, has been appointed to the board of trustees of Youth Consultation Service, the largest provider of individualized care for children and their families in New Jersey, and maintains more than 80 behavioral programs throughout the state. Konica has recently adopted the “Big Boys” Unit for boys ages 10–12 at a YCS residential center. Information: (201) 574-4000; www.konica.com.

EPIC’s Jennings Wins Nikon Lifetime Achievement Award
Pennsylvania photographer Robert F. Jennings is the first recipient of the 2001 Nikon Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the field of evidence photography. Jennings is the executive director of the Evidence Photographers International Council (EPIC), which for the past three decades has been teaching the art and science of evidence photography around the U.S. EPIC’s recent three-day program in Atlanta taught video surveillance and the techniques of photographing crime scenes. Information: (570) 253-5450.

ASF Voted Top Technology
Applied Sciences Fiction, Inc. announced that the company’s Digital PIC technology was voted Top New Technology for 2001 by the readers of Photographic Processing Magazine. In addition, the Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED, which incorporates ASF’s Digital ICE technology, was also selected at the best in the Film Scanner category and the Pixel Magic Imaging Inc. Photo Ditto kiosk which features ASF’s Digital ICE and Digital ROC technologies received an honorable mention in the kiosk category. Information: (631) 757-5665; www.asf.com.

Chilcote Reorganization
David Hein, Chairman and CEO, The Chilcote Company, parent company for photo-industry leaders TAP (Taprell Loomis), Topflight and Winthrop-Atkins, jointly announced a reorganization of its corporate management structure. Effective immediately the company will organize its marketing and sales efforts under a single entity, to better serve all of its markets—professional, retail and commercial. Charlie Milot, formerly CEO of The Winthrop-Atkins Company, has accepted the position of director of Corporate Marketing & Sales and Glen A. Clark, most recently the president of photo-industry consulting firm PlanIt! Services will fill the position of vice president-Professional Markets. Within Chilcote’s Professional Markets division, Bob Mickler, vice president-Taprell Loomis will manage the TAP sales force, customer service and telemarketing departments.

Kinetronics Moves
Kinetronics has moved to a new manufacturing and office facility. The new address is: 4363 Independence Court, Sarasota, Fla., 34234. The phone and fax numbers will stay the same. Information: (941) 951-2432; www.kinetronics.com.

Kodak Professional’s Promotions
Lance Drummond, currently CEO of Kodak Professional and vice president of Kodak to Regional Business General Manager of the U.S. and Canada region for Kodak Professional and vice president of Kodak. Drummond, 47, joined Kodak in 1976 and has held positions in Consumer and Professional Finishing, Government Systems, and Consumer Imaging. Drummond will replace Regina Pizzoli, who was appointed CEO of ENCAD, Inc., a manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers Kodak recently acquired. Information: www.kodak.com.

Sales Tax Regs in California Clarified
In a long awaited victory for the California arts community, the California Board of Equalization voted to clarify the sales tax regulations affecting illustrators, photographers, cartoonists and designers. Heeding the seven-year effort by the Graphic Artists Guild, this vote will benefit graphic artists in four ways:
1) It virtually exempts sales tax on all reproduction rights (including royalties) on the artwork of graphic artists.
2) It exempts from sales tax artwork delivered on computer disk if the disk is returned.
3) It exempts sales tax on print design when the designer buys the printing.
4) It clearly specifies that commercial photographers working in the advertising and publishing fields are considered graphic artists.

Along with ASMP, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Association of American Advertising Agencies (AAAA), and Editorial Photographers (EP), joined the Guild in this effort. More information at http://norcal.gag.org.

DiMAGE 7 Wins Product of Year Award
Minolta Corporation has announced that the Minolta DiMAGE 7 digital camera has won the 2001 SID/Information Display Magazine Display Product of the Year Gold Award. Last summer, the DiMAGE 7 also received the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) Awards for “Best Digital Prosumer Camera” for 2001-2002. The new SLR DiMAGE 7 (5 megapixel effective) digital camera features 7x optical (28-200mm, 35mm format equivalent) and 2x digital zoom abilities, plus the core technologies of Minolta’s ultra high resolution apochromatic lenses, the CxProcess Image Processing System. Information: (800) 528-4767; www.minolta.com.

Konica Inkjet Promotion
A new dual promotion featuring Konica’s inkjet paper and “any brand” of inkjet cartridge has been announced by Konica Photo Imaging. For the consumer, this means a $5 rebate. To receive the rebate, consumers are asked to complete the original rebate request form, photocopy their dated store receipt with any brand color inkjet cartridge price circled and clip original UPC code from the Konica photo inkjet package. For the retailer, the tenth package of Konica inkjet paper is free. Both promotions continue until June 30, 2002. Information: (201) 574-4000; www.konica.com.

Natl. Geo Announces Photographers in Residence
Five of the world’s top journalists have been appointed as the National Geographic Society’s first Contributing Photographers-in-Residence. They are Sam Abell, David Doubilet, Karen Kasmauski, Emory Kristof and Frans Lanting. The Society established the program to showcase and support the work of preeminent freelance journalists who have contributed outstanding work to the Society over the years. The photographers will work at the Society’s Washington headquarters for a number of weeks each year, developing projects and programs in tandem with special initiatives, including the Society’s conservation initiative. Information: (202) 828-6635; www.nationalgeographic.com.

Leica Posts Guiliani Photo on eBay
Leica Camera has posted a photograph of the World Trade Center taken by former mayor Rudy Guiliani in 1997 on the eBay website, “Auction for America…$100 Million in 100 Days.” This portion of the eBay website is designed and devoted to filtering out and tearing down all the postings from sellers intent to accrue some personal fortune from the Sept. 11 attacks. “New York Twins” was one in a series of photographs taken by Mayor Guiliani with a Leica R7 camera and presented in an exhibit entitled “View from the Capital of the World” at the Leica Gallery in New York City in the spring of 1998. The exhibit was a benefit for the charity, New Yorkers for Children. Information: (201) 767-7500.
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New Buckeye Director
Buckeye Color Lab has announced the addition of Martin F. Plummer as the company’s new Business Development director. Plummer will be a major influence in the lab’s new service initiative dedicated solely to helping studios increase profits and grow their business in new and existing areas. To further enhance the lab’s resolution, a comprehensive identity campaign will be launched driven by the message, “Developing Stronger Images.” Most recently, Plummer worked in sales management for a multi-million dollar imaging firm in Kansas City. Information: (800) 433-1292, ext. 114.

Kodachrome 200 Still Alive
In response to appeals from photographers, Kodak Professional has reevaluated its decision to discontinue the production and sale of Kodachrome 200 professional film. The Eastman Kodak Company division announced that it would continue to offer the transparency film in the U.S. and European markets at a price that will justify its ongoing production. Kodachrome 200 Professional Film is known for its excellent sharpness and archival dark keeping. Information: (716) 724-2785; www.kodak.com.

Photoflex Web School CDs
Lessons that guide photographers through the basic elements of digital photography and its use on the Internet are now available on CD from Photoflex Inc.’s Web Photo School. As the initial product of the school’s new Digital Photography Learning Center (DPLC), Disc One is the first in a series of instructional programs produced on CD. It leads photographers through a series of quick, simple, stress-free tasks designed to deliver immediate, high-quality results from digital cameras and lighting products, image-manipulating software, various hardware peripherals and Internet applications. Information: (831) 647-0900.

Tamron Viewfinder Online
Tamron USA has created a password-protected area of its web site that can be accessed by users by subscribing to the Tamron Viewfinder newsletter. Viewfinder is published three times a year and provides photographic tips and techniques and photo contests as well as user profiles and new product information. In addition to more in-depth information from specific stories appearing in each issue, the Viewfinder Web section includes a technical column, “Ask the Techs.” Information: (631) 858-8409; e-mail: evans@tamron.com.

Off the Wall’s New Catalog
Off The Wall Productions Ltd. has launched its new 60-page, full-color 2002 Catalog. The catalog features more than 300 images of set designs including four new sets: Serenity, Rhapsody, Starlight, and Matrix, and a new set of posing rocks and a baby poser. All sets from Off The Wall are constructed double-sided with wind bases and armor coating that enhance the stability and durability. Information: (800) 792-5568; e-mail: info@otwp.com.

Fuji Appoints VP of Corp. Communications
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. has appointed Camilla Jenkins to the newly created position of vice president of Corporation Communications. Jenkins will be responsible for directing the design and implementation of Fujifilm’s internal and external communications programs and oversee several functions including public relations, corporate contributions and community relations, financial relations, and environmental and safety affairs. Information: (212) 704-8147, www.fujifilm.com.

New Legion Papers
Legion Paper has added Legion Photo Silk to its Digital Art Paper collection, a line of seven premium papers that enables digital artists and photographers to achieve true art quality output. The papers include: Legion Photo Silk; Somerset Photo Enhanced/Velvet (acid-free and 100% cotton); Somerset Photo Enhanced/Textured (acid free and 100% cotton); Concorde Rag (acid-free and 100% cotton); Legion Photo Gloss; Legion Photo Matte; and Legion Photo Canvas Cover. Information: e-mail: info@legionpaper.com, www.legionpaper.com.

New B&H Digital Photography SourceBook
To guide customers through the new generation of digital technology, the B&H Photo, Video, Pro Audio SuperStore has created The Digital Photography SourceBook. Designed for easy navigation, the 382-page book provides detailed, user-friendly information on product features and specifications. Shoppers are encouraged to log on to www.bhphotovideo.com to instantly access current price and availability. The book is highlighted by an “Introduction to Digital Imaging” and includes a primer on digital imaging. Information: (800) 947-9927.

Giant Pandas Celebrate Anniversary
Giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang recently celebrated the first anniversary of their arrival at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. The giant panda exhibit, named the Fujifilm Giant Panda Conservation Habitat, will soon be expanded to include a large, new yard for the pandas designed specifically to meet their preferences and to highlight the Zoo’s giant panda research and education program. The yard will also be the anchor of a major renovation at the zoo called Asia Trail. Information: (202) 673-0209.