The Slovenian website e-FotoGrafija have posted a selection of photographs from yesterday’s Press day at the Photokina show in Cologne, Germany. There are product shots from the Canon, Olympus, Konica Minolta and Leica stands.

Website: e-FotoGrafija - Photokina 1st Day Photos

Eastman Kodak Company Press Release 22/09/04

Kodak Reports Significant Progress in Digital Growth Strategy; Reiterates EPS Forecast of $3, Sales of $16 Billion Forecast in 2006

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 22, 2004—Eastman Kodak Company, at a meeting with investors today, will report significant progress in the digitally oriented growth strategy that the company presented last year.

Kodak will indicate that it expects sales of digital products and services to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 36% between 2003 and 2007. The company previously projected a growth rate of 26% between 2002 and 2006.

For the period of 2003 to 2007, the company is now projecting total revenue to grow at a rate of 7% to 8%. Although the current forecast envisions a more rapid decline in the traditional business, that decline is offset by a higher rate of growth in digital products and services, allowing the company to maintain its target for total sales of $16 billion by 2006.

Princess Cruises Press Release 20/09/04

Princess Cruises has today announced that it will extend the deadline for their Escapes Photography Awards due to the volume of interest being shown by professional and amateur photographers.

The deadline has been extended to 1 October.

Pieter van der Schee, head of brand marketing, Princess Cruises says, “We’ve had thousands of high quality entries already but given the stature of the awards we want to make sure as many people as possible are given time to enter.”

With a prize of ?10,000 for the winning professional entry and luxury Princess cruises for the winning amateur entries, interest in the competition has gone from strength to strength, leaving the illustrious judging panel with some very hard decisions.

Casio UK Press Release 20/09/04

17th September 2004 - 23rd March 2005, National Portrait Gallery

Exhibition of 21 of Britain’s most influential designers, photographed by Steve Speller.

CASIO today announced its support of A Blueprint For Life, a portrait exhibition of 21 of Britain’s most influential designers, photographed by Steve Speller.

CASIO chose to sponsor the exhibition, which is a collaboration between Blueprint magazine and the National Portrait Gallery, because the exhibition’s theme perfectly reflects CASIO’s commitment to innovation and its history as leaders in innovation and cutting edge design.

A Blueprint For Life, displays the photographs of the designers but also looks at the roles and significance of these designers as individuals. The decision on which designers were included was purely based on products and buildings that have changed the way people look at design, going against the current trend for celebrity design. Some of the people photographed are well known but others are not.

Roger Ayers, Head of Strategic Planning, CASIO said: “A Blueprint for Life is a celebration of the quality of designers Britain has produced. CASIO has always been at the forefront of innovation and has created designs that have become iconic. Being associated with an exhibition like this demonstrates CASIO?s commitment to the very best in design.”

60 Years of History, Excellence and Activism Celebrated on American Society of Media Photographers Anniversary Web Site

In 1944, a handful of the world’s leading photojournalists felt it necessary to come together in New York to form a group that would demand the establishment of professional rights and working conditions, as well as fair compensation for the use of their images.

Today, that group - the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)—has grown to more than 5,000 members in 40 chapters nationwide and in many foreign countries.

And as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in a major birthday event this coming autumn, ASMP has just put up a special area on its web site to honor the past, consider the present and look ahead to the future of photography and the Society.

For members and non-members alike, the site can be found at http://www.asmp.org/60th/.

There have been rumours of a ban on photography on the New York subway for a while. Now it looks as though the ban may be extended to buses and the Staten Island railway too. The reason given by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is “In order to further enhance passenger security and safety”...

“What a sorry state of affairs. I’ve been traveling around the United States and around the world for more than 30 years. I’ve always been proud that in America we are allowed to photograph virtually whatever we want (with some exceptions, of course). But

But we’ve never had the draconian prohibitions many other countries implemented against photographing monuments, government buildings and other locations. Times are changing, and not for the better.”

Website: Reiter’s Camera Phone Report - New York City considering banning photography on trains, buses

It’s not all good news for the digital camera boom, as a report by RBC Capital Markets Inc. has indicated that digital camera shipments from Japan dropped by 6% in July. Japanese vendors make up an estimated 80 percent of the market. The biggest geographic slowdown was in Europe and North America, down 9 percent and 8 percent respectively.

“The majority of the weakness is attributable to lower-end cameras [below 4-megapixals], with year-to-date shipments down 10 percent to 13 million. “We are not wholly surprised by the continued softness as we believe the industry continues to rationalize excess inventory exiting Q2, as noted by both Sony and Canon,” according to the report.”

Website: EE Times UK - Digital camera shipments down 6% in July

Stamps.com Press Release 02/09/04

PhotoStamps Are Hot! Customers Order 800,000 PhotoStamps in First Three Weeks

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ - Stamps.com (NASDAQ:STMP) today announced that customer response to its new PhotoStamps(TM) product has been overwhelmingly positive—with 40,000 sheets, or 800,000 individual PhotoStamps, ordered since the August 10th public launch.

“We’re very pleased with how well the product has been received already,” said Stamps.com president and CEO Ken McBride. “Customer feedback has been extremely positive with over 90% of surveyed customers telling us they are likely to order PhotoStamps again.”

This is the amazing and downright scary story of one photography student’s attempts to take some pictures for his evening class. Let’s hope that this kind of harassment doesn’t become even more widespread than it seems to be at the moment (although I won’t hold my breath about that…).

“Within about thirty minutes of my setting up my tripod I noticed a lone security officer coming down the hill to ask me a few questions. Well, no… that’s not exactly accurate. He wasn’t politely asking me questions. He’d accessorized his ensemble with a ninety-pound German Shepherd, and was talking at me in authoritative and degrading tones. He wanted me to know that he was an authority.”

Thanks to Sanj for sending me the link :-)

Website: Ian Spiers - Humiliated, Angry, Ashamed, Brown

Canon UK Press Release 02/09/04

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, has been announced as the winning choice for photojournalists during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.  With hundreds of the world’s best photographers in Athens for the games,  Canon has proven to be the preferred choice for photographic equipment.  According to figures quoted by major Olympic sponsor Kodak, approximately 70% of photographers covering the event are using Canon’s EOS SLR cameras and EF lens system.

By far the most popular camera body amongst the professional sports photographers at the games is Canon’s latest digital SLR - the EOS-1D Mark II.  Released earlier this year,  the camera delivers 40 frame bursts at approx.  8.5 frames per second at high-quality 8.2 Megapixel resolution. This integrates seamlessly with the predictive tracking of Canon’s EF lens
auto focus system, making the camera ideal for capturing fast moving action sequences.  A large number of international news agencies have already specified the EOS-1D Mark II for their photographers, citing the camera’s resolution,  speed,  image quality,  reliability and advanced CMOS sensor technology as key reasons for their choice.

Thomas Hawk has got sick of being prevented from taking photographs by over-zealous coffee-shops and museums, so much so that he’s started a resource to record camera policies in various San Francisco locations.

“My concept is to begin a resource for photoblogers, in San Francisco initially, but more broadly later, to point out the camera policies of various public spaces in privately owned venues. I will continue to update this document as I continue to research this important issue in the Bay Area and abroad. I welcome comments on the project and feedback on the idea.”

Sounds like a good idea that could work on a more global scale.

Website: Thomas Hawk’s Digital Connection

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon wins two EISA awards for Professional Camera and Photo Printer of the Year
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, has received two prizes at this year’s prestigious European Imaging & Sound Association (EISA) awards: the EOS-1D Mark II was named European Professional Camera of the Year 2004?2005 and the Bubble Jet i9950 was awarded European Photo Printer of the Year 2004?2005. “At Canon we are passionate about photography, so we are delighted and honoured to receive these two prestigious EISA awards,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “The awards cement our commitment to Canon customers and reinforce our dedication to continuously innovating in both digital photography and photo printing technology.” 

Press Release 10/08/04

Sony Ericsson, global manufacturer of leading communications devices and Proud Galleries, Europe’s most popular private photography gallery - have today announced a major new collaboration - with the mobile phone company joining forces with the top photographic gallery in a unique sponsorship agreement for 2004.

In the deal, Sony Ericsson will become the headline sponsors of the summer and autumn schedule of Proud Galleries photographic exhibitions. The logical partnership demonstrates Sony Ericsson’s commitment to the increasingly important market of imaging in mobile phone technology.

The deal will also benefit Sony Ericsson users, with free entry to any Proud Gallery exhibition for the rest of the year when you show your Sony Ericsson mobile phone. Those wanting to view the exhibitions from the comfort of their own PC, will be able to visit a microsite that is being created to house a selection of images from each show, which visitors can download as wallpaper, as well as information and images on as the latest product offerings from Sony Ericsson.

Lexar Media, Inc. Press Release 05/08/04

Lexar Unveils New Corporate Identity To Reflect Expanding Innovative Product Portfolio

FREMONT, CA, August 5, 2004 - Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a company known for digital media products and accessories, unveiled today a new corporate identity reflecting its growing worldwide popularity, leadership in digital media technologies and expanding portfolio of innovative products. Moving forward, Lexar Media will be known as Lexar, more accurately depicting its broadening market opportunity as removable digital media pervades consumer electronics.

“Providing advanced solutions for digital photography is a mainstay of Lexar, and the new look symbolizes its spirit of innovation that has led to advanced solutions in digital photography, USB flash drives and digital music players,” said Jim Gustke, general manager, marketing. “By creating a new logo and evolving the name, we are aligning the corporate identity to better illustrate who we are today and how we are growing to meet the future needs of our customers.”

One of the best-known photographers in the world, Henri Cartier-Bresson, died yesterday in Cereste, south-east France, aged 95.

Website: BBC.co.uk

Website: The Guardian

Website: Magnum Photos

Canon Inc. Press Release 28/07/04

Canon Inc. Reports Results for First Half 2004

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.—(Business Wire)—July 28, 2004 Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ - news) and a leader in imaging technologies, today announced Canon Inc. first half 2004 consolidated net sales of 1,648.4 billion yen (US$ 15,263 million), which represents an increase of 7.3% over the first half of fiscal year 2003.

Canon reported first half net income of 160.8 billion yen (US$ 1,489 million), a significant increase of 25.8% over the same period last year and an earning per share of 181.84 yen (US$ 1.68).

Canon Inc. also reported second-quarter revenue of 850.4 billion yen (US$ 7,874 million), 5.8% higher than second-quarter 2003 with net income of 76.5 billion yen (US$ 708 million), 36.2% higher than second-quarter 2003.

“Although the yen was a negative factor, we were able to achieve this through continued strong sales growth of both digital cameras and color copying machines and higher sales of IC steppers along with a recovery in the semiconductor market. Consequently, we achieved our eighth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth in both net sales and profit,” said Toshizo Tanaka, Senior Managing Director and Group Executive for Finance and Accounting Headquarters, Canon Inc.

For more detailed information and tables, please refer to our Announcement of First Half 2004 financial results at http://www.canon.com/finance/index.html.

Sony have become the founding sponsor of the Scottish National Photography Centre, which is set to open in Edinburgh on Calton Hill, the site originally earmarked for the Scottish parliament. I’ve not heard anything about this project before, but that may be because the planning is in its very early stages.

Michael Shea, the SNPC chairman and former press secretary to the Queen, said: “Sony UK’s support is a significant vote of confidence for the visual arts in Scotland. There is a gratifying surge of interest in photography in the UK, with exhibitions delivering tremendous audience figures. With new centres for photography opening throughout Europe, Scotland’s distinct photographic legacy deserves a focal point to celebrate and advance this most democratic of all contemporary art forms.”

The SNPC will include exhibition space, a gallery, educational forum and conservation centre.

Website: Scotsman.com - £1m focus for photography centre

On the day when Sony announces a 7 megapixel digital camera, I find this product much more innovative and strangely more refreshing. Yes, it’s the World’s first bottle cap tripod, originating from none other than Japan. A veritable bargain at $9.99, but unfortunately it’s already completely sold out :-)  (found via Still Journal)

Website: Yahoo Shopping - Bottle Cap Tripod

Somewhat inevitably, now that the commercial version has sold out, somoen has posted instructions for making your own :-)

Website: Homemade Bottle Cap Tripod

Kodak Press Release 19/07/04

Rochester, N.Y., July 19—“Kodak is a very important member of the Olympic Family. It takes a very active role in helping us stage the world’s greatest event. And through its various marketing efforts, Kodak helps us share the Olympic spirit with the world.”

—Jacques Rogge, President International Olympic Committee

When the first Modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, Kodak, then just 16 years old, was there.  More than a century later, the Olympic Games remain the pinnacle of athletic endeavor - and Kodak, a long-standing Olympic Sponsor, will again be there, this time providing security badges for all participants, digital medical imaging equipment in the athlete?s clinic, and support for the more than 1,000 professional photographers who will capture the drama of the world?s most photographed competition using both film and digital technologies. Indeed, Kodak will digitize all images -including film - for rapid dissemination around the world.

SanDisk Corporation Press Release 14/07/04

SanDisk Announces Record Revenues and Operating Income; Year-over-Year Increase in Revenues of 85% and Operating Income of 136%

SUNNYVALE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 14, 2004—SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the world’s largest supplier of flash storage card products, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 27, 2004. Second quarter total revenues increased 85% to $433 million compared to the second quarter of 2003 and increased 12% from the first quarter of 2004. Second quarter net income was $71 million, compared to $41 million and $64 million for the second quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, respectively. Earnings per share were $0.38 per diluted share compared with $0.26 per diluted share in the same quarter of 2003 and $0.34 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2004.