Paris Photo 15-18 November 2007

It's not that far away and its different from the London version. It's a must do event.

They say: 'Over the decade since it first began, Paris Photo has won recognition as the world's premier fair for still photography.This unique event offers a deep and broad view of the medium, with the best of fine art photography from the earliest days until now and a forward-looking survey of what's happening in this art form today.

Paris Photo is organizing its eleventh edition determined to maintain its standards of excellence and its support for photography in all its diversity. From November 15th through November 18th, 2007 it will bring together some hundred galleries and publishers from the world over.With its exhibitions, book signings, prize award ceremonies and lectures, during those five days Paris Photo will be the eye of the world.'

www.parisphoto.fr

Report from the PMA Europe 2007 UK regional conference

Do I feel let down by our industry well no, not the PMA anyway I think they strive to inject enthusiasm into a apparently moribund industry. Let me clarify that, a professional imaging industry, I think the high street retailer is a little bit more enthusiastic though not much, where was everybody from the professional imaging Labs from around the country Metro, Bayer, Golden shots, Acrom, Loxleys, Leach colour, I could go on and on yes our industry has been hit hard by the loss of film and the move to digital but we had enough warning, do we feel let down by our main industry players i.e. Fuji and Kodak, yes, the likes of Asda, Boots Tesco, yes you get it, large users of material and equipment! might take there attention, but do you really need them to hold your hand, we the pro industry drove this market during the 70's and 80's and now this, antipathy, fragmentation. It's got to change, do we have anything to fear, off course that's business but manage change.

The conference, some great inspirational speakers like Dr Glen Omura from Michigan State University, "American" Stephen Giordano, Lucidiom. "American" these guys talk and inspire yes its high street slanted, but take some thing from it! Richard Worsley from the tomorrow project "British" presented in our understated way, but very interesting, then you had The self appointed messiah, who does he inspire other than himself, and maybe HP who he plugged at every opportunity, I fail to understand his role at the PMA the most grandiose, self congratulatory pumped up bullshit I have heard for a long time, yes we know about "Facebook" "Myspace" the fact our kids use there camera phones and save there images on computers and swap them so what, it does not mean anything, you were not getting that work before because it did not exist so what are you missing! Its more images thats for certain that's good, years ago when I was growing up we did not have the budget to produce those images photographically or for that matter cameras that were in our price range as kids, the way images are used and created now is fantastic and its good for our industry we will only get a percentage, but that is what's so good about digital imaging, the fact people can edit and manipulate, and only have printed what they require, off course this applies to professional photographers, however convince through your marketing that it is in there interest to let you the pro imaging house handle the post editing and printing, we are the professional technicians its our job to make our clients work look outstanding it's what sells there business and while they are tied up trying to do it they are not selling there services, and I know there are some good photographers out there who are also good technicians who can print there own work as good as a pro house but generally the two roles are diametrically opposed, and those pros who use the likes of Boots and Tesco etc... well they are not pros are they! So don't try to capture that market by trying to compete on price you will never win that way. No I have not mentioned Jessop's, think they have enough problems! I digress, our industry has got great potential stop navel gazing and get out there and take it.

So far this year, I have visited PMA Las Vegas, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Seattle, next year Australia and Japan to get a feel for these markets to see what they are doing and to keep ahead and to transfer that information in a small way to The Vault. I hope it works, I do know that I am as excited now by images and there production, however they are produced, as when I started in this industry commercially back in 1979. So pro industry shake your morose view off, do not listen to the doomongers, our industry will survive it will just be different.

Hasselblad H3D II

Not long since I had a demo of the H3D and already within a year Hasselblad have brought out a successor in H3D II.

www.hasselblad.co.uk

Photoworks magazine

Based in Brighton, Photoworks describe themselves as an arts organisation. They 'commission new photography projects, produce exhibitions and publications, and initiate research and education programmes'.
They regard collaboration as an important aspect of they way they work with photographers, artists through to curators and writers.

Photoworks also attempts to bring photography to new and alternative venues.

They want to make 'contemporary photography accessible' to everyone.

The magazine is subscription based though i have also seen it in Borders.

www.photoworksuk.org

At the time of writing this blog entry, Photoworks are looking for an Administrator: Photoworks is currently recruiting a new Adminstrator: 'to manage our busy office in the heart of Brighton. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in the development of Photoworks.
The post is for 32 hours per week at £16,000 - £18,000 pro rata.

Lee Miller at Victoria and Albert Museum

Entitled 'The Art of Lee Miller' running 15 September 2007 - 6 January 2008 and sponsored by Olympus.

The exhibition is the 'first complete retrospective of her life and work, exploring her transformation from artist's muse to ground-breaking artist.'

www.vam.ac.uk

Ilford Photo - inkjet papers

Ilford says on its home page

'Over the 125 year history of ILFORD there has always been a positive commitment to the traditional world of silver halide black and white photography. HARMAN technology Limited, trading as ILFORD PHOTO, is “Passionate about Black and White” and intends to continue this commitment.'

So, after a turbulent period, and the demise of Agfa, they are back on track producing some high quality papers for inkjet printers.

www.ilfordphoto.com

The Vault is preparing a portfolio of prints on Ilford 's inkjet papers. Results on Ilford's Baryta fibre based paper are looking superb!
Some images will be posted on the blog very soon.

PMA - Photo Market Association

David Lane, Managing Director of The Vault will be visiting the PMA conference in Birmingham 9-10th October 2007. The PMA, Photo Marketing Association, is a professional trade association which aims to 'help the worldwide photo imaging community achieve business success and adapt to new technologies'. All the key players, Fuji, Kodak, Epsom will have their wares on show.

www.pmai.org

David will report on the conference on his return.