From the CameraArts—B+H Photo Store...

Among the latest additions to the CameraArts B+H storefront, the 80GB Passport Portable USB Hard Drive from Western Digital is a portable, laptop-sized hard drive, protected by a durable shell, ideal for the travelling photographer. The drive features an interface that allows it to be connected and powered by USB 2.0, a rotation speed of 5400rpm, a 2MB data buffer and bus transfer rates of up to 60MB/sec. Never again get caught burning your images on CD-R, only to find that your workshop trainer has a DVD drive only. USB 2.0 is one of the fastest, most secure, and best ways to easily circulate one's images among different workstations.

Special Price- $59.95 + Shipping. Click here to navigate to this product.

Fujifilm increases prices for photographic papers and products

Fujifilm USA, to reflect international changes and price trends, have adjested the prices for their domestic market. Affected products include photographic papers, chemistry and other photosensitive products. Good news is increasingly hard to find for traditional photographers, as existing products grow ever more expensive, and most popular darkroom products have been discontinued entirely by companies like Kodak. Many digital photographers are quick to remind of the health risks, huge expenses, and general technical frustration to be encountered in the darkroom, though others have no intention of giving up this lightless sandbox anytime soon. Prices will increase by 10-20 percent, effective July 2008.

From Fujifilm's official announcement:

"Globally, Fujifilm has undertaken intensive structural reforms to reduce fixed costs and improve productivity. The company has continued to absorb increasing costs associated with raw materials used in the manufacture of films and papers in recent years. However, soaring costs of raw materials, such as, silver and crude oil have made it impossible for Fujifilm to continue to absorb these costs in its manufacturing process."

For more information on Fujifilm, go to their website.

Epson Launches Focal Points, a new addition to its website

Epson America, makers of professional imaging products for photographers worldwide, has announced the launch of "Focal Points," a supplement to the company's official website. The new addition is Epson's way of spotlighting the success stories of leading professionals in the industry of creative photography, and their experiences in pushing their work to a higher level through the use of Epson products.

One of the portfolios currently on display is "Movie Stars: Portraits by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders." When invited to display his images of famous personalities at the Museo Carlo Bilotti in Rome (following exhibitions at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum), Greenfield-Sanders utilized the Epson Stylus Pro(r) 11880 wide-format inkjet printer to produce stunning 56x72 inch prints in both color and black and white. Focal Points tells the story of how this and other exhibitions came to life.

Other featured stories include "Rock and Roll" by Lynn Goldsmith (September/October 2006), who created enormous, high-detail prints for her exhibitions at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; "Just Suppose" by Maggie Taylor and Jerry Uelsmann (CameraArtsCameraArts May/June 2007), who met a challenge to "go bigger" for their joint exhibition at the Harn Museum; and "Empowered by Color" by Pete Turner, legendary colorist and satisfied user of Epson UltraChrome K3™ ink technology for greater transparency in his prints.

From Dan Steinhardt, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc:

"Focal Points features content that is both informational and inspirational. The first round of stories, images and videos allow viewers to experience recent exhibitions in some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in Europe and North America that they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to see. The accounts are also a testament to the overwhelming trust leading artists have in Epson Professional Products."

To view the new stories, and watch video interviews with selected photographers, Click here.

Image © Lynn Goldsmith.

Contact your representatives: Orphan Works Bill

New copyright bills that are now before the House and Senate should be a great matter of concern to photographers. The subject of the bills are Orphan Works, images that appear in any context (usually online) without an attached artist's credit. An image is passed from the artist who has the wisdom to display his captions and have image security built into his website. He then gives the image to museums and charitable foundations, whose websites are updated often, yet may have more lax standards. Now an orphan, its artist having gone unidentified, the image goes on to other websites, art blogs, even other people's flickr accounts. Just by being on the world wide web, images will be made more vulnerable to copyright infringement by these bills.

At Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work, made possible by a long list of contributors, there are pre-written letters for those who don't have the time to get on the phone with a representative or senator's office:

"What if 10 people can find me but one can’t? Why should that one person get a free pass to use my work? Won’t that give infringers an incentive not to find me? And why should I be obligated to go into court to prove anything about the diligence of the searcher or the value of my work? What if the same work is found an orphan in one legal proceeding and not in another?

"I believe my work benefits the public by being published through the channels where I wish to publish it. The current copyright law works by giving me the incentive to keep doing this. Please protect this basic property right."

The rest can be found here, along with more information about contacting your representatives in the House and Senate. Please act as soon as possible!

WORKSHOP: The High Sierra Wilderness Photography Workshop

Photographers now have an opportunity to spend a week in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of central California, August 9-17, 2008, while learning from award-winning landscape photography expert Phil Hawkins. For 28 years, Hawkins has backpacked and photographed in the High Sierra, and will offer his expertise in photographing waterfalls and other natural wonders, as well as sunrises, sunsets, star tracks and moonlight. Participants will spend five full days of the week-long workshop at 9,500 to 11,500 foot elevation, with a full moon on the last night.

What's more, the Perseid Meteor Shower will take place August 11-12, 2008, offering a unique chance for photographers to capture a spectacular natural light show. The workshop is aimed at photographers of all skill levels and techniques. Just remember you'll be "roughing it" in the beautiful wilderness of the High Sierra for most of the week.

The cost per person is $3,370. Treks will be made regularly on horseback, and all comforts such as food, lodging, and showers will be provided. Only eleven spots are available for this workshop. Go here to make reservations!

MyPassport Studio Drives now available for Mac users

Western Digital (WD), makers of popular external memory devices such as Mybook, has introduced a Mac-formatted version of its new My Passport Studio portable drive. Equipped with both FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces, the new drive is available in 250 and 320 GB versions, both weighing less than five ounces and outfitted with a shock-resistant shell in metallic silver. Functionality with Apple Time Machine backup software (a part of the Apple Leopard Operating System) is also included, as well as a built-in USB power source. The needs of Mac-based users were kept clearly in mind for the design, and many features have been in high demand since the release of the first WD Passport Drive.

The retail price for the My Passport Studio portable drive is $159.99 for the 250 GB unit, and $219.99 for the 320 GB unit. You can find out more about ordering at WD's online store.

Delkin Devices, Inc. Announces ImageRouter Card Reader

Photographers in need of one file import system for any memory cards that may be on hand will be well-served by the cutting edge, DIMA Award-winning ImageRouter from Delkin Devices. The device comprises four UDMA-enabled card slots, a USB 2.0 CompactFlash card reader, and a built-in power source that allows the simultaneous use of all four slots. Unveiled at PMA 2008, the ImageRouter has an extremely fast chipset (with 29 MB/sec read and 27 MB/sec write through USB 2.0), and thanks to the back-up power hub, photographers with more than four memory cards may "daisy-chain" multiple image routers.

From Kathleen Finlayson, Delkin's New Product Specialist:

"Photographers don't have to sit and wait for each card to download. All of the product's features--the built-in hub, the four UDMA-enabled card slots, the ability to daisy-chain, the bundled software--give photographers the freedom to walk away from their desks during the data transfer process. That is the key to the ImageRouter."

The retail price for the software-free ImageRouter is $129.00. With Backupandburn software, retail price is $229.00. Go to Delkin's website for more information.

New Release from Olympus: The E-520 DSLR

With their claim of an in-body image stabilizer for any lens, Olympus has put their best foot forward announcing the new Olympus E520 DSLR. The new camera boasts advanced Image Stabilization technology such as Supersonic Wave Drive, which provides blur-free images with any one of 30 digital camera lenses, and Autofocus Live View, which brings a sharp image to the LCD by HyperCrystal II. Another feature (to which I am particularly drawn) is Perfect Shot Preview, which enables the photographer to preview and select effects of exposure compensation and white balance adjustment.

From John Knaur, senior marketing manager, DSLR Division, Olympus Imaging America Inc.

"Beyond a successor, the Olympus E-520 features an array of new technologies that help photo hobbyists and serious digital photographers take remarkable images. Its image stabilization system now lets photographers pan while holding the portable camera vertically—perfect for capturing everything from a sprinter breaking from the pack to the bride and groom walking down the aisle."

The Olympus E-520 DSLR becomes available in July 2008, at a retail price of $599.99 USD, or as a bundle offer with the ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens for $699.99. Click here for more information.