This year’s winner of the coveted World Press Photo of the Year award went to a colour image taken on 31 March, 2003, by French photographer Jean-Marc Bouju. The image depicts a hooded Iraqi war prisoner holding his 4-year-old son at a US detention camp in Iraq and portrays a rare moment of humanity in a war zone.

 

World Press four-fifths digital

This year’s winner of the coveted World Press Photo of the Year award went to a colour image taken on 31 March, 2003, by French photographer Jean-Marc Bouju. The image depicts a hooded Iraqi war prisoner holding his 4-year-old son at a US detention camp in Iraq and portrays a rare moment of humanity in a war zone.

As in previous years, the current collection showcases some provocative images, ranging from harrowingly graphic and confronting to poignantly beautiful and humorous.

Australian winners are:
Philip Blenkinsop – 1st prize, People in the News (Stories), Hmong Guerilla;
Tim Clayton – 1st prize, Sports Action (Single), Yannick Bru in the scrum at Rugby World Cup;
Tim Clayton – 2nd prize, Arts and Entertainment (Single), Australian Ballet School;
Adam Pretty – 2nd prize, Sports Action (Stories), Sports Portfolio;
Craig Golding – 3rd prize, Sports Action (Stories), Sports Portfolio;
Sandy Nicholson – 3rd prize, Daily Life (Story), Suburban Fetishists;
Tanya Lake – 3rd prize, Nature (Story), Sydney Waterways.

Winning images from this year’s World Press Photo competition were on show at the State Library of NSW in Sydney until the end of July, courtesy of major sponsor, Canon. Regrettably, due to commitments in more than 80 cities across the globe this year, they won’t be exhibited elsewhere in Australia, but can be viewed at www.worldpressphoto.com

Like 81 percent of entries received, the winning entry was submitted in digital format. Last year, 69 percent were digital.

 

UN Environmental photo comp open

Entries are being sought for the fourth United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Photographic Competition on the Environment, which is being run as part of the annual World Environment Day celebrations.

Sponsors of the competition include Canon, Japan Airlines (JAL), TIME Magazine, National Geographic Society, and Earth Report/Television Trust for the Environment. A Gold Prize of US$20,000 will be awarded to the winner of the General category, which is open to applicants aged 25 years or over. There are also separate categories and cash prizes for the Youth and Children categories. Photographs submitted for the fourth competition should highlight environmental issues such as water and sanitation, wildlife, waste and poverty reduction.

The UNEP International Photographic Competition on the Environment 2004-2005 will run until 24 October, and is open to all nationalities and ages. Full details of the competition’s rules and regulations; information on how to submit photographs in both hard and electronic formats and an application form can be read and downloaded at http://www.unep-photo.com/. Australian entrants should send their photographs to UNEP Photographic Competition, TIME Magazine, Level 5, 61 Lavender Street, Milsons Point, NSW, 2061.

 

Tokyo Video Festival wants entries

JVC is seeking entries for the 27th JVC Tokyo Video Festival, which promotes the creation of content that explores the potential of video to deliver messages, record events, communicate information and express artistic insights.

The current festival marks the second consecutive year with a special award for high-definition video and a special High-Definition Digital Video Award will be given to a submission that fully exploits the characteristics of high-definition video. Entries must be 20 minutes or less in length and submitted on MiniDV, D-VHS, S-VHS or VHS tapes. There is no limit on the number of submissions per person. Applications must be postmarked before 30 September, 2004.

Major prizes to be awarded include the Video Grand Prize, which consists of a certificate and trophy, 500,000 Yen cash, a JVC High-Definition digital video camera and a round trip to Tokyo for the awards ceremony. The JVC Grand Prize consists of a certificate and trophy, 400,000 Yen cash, a JVC High-Definition digital video camera and a round trip to Tokyo for the awards ceremony. Thirty Excellence awards of 100,000 Yen will also be given along with 70 Selected Work certificates and three People’s Award plaques. Full details are available at http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/tvf/.

Australian entrants should post them to Hagemeyer (Australia) B.V., Consumer Products Division, 104 Vanessa Street, Kingsgrove, NSW 2208. Entry forms can be obtained by phoning 1300 728 225 or visiting www.jvc-australia.com.

 

Photokina coming up

The biennial Photokina World of Imaging Fair will open in the German city of Cologne in late September, attracting photo professionals and serious enthusiasts from all over the world.

Occupying 11 trade fair halls and more than 200,000 square metres of display space, this year’s exhibition and associated seminars will focus on the theme ‘Imaging is More’. Many displays will reflect the extension of photography and video into the broader arenas of consumer electronics, IT and telecommunications and home entertainment.

Photokina will also explore the potential for imaging technologies in society and cultural events and look at how images can be driving forces behind innovation. Special areas of interest will include photography with mobile phone and PDA cameras, the use of long-distance optical equipment, digital publishing, high-definition video, printing processes and applications and the latest display technologies for projectors and monitor screens. All camera and lens manufacturers will have their latest products on show – some of them in prototype form.
As always, Photokina 2004 is the venue for a fascinating range of visual displays, the largest being Visual Gallery 2004, which occupies Hall 7 of the exhibition centre.

With 3000 square metres of display space, the gallery will showcase one of the longest photographs in the world, a ‘New York to Baghdad’ display featuring images associated with the events of 11 September 2001 and an exhibition of contemporary Chinese photography.

Photokina 2004 runs from 28 September to 3 October 2004. Details of the exhibition and accommodation options are available from www.photokina.de or the local agency, MesseLink Pty Ltd, phone (02) 9955 4022 or email info@messelink.com.au.

 

New Tamron 90mm DSLR compatible

 

Tamron’s new SP AF90mm F2.8 Di 1:1 macro lens features a ‘Digitally Integrated’ design (Di) that makes it equally suitable for use with film and digital SLR cameras.

 

The SP90mm Macro lens, which was first introduced in 1979, underwent a major model change several years ago to achieve 1:1 macro capability and has since then been rated as a ‘best buy’ in many countries. Tamron’s Di optical system includes new coating surfaces that minimise the optical aberrations seen when 35mm SLR lenses are used on digital cameras, notably the flare and ghosting that result from light reflecting off the mirror-like sensor surfaces.

 

The 90mm focal length is converted to an equivalent of 140mm on a DSLR camera with a 1.5x lens multiplier factor. This makes the new lens ideal for portraiture with both film and digital SLRs. At the same time, the 1:1 macro capability enables users to capture dramatic close-ups, while providing a working camera-to-subject distance of 29 cm.

 

The new SP AF90mm lens is also smaller and lighter than its predecessor, measuring only 97mm in length and weighing just 405 grams. It is expected to sell for $799 and is available with mountings for Nikon AF-D, Minolta AF-D, Canon AF and Pentax AF cameras. Full details can be found at www.maxwell.com.au.

 

 

New version FxFoto released

 

Triscape has released a new software suite with a wide range of tools for organising, editing and sharing photos.

The new FxFoto 2.0 application is available in Standard, Deluxe Collage, and Pro Media Editions to suit different photographers’ needs. FxFoto 2.0 Standard is available as a fully functional free download and contains tools for organising photos visually and by timeline, editing and correction tools that go well beyond typical entry-level packages and printing and e-mailing facilities with smart compression of photos for efficient email. It also allows users to archive data to CD-ROM. FxFoto Deluxe Collage Edition contains additional tools for scrapbooking and panorama stitching. It also allows users to produce multi-photo collages and slide shows with 2D and 3D special effects and soundtracks. It can be downloaded for $US29.99.

FxFoto Pro Media Edition (US39.99) builds on the Deluxe Edition and allows users to create and publish photo-based movies and slide shows, complete with effects, soundtracks, and text. It can also produce slide shows and MPEG movies for CD-ROM (VCD and SVCD format) and DVD, which can be played on most home DVD players. FxFoto plug-in technology enables users to create website productions that can be viewed without requiring additional embedded software. Music files including MP3 and OOG format are also supported.

 

The Pro Media Edition also gives professionals the ability to publish restricted collages and slide shows that cannot be viewed, printed, or edited except by the original author after they expire. Full details and downloads are available at www.triscape.com.

 

Digital Euro-gongs

 

The European Technical Image Press Association has just announced its annual ‘Best Product’ awards for the year 2003-04.

 

Widely recognised as the ‘Oscars’ of the photo/imaging industry, the TIPA Awards are conferred by a panel of technical editors from 31 publications covering 12 countries. None of these publications has any relationship with either the manufacture or sale of photographic, video or digital products.

The Best Photo Products in Europe, 2004 are as follows:
Breakthrough Award: Canon EOS 300D
Best Consumer Digital SLR Camera: Nikon D70
Best Professional Digital SLR Camera: Canon EOS 1D MkII
Best Digital Budget Compact Camera: Olympus Camedia C-310 Zoom
Best Digital Consumer Compact Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC T-1
Best Digital Prosumer Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2
Best Digital Camera Back: Sinarback 54 M
Best Imaging Storage Media: SanDisk Ultra II series
Best Digital Accessory: Lexar JumpDrive family
Best Film Scanner: Nikon Coolscan V ED
Best Flatbed Photo Scanner: Epson Perfection 4870 Photo
Best Dye-Sublimation Photo Printer: Kodak Photo Printer 6800
Best Inkjet Photo Printer: Epson Stylus Photo R800
Best Large Format Photo Printer: HP Designjet 130
Best Professional Camcorder: Sony DSR-PD170
Best Photo Software: Adobe Photoshop CS
Best 35mm SLR Camera: Canon EOS 30V Date/33V
Best 35mm Compact Camera: Olympus mju-III 80
Best Film: Kodak Professional BW400CN
Best Professional Product: Imacon Flextight 949
Best Consumer Lens: Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4.0 EX DG Aspherical
Best Hi-End Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 150mm F2.0
Best Innovative Design: Panasonic SV-AV50 D-Snap
Best Technology: Canon Data Verification Software kit DVK-E2
Best Digital Minilab: Agfa d-lab.1
Gold Medal Award: 50 Years of Kodak Tri-X

Full details of the awards and links to the evaluation committee’s comments can be found at www.tipa.com.