Staff

Nik Software has announced the availability of its new
Complete Collection of the company’s award-winning digital imaging
software products. This new product bundle includes all of the latest
versions of Nik Software’s products available at a discounted price of
$599, which represents a savings of $450 if purchased separately.

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Lensbaby, LLC (formerly known as Lensbabies,
LLC) is launching an entire new system of selective focus lenses.
Three new Lensbaby lenses – The Composer, The Muse and The Control
Freak, – make up the new line of products. Each features the new
Lensbaby Optic Swap system. The new Muse and the new Control Freak
replace the current Original, Lensbaby 2.0, and Lensbaby 3G lenses,
which will be phased out immediately. With the Composer, Lensbaby
introduces a completely new lens, based on a ball and socket
configuration that delivers smooth selective focus photography with
unparalleled ease of use and greater precision.

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Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) has introduced the world’s first consumer-available wireless picture frame featuring innovative Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, a Kodak invention that produces exceptionally sharp and vivid image quality. OLED technology generates greater color depth and saturation than other displays, viewed on panels that are substantially thinner, resulting in a sleek, low-profile design.

The new KODAK OLED Wireless Frame also features built-in Wi-Fi technology that expands the user’s experience by enabling access to pictures, videos and music stored on PCs in other rooms, as well as connectivity to online photo and video sharing sites and Internet content portals for news, weather, sports and more.

At the heart of the new KODAK OLED Wireless Frame is an ultra-thin, 7.6-inch diagonal digital panel that produces stunning image detail, when viewed from any angle. The viewing experience is further enhanced by Kodak Perfect Touch technology, which automatically processes images to improve exposure, brightness and color, and KODAK Image Science, which optimizes image quality for display on OLED panels.

The KODAK OLED Wireless Frame requires no backlighting, and incorporates an ambient light sensor that optimizes the viewing experience by adjusting display brightness based on the surrounding light.  Kodak has also designed a premium audio system into the frame, providing outstanding sound reproduction when enjoying videos, digital music and online content.

The KODAK OLED Wireless Frame will retail for US $999 (MSRP) and will be available at kodak.com beginning in the 2008 holiday season, with additional online and retail distribution to be announced.

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From October 10-13, Nikon will sponsor 100 of the world's most promising young photojournalists in upstate New York for the 21st annual Eddie Adams workshop, also known as the “Barnstorm.” Seasoned professional photographers and photo editors will mentor the handpicked selection of students during the intense four-day workshop. This year, Barnstorm students will have the opportunity to try out Nikon’s new D3 and D700 professional digital SLR cameras as well as receive technical advice from Nikon experts available on-site.

“Nikon is proud to continue its tradition of educating the photographers and photojournalists of the future through the Eddie Adams Barnstorm Workshop,” said Bill Pekala, general manager of Nikon Professional Services, and Eddie Adams Workshop board member. “We at Nikon are honored to have the opportunity to provide these outstanding students with access Nikon's extensive line of high-quality cameras and precision lenses, as well as empower them with the photographic knowledge the world has come to expect from Nikon.”

To tailor the learning experience to the ever-changing industry, participants have access to a state-of-the-art digital photo and multimedia studio with all of the latest technologies. Additionally, Nikon will provide access to the D3 and new D700 digital SLR cameras, allowing these students to capture the world around them in stunning detail and clarity.

Barnstorm participants are the visionary photographers of tomorrow and will benefit from the experience and advice of professional mentors such as John White, Bill Epperidge, and Clay Patrick McBride. Other famous photographers available to Barnstorm participants include individuals from top-tier photojournalism publications such as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Getty Images and The Associated Press.

During the workshop, the Barnstorm students are divided into ten teams, with each team paired with a photographer, an editor and a researcher. Each day consists of hands-on activities such as shooting and editing, as well as speeches and panel discussions. Over the course of the workshop, students are exposed to many types of photography including photojournalism, fine art photography, studio portraiture, underwater work, long-term projects, and conflict photography.

Following an overwhelmingly positive response the past two years, the multimedia workshop will continue as part of the core curriculum. With many news outlets and other publications expanding their offerings to include interactive slideshows and audio, students receive a crash course in the new media marketplace with access to the top multimedia editors in the country.

In addition to sponsoring the Barnstorm, this is the fifth year that Nikon will award a $10,000 scholarship to the top student from the Barnstorm XXI Workshop. A panel of judges selects a student based on the work he or she presents during the workshop. The scholarship money must be used by the winning student to further his or her education in the photographic arts field, and will be applied towards their tuition and/or housing at the college of attendance.

"For over 20 years, the Barnstorm Workshop has served as a vital tool for educating and inspiring the photographers of the future,” said Alyssa Adams, executive director, Eddie Adams Workshop. “With an alumni base of over 2,000 members, it is their continued passion and love for communicating through vivid imagery that has laid the foundation for this year's Barnstorm class and we are proud to continually renew the tenets of powerful photojournalism and photography."

About Barnstorm: The Eddie Adams Workshop
The purpose of the Eddie Adams Workshop is to create a forum where the exchange of ideas, techniques, and philosophies can be shared between both established members and newcomers of the profession of picture journalism. The workshop is a tuition-free, invitation-only event. Attendees are portfolio-selected by the Eddie Adams Workshop Board of Directors. For more information, please visit www.eddieadamsworkshop.com.

About NPS
Nikon Professional Services provides valuable assistance for pros in every segment of the photography field, including newspaper, industrial, police and forensic, medical photography, commercial studios and even special movie productions. NPS is also available to work with national photographic organizations offering advice and assistance, demonstrations of the latest Nikon products, and lectures on various photography topics. NPS is also well known as a resource for professional photographers at various field events. For more information on NPS and membership requirements for the program, please visit www.nikonpro.com.
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