REI rights grab

Rights-grabbing terms for photo submissions from outdoor sport retailer REI:

1. I irrevocably grant to Recreational Equipment, Inc. . . . in perpetuity, for no additional consideration, to use the photographs or pictures . . . an unlimited number of times in any manner REI deems . . . without restriction as to changes or alterations, or reproductions . . . . I also consent to the use of printed matter in conjunction therewith.

and it gets worse from there.

More info at Photo Attorney

Ilford announce campaign to "defend the darkroom"

Ilford press release:

ILFORD PHOTO has launched a campaign to enhance the position, standing and future of the UK’s darkrooms and associated creative techniques. Inspired by those involved in the analogue photographic industry, from manufacturers to the media, the campaign is designed to be a vehicle to establish a new future for darkroom photography.

By inspiring a new generation of darkroom users, raising the profile of darkroom on the photo-education agenda and redefining the relationship between analogue and digital photography, ‘Defend the Darkroom’ will establish a new direction for photography. The campaign will inspire a new mindset that will unlock the latent potential of photography’s heritage to inspire a bold future of innovation, creativity and diversity.

Howard Hopwood, marketing director at ILFORD PHOTO commented:
"Interest in darkroom photography isn’t waning, but it is certainly being neglected by various parties. Our campaign is a watershed moment for the industry, designed to inspire a future of photography that reflects the coexistence of digital and darkroom technology."

The campaign will take many forms and is essentially an ever-evolving project to bring the world of darkroom photography to the attention of the digital generation and inspire new ideas, new enthusiasm and new skills amongst a new breed of photographers.

Howard Hopwood, added:

"For too long now, Darkroom has been slipping down the agenda of educational institutions, regardless of continued support from photo-educators and those responsible for establishing the photo-education curriculum. Our campaign will highlight these problems and make the case for darkroom education.

During the fast-paced digital revolution, digital technology has been seen, by some as a replacement for analogue technology – but through this campaign ILFORD PHOTO is keen to show how the two can coexist as complementary creative art forms.

"Darkroom photography is not standing still. It is not a relic of a bygone era, it is very much a part of the evolving world of photography. Our campaign will educate new and existing darkroom photographers about the technological developments from manufacturers that are shaping the future of darkroom

"The signature of darkroom is the physical control over the image; the art of the developing process. Skill and creativity in the darkroom is as much a part of photography as the taking of the picture." Added Howard.

Initial initiatives for the campaign include:

1. Development of a Photo Instructor Newsletter for UK educational establishments
2. A series of ‘Darkroom’ Master Class events to promote and inspire the creative process.
3. Continuing sponsorship of Red Eye, an Art Council funded project to provide a travelling darkroom to enhance awareness of black and white photography to schools, colleges, local arts groups and the like.
4. Sponsorship of talented students to support and promote darkroom enthusiasts.

New initiatives will be announced on a regular basis all under the ‘Defend the Darkroom’ banner.

Already ILFORD PHOTO has invited twenty of the most highly regarded photography educators in the United Kingdom to the HARMAN technology headquarters in Mobberley, to highlight the campaign and learn about the latest advances in traditional photography. The event was organised by ILFORD PHOTO alongside Key Photo, the leading supplier of photographic products to education and the public sector. A key focus of the two-day tour and conference event was how the merger of darkroom and digital technologies is influencing a ‘new world’ of photography shaped by the coexistence of analogue and digital technology.

Matthew Finn, photography lecturer at Thames Valley University commented on the day:

"Since visiting HARMAN I can see they are committed to keeping black and white photography alive and it is up to me and other photo educators across the country to also make sure it remains a widely used medium and not just a mere specialist niche interest.

"If this was to happen photography would lose an entire dimension. I support ILFORD PHOTO’s campaign to communicate the dangers of losing darkroom, and the consequences of neglecting analogue photography."

ILFORD PHOTO believes that analogue and digital photography should have an equal standing in the photographic arena. By lobbying for equal recognition in generic industry debate and discussion, the campaign will help analogue photography, and darkroom photographers to gain the recognition they deserve.

Looks pretty sweet to me!

First ever World Film Photography Day announced

This bulletin in the news area of Fuji’s choose-film.com site says:

The first ever World Film Photography Day (WFPD) is to be held on 20th March 2008.

This will be an opportunity for photographers to go out on the same day, shoot some film, and within the following four weeks post one of their resulting images on the WFPD website.

Although it can be said that every day is a photography day it is intended that this one day will help to achieve four things:

  • to celebrate all that film photography has to offer,
  • to bring together film enthusiasts on the same day for a single purpose,
  • to encourage the use of film for new photographers and digital converts,
  • and to keep the film market alive for future generations to enjoy.

It is also anticipated that many photographic manufacturers, retailers, magazines and organizations, as well as other photo forums, will also come on board and participate in and support the day.

The WFPD website includes a free to use mini-forum which is open now, and is the place where images taken on the day may be posted (in a dedicated section that will open for posting one month from the 20th March). As well as a growing links section and a new area for film related articles, there are numerous additional features planned for the site during the year.

The WFPD Calendar:
1st March 2008 – Start of general run-up to WFPD.
20th March 2008 – World Film Photography Day. Get out and shoot some film! Also the image sharing forums will open on the website.
20th March to 20th April 2008 – Time to develop, scan, and post an image on the site or with one of the participating forums.

Further information plus contact details may be found on the site at www.worldfilmphotoday.org.

This appears to work the same way that Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day does, in that you go out and shoot some film and then upload your pictures to their Web site. I can’t find any submission terms, though, so that’s something to look out for before uploading.

Proposal: Photographers Who Are Not Adams Or Weston Month

It seems not an online discussion thread about large format photography can go by without invoking Their Holinesses, Ansel Adams or Edward Weston. Great photographers, both, who made significant contributions and had significant influence. But they’re not saints or gods, and the inevitable, genuflecting references and predictable ensuing debates tend to make the conversations essentially the same. Different actors type out different parts of the same script on fora and recite them in darkrooms everywhere. Maybe it’s time to shut the fuck up about them for a little while and open our eyes to other work.

Thus, I propose that we declare September Annual Photographers Who Are Not Adams Or Weston Month, where neither of their names are spoken, typed, or their work or accomplishments even referenced. Where we just give it a rest already. Where we attempt to actually think for ourselves. Where we go out and hunt down some forgotten greats from the last 150 years, and some shining new potential stars who might help us see things in a different flavour of light.

Then on the first of October we can go back to our mindless droning, forgetting that colour large format photography actually exists, and thinking there’s little in LF to learn but what Ed and Ansel "bestowed" upon us, and that if we could just see as they saw and print as they printed, all would be well. But please. Let us have September.

UK & IRE Photography Jobs Finder Web site launches

Photography Jobs Finder press release:

Photography Jobs Finder launches to provide the photography industry with its first dedicated recruitment website for job seekers and employers.

In a recent survey of 78 people working within the photography field 59 stated they had experienced problems when searching online for work and found it a time consuming process.

Responding to this survey the Photography Jobs Finder website (www.photographyjobsfinder.com) has been launched. Providing an online recruitment service dedicated to employers and jobs seekers from the photography industry, its purpose is to streamline the task of job searching.

Alex Hamer, creator of Photography Jobs Finder, says, "Being a photographer I have always found it a laborious task when searching for work. Jobs are often scattered over many websites and there is not one dedicated location for the photography industry to visit. With Photography Jobs Finder I am trying to solve these problems and make all our lives easier!"

Photography Jobs Finder already advertises a number of jobs, ranging from freelance photography to picture editors. As well as this it provides job seekers with the ability to build their CV online for potential employers to search from and view.

Photographers can now sign up free to a weekly jobs bulletin delivered straight to their inboxes.

For further details about Photography Jobs Finder go to www.photographyjobsfinder.com

The site appears to cover the UK and Ireland at this time.