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Posts Tagged ‘fund’

Olympus to Quit the Camera Business, Sell Brands to Investment Fund

28 Jun

The post Olympus to Quit the Camera Business, Sell Brands to Investment Fund appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

dps-olympus-to-quit-camera-business

Olympus is leaving the camera business.

After three years of financial struggle, the company has decided to sell its camera division to Japanese Industrial Partners (JIP), a firm known for its ability to successfully restructure unprofitable businesses.

In recent years, Olympus has become more heavily invested in other aspects of its business, and while the company attempted to keep its camera division moving forward, it has struggled to compete with players on either end of the spectrum. Smartphones have eaten into profits generated by hobbyist cameras, while APS-C and full-frame cameras have maintained an edge against Olympus’s semi-professional and professional models.

Then, last fall, rumors of an Olympus camera division shutdown were denied by the CEO, though it’s clear that the company was on a firm downward trajectory; as indicated in the official announcement, Olympus was hit hard by an “extremely severe digital camera market, due to, amongst others, rapid market shrink caused by the evolution of smartphones.”

And while Olympus’s mirrorless lineups were praised for their compactness and sharp lenses, the company struggled to find a habitable niche, especially as “small-but-powerful” became a common refrain of Google Pixels, iPhones, and more. And the release of higher-end bodies such as the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and the OM-D E-M1X wasn’t enough to pull more serious photographers away from leading brands such as Nikon, Canon, and Sony.

So what comes next?

JIP plans to take over the Olympus camera brands by the end of 2020. The announcement indicates that a “definitive agreement” will be signed by September 30th, with the two companies aiming to “close the transaction by December 31, 2020.”

JIP will then “succeed and maintain the research and development functions and manufacturing functions globally…to continue to offer high-quality, highly reliable products.”

This is technically good news for Olympus photographers. JIP will at least attempt to rebuild Olympus’s camera division in the interests of its current consumers. But if the camera market continues to bleed, it may be impossible for JIP to turn things around, leading to a more permanent end for the brand.

And here’s another important question:

What does this mean for the camera industry as a whole? Is Olympus an anomaly? Or is the first of many? At present, even leading camera companies are struggling to find footing, which makes me wonder whether we might witness the fall of at least a few more camera brands before the market stabilizes.

Now over to you:

What do you think about Olympus’s decision? Will it impact Olympus consumers? And will we see the decline of other major camera brands? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Olympus to Quit the Camera Business, Sell Brands to Investment Fund appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Adobe Announces $1M Community Fund to Aid Artists During Pandemic

05 May

The post Adobe Announces $ 1M Community Fund to Aid Artists During Pandemic appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Adobe community fund creative residency

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Adobe has announced a new Creative Residency Community Fund, designed to “help visual creators stay on track and achieve their dreams.”

The Fund is an offshoot of Adobe’s annual Creative Residency program, which supports several artists over the course of a year. But creatives have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, leading Adobe to look for additional ways to support artists in need.

And so the Creative Residency Community Fund was born. With the support of the Fund, artists can undertake a project of their own or complete a project commissioned by Adobe.

Adobe Community Fund

The Fund has been given $ 1 million USD to offer creatives support through mid-2021. Several application deadlines have been established over the next year, and artists will be notified on a rolling basis of their acceptance into the program.

Successful applicants will receive a sum between $ 500 USD and $ 5000 USD to support the project. Applicants will also receive a Creative Cloud membership, in addition to “career guidance workshops.”

For those who are interested in applying, the details can be found on the Adobe website. Note that you must specify up-front whether you’d like to be considered for the personal project or the commissioned project. Your application will ultimately go before a selection committee, which will determine both the success of your application and the funds you’ll be allotted.

Creatives can apply from all over the world, though Adobe does require English proficiency (excepting Japanese applicants). Applicants must also be 18 years or older.

As for the type of project that will be successfully funded:

Adobe explains that they “always consider great projects of all types if they showcase Creative Cloud capabilities,” but will focus on:

  • Video
  • Photography
  • Photo art
  • Graphic design
  • Illustration
  • 3D
  • Motion design
  • Product or interface design

So if you’re a creative that’s looking to complete a new project, go ahead and apply! The first application deadline is June 1st, though you’ll also have an opportunity to apply in September 2020, December 2020, and March 2021.

The post Adobe Announces $ 1M Community Fund to Aid Artists During Pandemic appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Adobe tweaks Creative Residency program to launch $1M support fund for visual creatives

01 May

Adobe has announced the latest iteration of its Adobe Creative Resident program, one that has changed substantially in light of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, Adobe says that it will only select two Creative Residents, but that it will also launch a $ 1 million Creative Residency Community Fund intended to support creators during the economic downturn.

Adobe explains that this fund will be open globally and will be used to hire creatives for projects commissioned by Adobe over the next year, as well as personal projects. Creatives who get support from Adobe for personal and commissioned projects will also receive career guidance workshops, Creative Cloud memberships and other unspecified support.

Visual creatives interested in the fund will need to apply on Adobe’s website here. Applicants have the choice of applying for a creative project grant, which will range from $ 500 to $ 5,000, or for Adobe project commissions, which will also be valued at $ 500 to $ 5,000. Applicants aren’t required to propose a project when applying for commissioned work.

Adobe plans to run its fund for 12 months from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Recipients will be notified about their inclusion in the program 30 to 60 days after submitting their application; the grants are issued on a monthly basis.

Adobe says that creatives can apply for the Community Fund even if they already applied for the Creative Residency this year but weren’t selected. The company is accepting applications from a variety of visual creatives, including professionals who work with 3D, graphic design, short-form online videos, photography, digital painting and drawing, motion design and UX/UI/VX/XD design.

As far as commissioned work goes, professionals who are selected for projects will receive work based on their portfolio, skills and what Adobe happens to need at the time. This could include artwork for social media or use in applications, or something like creating a video, writing an article or developing a tutorial, according to the company.

Beyond this, Adobe announced that Christina Poku and Maddy Beard are its two Creative Residents for the 2020-2021 year. It’s yet to be seen whether the coronavirus pandemic is over by the start of Adobe’s next residency period and what kind of impact that may have on the company’s future plans for its program.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

10 Sep

The post How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kav Dadfar.

There is nothing quite like when you sell a travel story to a magazine. Seeing all your hard work in print gives you a great sense of satisfaction. Editorial work has changed a lot over the past few years, and you must prepare yourself for some rejection. However, if you follow this simple process of selling a story, and don’t give up, you will reap the rewards.

Also note, once you have built up a few relationships with editors, things get simpler. Once editors know and trust you, they will be far more receptive to your pitch for a story.

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

Publication research

Once you have an article idea, it’s always a good idea to research the type of magazines that may be interested in printing your story. Magazines differ significantly from one another. To give your story the best possible chance of publication, aim to pitch it to the right place.

For example, if your story is about walking, then pitch it to magazines that specialize in hiking or outdoor activities. Go to your local shop and flick through the magazine you intend to pitch to and see if it would be the right fit.

Also, research their submission process. Many publications have clear guidelines on how to submit work.

Image: An example of a travel article in 360ºMagazine by Jennifer Bell.

An example of a travel article in 360ºMagazine by Jennifer Bell.

Find a fresh angle

When you have your list of possible publications, ensure your story is fresh and unique. You don’t want to pitch ideas that are the same or similar to articles already recently published.

Most publications publish their articles on their website too, so check that what you are pitching is different. Also, remember to check upcoming articles as well. It may be that your article idea is set to feature in the next few issues.

The publication’s media pack is usually a good place to search for this sort of thing.

How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

Destination research

Now that you have your angle and a list of preferred publications, it is time to research your topic. Researching your topic is one of the most important aspects of any shoot, and one rarely mentioned when discussing selling a story to a magazine. Many photographers will have you believe everything just comes together out in the field. But the reality is very different.

If your story is on the best museums in a certain city, then make sure you have a list of the museums you plan to visit. Write down everything from the best times to be there to the most important exhibits. If your angle is about hiking, then plan your walk to factor in the best times at viewpoints for photography.

The more you research, the better your shoot will be.

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

Prepare for rejection

If you want to be successful in any industry, you have to accept rejection along the way. Even as a pro with years of experience behind you, not every pitch will be successful. If only it was…

The key is not to take rejection personally. Don’t let it discourage you from pitching a different story to the same publication. If you are lucky and the editor gives you some feedback, take note of their suggestions, and work on these areas. Never get angry or burn your bridges with anyone as you will have an impossible task to win them round again.

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

Shoot plan

Once you’ve got your angle and completed your research, its time to start putting a shoot plan together. Your shoot plan should be more than just a list of locations – think of your shoot plan like an encyclopedia of your shoot. Include anything relevant like opening times, best times to shoot (sunset/sunrise), and logistics of getting to your required shoot locations.

Make a note of other potential locations you can visit. It’s also worth putting together some contingency ideas in the case of bad weather or unforeseen closures. The key to a good shoot plan is to make it as easy as possible to capture the shots you want to take.

The last thing that you want to be doing is rushing around, wasting valuable shooting time.

How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

Image variation

The reason that a shot list is so important is it ensures you cover the shots that you need to capture, and will also give you variety. Your images should include a range of details, people, buildings, landscapes/cityscapes, food, and anything else that would be relevant to your story.

The more variation and options you can provide an editor, the more chance you will have of selling your story.

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

Tell a story

The big difference between a story and just documenting a place is the story you are trying to tell. You want to try to make sure your piece isn’t just a photographic list of places. The key is to take the viewer on a journey with you. It is also important to take notes of all the necessary information that accompanies your story. People’s names, places, names of food dishes – you never know what might be needed.

The final piece should be a coherent story that has a variety in the shots.

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

The pitch

Some people prefer to pitch their idea before embarking on their journey. While this is a safe option in regards to knowing you wouldn’t be wasting money unnecessarily unless you already have a relationship with an editor, it can be difficult. Even if an editor does like your idea, it is very unlikely they will offer you a commission straightaway. Any agreement will usually be on a speculative basis so they will not be under any obligation to buy your article afterward.

I personally believe you are best to pitch a finished piece that’s ready to go to press. Whatever approach you decide to take, the pitch is the most crucial part of the process. You’ve put in all that hard work and investment, so it’s important to get your pitch just right so you make a great first impression.

Your email should be direct and well thought out, showing off your knowledge of your subject. It should be backed up with the credibility required to give the editor confidence in you and your work. Take your time composing your pitch email and run it by friends and family for feedback. It’s okay to send a follow-up email a couple of weeks later but don’t keep pestering the editor. If you haven’t heard back after a couple of emails, assume it hasn’t been successful.

How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

Submission

If you do get that great bit of news that your story has been accepted, make sure to follow all submission guidelines. Otherwise, your piece will more than likely be rejected. Your text should be proofread to avoid any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Even if you are just providing images, typos make you look unprofessional.

The majority of publications will also have strict guidelines for images, so be sure to follow these. It’s a good idea to read these before you start your edit as there will usually be guidelines on color space, sharpening and even cropping. Many publications prefer to do this in-house.

How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

What next?

So you’ve sent your pitch and nothing even after the follow-up. You can either try another publication or go back to the drawing board with a different story. However, even if your story has been successful, be sure to go back with other ideas. Even if it takes time, going back to the same editor might be a little easier now that they have seen your work.

How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels

Publications have limited space for freelance photographers to pitch stories. Inevitably there is also a huge amount of competition for any available space. The best way to give yourself a chance is to really research the publication and pitch something that would be too good for them to turn down.

Do you have any other tips about how to sell a travel story to a magazine? If so, share with us in the comments below!

 

How-to-Sell-a-Travel-Story

The post How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kav Dadfar.


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Beastgrip launches Kickstarter to fund next generation DSLR lens adapter for smartphones

31 May

Beastgrip has created a Kickstarter campaign to fund its latest series of adapters that allow smartphone photographers to shoot through SLR lenses and achieve the associated shallow depth of field. The company has not only officially launched the Mk2 model of its existing DOF Adapter but is also offering the new Pro Series 1.33x Anamorphic Lens and the Beastrail to attach focusing aids when using cinema lenses.

Beastgrip says that it has redesigned some of the build and handling aspects of the DOF MK2 but has also given it new optics that are said to reduce the occurrence of aberrations while at the same time making the system compatible with a wider range of lenses – including zooms.

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The new anamorphic lens compresses a wider view onto the smartphone’s sensor which can then be worked in post-production to create videos with a 2.4:1 aspect ratio and stills in the 16:9 format. The lens has a 58mm filter thread on the front and is prone to ‘cool horizontal lens flare that you get when the lens is pointed towards a bright light source.’

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The Beastgrip DOF MK2 will cost $ 269.99 on its own or $ 409.98 with the Beastgrip Pro housing, while the 1.33x Anamorphic Lens will cost $ 175 or $ 314.99 with the Beastgrip Pro. The Beastrail will be $ 159.99. Each of the items, and various kit combinations, will be offered at a discount on the Kickstarter page for ‘early bird’ investors. 

For more information see the Beastgrip DOF MK2 Kickstarter page or the Beastgrip website.

Press Release

Beastgrip is Releasing New Gear to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Pro Camera Rig

Beastgrip is proud to announce the DOF Adapter MK2, the next generation of the best-selling DOF Adapter that allows photographers and filmmakers to mount a real SLR or DSLR lens to a smartphone for a stunning bokeh, shallow depth of field and manual focus control.

“Smartphone cameras are great, but they have substantial limitations. Without true depth of field, larger sensors and/or the option to add lenses or camera gear, most photos/videos that are shot with one all look the same,” said CEO Vadym Chalenko. “We’re here to change that.”

“Using lenses and depth of field adapters with your smartphone give you an entirely new look, by changing the focal length, perspective, and emotion of your shot so you can focus the viewer’s attention on what’s most important,” VP of Business Development Sean Lawrence explains.

The original DOF Adapter has been a monumental advancement in “phoneography.” Since it was released on Kickstarter back in 2015, professional filmmakers have been pushing it to its fullest potential with films like Ghost Digital Cinema’s “MALTO,” Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ “No Love Like Yours,” National Geographic’s “Wasfia,” and Boat Magazine’s “Of Land and Sea.”

“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of these projects, but we knew that the DOF Adapter could be – and should be – better, so that creators of any skill level can harness its power in their workflow,” added Chalenko.

New Features for the DOF Adapter MK2

  • The new design dramatically improves the image quality from the first version and provides a simple, user-friendly experience. The MK2 also boasts the following new features:
  • Custom optics that dramatically reduce vignetting/hotspotting, chromatic aberration and distortion.
  • Compatibility with a much wider range of full-frame SLR/DSLR lenses, such as zoom lenses.
  • Sealed focusing screen and components for a maintence-free user experience.
  • Durable, black anodized aluminum casing with a rotating barrel that aligns the focusing screen and bayonet mount in one simple motion.

Beastrail

Beastgrip also created a rail support for attaching additional accessories like a follow focus to the DOF Adapter MK2 for a complete filmmaking system with the same features found on professional camera rigs.

Pro Series 1.33X Anamorphic Lens

Following the recent release of the Beastgrip x Kenko Pro Series .75X Wide Angle lens, Beastgrip is adding a 1.33X Anamorphic Lens to the Pro Series Lens Collection as well. This lens transforms videos into a widescreen 2.4:1 aspect ratio and adds a more dramatic perspective without the need to crop, resulting in a high resolution, cinematic look and creative lens flares like seen in Hollywood film

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Meyer Optik launches Kickstarter campaign to fund third Trioplan lens – the 35+

10 Mar

German lens manufacturer Meyer Optik Gorlitz intends to produce the ‘last chapter’ of its ‘Trioplan Trilogy’ if it gets enough funding from its latest Kickstarter campaign to build the Trioplan 35+. The new lens will sit alongside the company’s 100mm F2.8 and 50mm F2.9 Trioplan ‘Soap Bubble’ lenses and will have a maximum aperture of F2.8.

As with the 100mm and 50mm models, the 35mm lens will be based on a historic optical design but will use modern coated glass from Schott and Ohara. This time though, the construction will shift away from the traditional three-elements-in-three-groups of the standard Cooke triplet and will have an additional pair of elements at the front to adapt the design for full frame sensors. The original Trioplan 1.8in lens this one is based on was designed for 8mm film and was telephoto for the format, according to the company, so some changes had to be made to alter it to be a moderate wide for 35mm-style sensors. The extra two elements account for the + in the 35+ name.

The new lens will focus to 0.3m and its 12-bladed iris will provide a minimum aperture of F22. Meyer says it intends to make the lens in a range of mounts:

  • Canon EF
  • Nikon F
  • Sony E
  • FujiX
  • Micro Four Thirds
  • M42
  • Pentax-K
  • Leica M (rangefinder not supported/focusing via live view)
  • Leica L , suitable for SL & T mirrorless cameras (strictly manual, rangefinder not supported/focusing via live view) 

The ‘soap bubble’ name comes from a characteristic of the design that renders out-of-focus highlights in dramatic style when the lens is used wide open.
At the time of writing the campaign had already passed its goal three times over, but lenses could still be ordered for $ 649 against an expected full retail price of $ 1599. For more information visit the Meyer Optik Gorlitz website or the company’s Kickstarter page.

Technical data:
Focal length: 35 mm
Aperture: 1:2,8, – 1:22
Angle: +/- 31,5°
Focussing Distance: Infinity to 0,3 m
Clip on diameter: 41 mm
Filter Diameter: M 39 x 0,75
Size: Ø 61,5 mm x 50 mm
Weight: ca. 220g
Aperture blades: 12

Manufacturer’s information:

The Trioplan 35mm is now on Kickstarter

Our new Kickstarter just launched and the mystery lens that you´ve been waiting for is the Trioplan 35mm f2.8, or as we´ve dubbed it, the Trioplan 35+.

The Trioplan 35+ is the final piece of our Trioplan Trilogy, which includes the Trioplan 100mm f2.8 and the 50mm f2.9.

Kickstarter backers will be the first in line to get this incredible addition to the Meyer-Optik lineup of hand-crafted, manual focus art lenses. The Trioplan 35+ is expected to be available at the retail price of $ 1,599 later this year but Kickstarter backers can secure the lens for a much lower investment. What backers will get is a groundbreaking lens.

Previously, it was thought too difficult to achieve the soap bubble effect in a wide angle lens. But Meyer-Optik engineers designed the new lens according to the historic Cook Triplet design but added two elements to boost the lens. The extra two lens elements is why Meyer-Optik decided to add the “+” to the name of the lens.

The Trioplan 35+ will be unrivaled in its ability to capture the spirit and emotion of the moment. Photography is not just about squeezing the most pixels into a square inch – it´s about creating art.

The Trioplan 35+ is a full-frame lens and will be available in all major mounts. Early backers will profit from a Super Early Bird pricing.

Don´t miss your chance to be one of the first in line to get this new Trioplan lens, which will join the Trioplan 100mm f2.8 and Trioplan 50mm f2.9 in the Meyer-Optik lineup of premier, hand-crafted art lenses. Of course Kickstarter backers will benefit from a groundbreaking price.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2017 Oskar Barnack award offers €80,000 prize fund

11 Jan

The Unbearable, the Sadness and the Rest
Clémentine Schneidermann
Winner of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award Newcomer 2016

Leica has announced that entries for its 2017 Oskar Barnack award will be accepted from 1st March and that the winner will receive €25,000 in cash and €10,000 worth of M-system equipment comprising a body and lenses. The theme for this year is ‘the interaction between people and their environment’ and entrants are expected to submit a series of between ten and twelve images that were all or mostly shot during 2016-17.

In addition to the main prize, there will be a Newcomer Award for 25s and under that will consist of €10,000 of cash and €10,000’s worth of M-system camera and lenses. Ten other photographers will receive a prize of €2,500 for being in the shortlist.

The competition is open to professional and, in the case of the Newcomer Award, prospective professional photographers and there is only one entry per person. Images do not have to have been shot on Leica equipment.

Entry closes on April 10th and the winners will be awarded their prizes at a ceremony in Berlin. For more information and to see the winners from previous years visit the Leica Oskar Barnack Award website.

Press release

Leica announces Oskar Barnack Award 2017

Dates confirmed for prestigious annual Leica Camera AG photographic competition

Now in its 37th year, Leica has announced the opening dates for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2017. Those wishing to enter the renowned international competition for professional photographers, in addition to the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award’ (for up-and coming photographers under the age of 25), can submit their entries between 1 March and 10 April 2017.

The competition calls for the submission of a self-contained series of between ten and twelve images, in which the photographer perceives and documents the interaction between people and their environment in a creative and ground-breaking style. Eligible for submission are portfolios of photographs captured in 2016 and 2017, or work from long-term projects including at least some images taken within this period. From 1 March 2017, entry forms and the terms and conditions of entry, will be available on the competition website at www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com.

As in the previous year, the presentation of the awards to the winners in both categories will take place at a gala ceremony in Berlin. Oskar Barnack, the inventor of the revolutionary and iconic ‘Ur-Leica’ 35mm camera, began his career in the German capital. Indeed, in 1959, close to the Giesensdorfer Schule in Berlin – attended by Barnack as a child, and where children are still taught today – a street was named ‘Barnackufer’ to commemorate the school’s most famous pupil.

With prizes amounting to a total cash value of 80,000 euros, the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ is one of the industry’s most prestigious photographic competitions. The winner in the main category will be honoured with a cash prize of 25,000 euros and Leica M-System equipment (a camera and lens) valued at an additional 10,000 euros. The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive a cash prize of 10,000 euros and will also receive a Leica rangefinder camera and lens. In addition to the two main categories, a further ten submissions to the competition will each be honoured with prizes of 2,500 euros. The portfolios entered by all finalists will be published on the www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com website and in a magazine published specially for the competition.

Further details will be announced during the year.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica announces €80,000 prize fund for 2016 Oskar Barnack Awards

22 Jan

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Leica has increased the value and volume of prizes on offer for the forthcoming Oskar Barnack awards for 2016, with the winner taking home €25,000 in cash on top of a €10,000 M system camera and lens. The newcomer prize has been doubled to €10,000 in cash, and the winner will also receive a Leica rangefinder kit. 

The competition theme will be the relationship between man and the environment, and entrants are expected to submit a series of 10-12 images that work together ‘with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creatively and innovatively’. As well as the main award there will be ten awards of €2500. 

Submitted pictures must have been taken in 2015 or 2016, and all entrants for the main competition must be professional photographers. Prospective professionals who are 25 years old or younger can enter the Newcomer Award – for which there will be a main prize-winner and a further ten photographers will have their work ‘recognized’.  

An online public voting process will also take place via the i-shot-it website, and the winner of that will receive €2500 as well. Voters will be entered into a draw for Leica compact cameras.

The competition opens on 1st March and the closing date will be 15th April 2016. For more information visit Leica’s Oskar Barnack awards website, and to see the submission of last year’s winner, visit the Leica gallery of Swedish photographer JH Engstrom. You can see other successful submissions in the general winners’ galleries. 

Press release: 

Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2016

Prestigious photographic competition continues in 36th year with brand new features and prizes

Now in its 36th year, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, an international photographic competition for professional photographers as well as up-and-coming photographers under the age of 25, continues its rich tradition in 2016 with numerous new features and significantly more attractive prizes. 

The recipients of this year’s Leica Oskar Barnack Awards will be honoured at an official prize-giving ceremony, to be held in Germany for the first time in many years. Furthermore, the prize value for the winner of the ‘Newcomer Award’ has been doubled to a total of 10,000 euros and, for the first time, the work of ten further entrants will be recognised. 

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2016 competition is open for entries from 1 March 2016. Photographers interested in taking part can now submit their applications and photographic projects online, with a closing date of 15 April 2016. Terms and conditions of entry can be downloaded from http://www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com/. 

With prizes amounting to a total cash value of 80,000 euros, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award is one of the industry’s most prestigious photographic competitions. The winner in the main category will be honoured with a cash prize of 25,000 euros and Leica M-System equipment (a camera and lens) with an additional value of 10,000 euros. The prize money for the Newcomer Award has been doubled this year: the winner in this category will receive a cash prize of 10,000 euros and will also be presented with a Leica rangefinder camera and lens. 

In addition to the main categories, a further ten photographers will be awarded cash prizes of 2,500 euros each and, for the first time this year, will also be recognised as being among the twelve best photographers in the competition. The portfolios of all the finalists will be presented on the web site and published in a special issue of LFI Magazine. 

A judging panel of prominent international experts selects the winners, focusing particularly on the photographers’ unerring powers of observation, and how they show the relationship between man and the environment, expressed graphically in portfolios of up to twelve images. 

The members of this year’s jury are: Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director Leica Galerien International (Salzburg), JH Engström, photographer and last year’s award winner (Karlstad, Sweden), Christine Ollier, Art Director Galerie Filles du Calvaire (Paris), Chris Boot, Executive Director, Aperture Foundation (New York) and Lorenza Bravetta, Director, Camera – Italian Centre for Photography (Turin).

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award will also include the presentation of a public award, with the winner being chosen by online voting at http://www.i-shot-it.com/, the online platform for photographic competitions. The winner in this category will receive a cash prize of 2,500 euros. A prize draw for non-cash prizes of Leica compact cameras will also be held for all those who participated in the online voting process.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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VSCO launches $1M artist initiative fund

14 Jul

Image sharing and film emulation service VSCO has launched a scholarship fund totaling $ 1 million. Calling it the Artist Initiative, the program assists photographers and visual artists chosen by the company with funding and promotion of their work. The first round of recipients has been announced, including 12 creatives from across the globe. Learn more 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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VSCO announces $100K scholarship fund for artists

18 Mar

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Visual Supply Co., the makers of the popular VSCO Cam smartphone app, has announced the VSCO Artist Initiative which is a $ 100,000 (~£60,082/~€71,757) scholarship fund ‘providing artists the resources to pursue their creative vision.’ If you could do with a few extra dollars to fund your art and think you’ve got what it takes, you can apply on the VSCO website. Learn more

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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