British Photographic Industry News July / August 2018

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BRIGHT PHOTO TRADE IDEAS What you should be stocking & selling this summer... and why!

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IN THIS ISSUE…

NEWS

CASE STUDY

FIELD TEST

BUSINESS ADVICE

Leica opens new HQ, Nikon teases super tele lens, Tetenal exhibits at the Print Show, plus Future’s Video Show latest

Lords Photography shares how making the switch to Fujifilm resulted in a business makeover and a steady stream of custom

We get to grips with Sigma’s latest 85mm prime lens, discovering why it’s the perfect fit for Sony mirror-less photographers

Missed a sales opportunity? You won’t again if you follow this month’s advice from our resident business expert – see inside

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Editorial | July / August 2018

elcome to our annual combined July / August edition, our last before we take a month’s break, returning with our all-singing, all-dancing Photokina preview edition, which has a September cover date and for which we’ll be taking a batch of copies along to the show with us. The longer gap between issues allows us to gather breath, gather thoughts and take stock of the industry – where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. The immediate answer is Cologne come September, of course, and we’re very interested to see how the proposed changes and tweaks to this year’s Photokina event have been implemented and how successful they prove – especially given the fact that 2019’s event quickly follows next May, only a couple of months after our own

COVER IMAGE: Olympus is making great promotional strides this month, not only running a summer cashback on its OM-D cameras, but also offering a body pouch and strap combo to those who purchase one of its E-PL9 cameras (pictured). All this and a new gallery space too. See page 16.

home-grown Photography Show. The latter’s not resting on its laurels either, and last month we brought you news of changes there too – with the official addition of a ‘Video Show’ element.

With photographers often being called upon to add moving footage to their service portfolio, and other events on the trade calendar being by-and-large pitched at the broadcast video market rather than the consumer, it will be interesting also to see how successful this also proves, and whether it brings a fresh, additional audience to the NEC next March. With print and printing services increasingly important to photo retailers seeking to improve on the profit margins to made from selling photo hardware, perhaps events such as the Print Show – at the NEC this September – will become increasingly important for our trade, too. You only have to flick through our pages to find roughly a 50/50 split between photo hardware and articles and ads that directly appeal to the minilab owner, or canny retailers seeking to add an additional revenue stream by installing their own lab. Will the future see us heading en mass to a dedicated drone, virtual or augmented reality show, all with, ultimately, image creation still at their core?

Diversity is key to any business. But what happens when you still can’t fulfill a customer demand? Do you shrug and let that customer go somewhere else, or do you attempt to turn that missed opportunity into a future sale instead?

Our Business Advice feature on page 26 this issue explores this very conundrum.

As ever, in a changing world, we’ve lots to keep abreast of and lots to talk about. So, enjoy the summer and enjoy this issue!

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News

GRAND AMBITION: SONY ANNOUNCES £1K COMPACT

The electronics manufacturer has unveiled a new iteration of its jack-of-all trades premium pocket camera in the 20.1 megapixel Sony RX100 VI. Key selling points to pitch to your customers include a bigger than average one-inch sensor, broad focal range equivalent to 24-200mm in 35mm film terms, Zeiss branded optics, plus 4K video.

Building in the sort of response times we’d expect from a DSLR, including acquiring focus in 0.03 seconds, its 8x optical zoom is image stabilized and boasts a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Attendant features include 3-inch tilting touch screen (with 921,600 dots resolution) & 0.39-inch EVF (2,360K dots). In a first for the series, the camera has a touch shutter function that can be activated simply by tapping the LCD screen.

battery and card. The same optional grip is suitable for Sony’s tiny RX0 too.

SRP for the camera, available this July, is £1,150, while the grip also arrives this month for £110. www.sony.co.uk

Interestingly, and indicative of the fact that owners may use this for video shooting as much as stills capture, Sony is offering a vertically styled handgrip (in the VCTSGR1) with record button as an optional extra for the camera which, without it, weighs a very portable 301g including

VISIT TETENAL AT THE PRINT SHOW New Video Show logo revealed

by TPS team

The leading distributor to the photo trade and print channels tells us it has signed up to exhibit at The Print Show, which takes place from September 18th through 20th in Hall 9 at Birmingham’s NEC. This will be Tetenal’s debut at the exhibition, which provides businesses with the ability to investigate the latest print and finishing technology, plus new materials, software and trade services.

“We think of ourselves as innovative distributors and that means searching out new ideas for our current customers whilst at the same time broadening our own horizons across a wider channel,” Tetenal Marketing Manager Craig Bird says of the move. “Whilst we are predominantly known as a distributor into the photo channel, we recognise that print and photo

4 July/August 2018 | BPI News

printing is changing. Personalisation is growing in popularity and our retail print partners need to look to diversification and adding new products and services to their portfolio. That’s why we’d encourage our traditional photographic retailers to visit us at the show, to discuss the new and exciting opportunities that diversification can bring.”

You can find Tetenal on Stand P78 at the Print Show. Contact Craig Bird at Tetenal via craig.bird@tetenal.uk.com for more info. www.theprintshow.co.uk

Last issue we brought you the ‘stop press’ news that The Photography Show would be diversifying its appeal next year to include an official Video Show element – and now an equally official logo has arrived (as pictured).

Future’s Head of Events Jonny Sullens told us: “Clearly there is a lot of convergence between still and moving image and The Photography Show has seen a significant increase in visitors looking for video solutions over the past couple of years.

We have incorporated a great deal of video content into the show recently and this is the natural next step.”

The organisers say that the Video Show will have its own brand, own content (including dedicated theatres, stages and programmes), own website, plus a bespoke marketing plan, via which it is hoping to attract a further 5,000+ videographers to the show.

The dates for The Photography Show incorporating the Video Show next year are the 16th to 19th of March. www.photographyshow.com

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News

SONY BACK WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2019

ROTOLIGHT GOES EXPLORING The Pinewood Studios based lighting specialist has introduced a NEO 2 Explorer Kit – comprising three of its popular portable, hand held (or stand mountable) lights.

Weighing a ‘mere’ 6.8Kg – said to be a 50% saving over the existing three light hard case – Rotolight says this new offering is in response to customers requesting a compact solution that can be used in a variety of shooting scenarios.

The bespoke soft case is, claims Rotolight, made from high quality water resistant material with a padded strap for comfort. Also included are light stands, colour effects filters and power supplies.

Available now, SRP for the Rotolight NEO 2 Explorer Kit is £1199.99.

It feels like only yesterday we were talking about entrants and victors for the 2018 awards, but now news reaches us that Sony will once again be sponsoring 2019’s competition, which will see the event celebrate its 12th year. There are three new categories being introduced for next year, with the aim of further diversifying entries. The ‘Professional’ strand of the competition gets new ‘Brief’ and ‘Documentary’ options, the former testing photographers to compose a body of work on a specific theme, while the latter is a new category for bodies of work portraying facts about, or showing insight into, a chosen subject. In the Open competition a new ‘Creative’ category has been introduced, while the Awards welcomes Culture Trip and Eurostar as ‘category partners’.

In addition to the above, four previous award winners have been awarded Sony Grants, with the aim of establishing an ongoing relationship with the manufacturer after the awards, while there have also been three 2018 Student Sony Grants awarded. More Sony Grants have been confirmed for winning and shortlisted candidates in next year’s awards. Shown here are new images from 2017 grant recipients George Mayer (monochrome portrait) and Will Burrard-Lucas (elephant image).

If you or your customers fancy your chances, full competition details can be found at www.worldphoto.org/swpa

www.rotolight.com

Plenty of ‘yin’ with new (Sam)yang There’s yet another new third party Samyang lens available from distributor Intro 2020 – this time the black liveried AF 85mm f/1.4 EF autofocus portrait lens, pitched at Canon users wanting a fast aperture, short telephoto optic. Weighing 485g and measuring 72mm long (without lens hood or cap), construction comprises 9 optical elements in 7 groups, its maker suggesting that it delivers high-resolution imagery from the centre to the corners. Ultra Multi Coating helps eliminate ghosting and flare. Of course, with this sort of specification, its chief appeal to your customers is its suitability for portraiture, wedding photography and low light work at events, with shots displaying beautiful ‘bokeh’. Minimum focusing distance is 90cm.

Available this month, SRP is £599.99. www.intro2020.co.uk

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FULL FRAME SUPER TELE LENS TEASED Your Nikon full frame DSLR (‘FX’ format) owning customers needing a super telephoto lens may not have long to wait as the manufacturer is teasing that it has an AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens in development.

The claim is that the promised optic will be ‘significantly’ smaller and lighter than other lenses of the same focal length – down to the apparent adoption of a Phase Fresnal (PF) lens element – which ensures that hand held sports or wildlife photography is possible.

Price and release date is to be advised, but with trade fair Photokina scheduled for this September, we

won’t be surprised to witness the usual deluge of announcements and unveilings around that time. www.nikon.co.uk

BPI News | July/August 2018 5

CANON BRINGS OUT THE BIG GUNS The leading manufacturer has unveiled upgrades to two of its highly rated L-series lenses, with the launch of the image stabilised EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM (at £1,299.99 SRP) and EF 70200mm f/2.8L IS III USM (£2,149.99 SRP). Describing the focal range the lenses both offer as playing a ‘pivotal’ role in many pro photographers’ kit bags – particularly those capturing portraits and wildlife – European Product Specialist for Canon Europe, Michael Burnhill adds that the flagship optics were introduced following feedback from its ‘global photography community’.

“The EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM epitomises the very finest in L-series optical technology, whilst being compact in size, robust and lightweight,” he says, by way of differentiating the pair. “The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM offers unbeatable performance, versatility and durability.”

The nine blade f/4 model delivers what’s claimed to be a pleasing ‘bokeh’ effect, weighs just 780g, and is described as ‘great for those on the move’. A fluorine coating is said to reduce water and dirt

Skyline’s no limit for Mac Group

clinging to the lens while Super Spectra coatings help eliminate ghosting and flare. It also has a new image stabiliser unit on board, purported to deliver the equivalent of five stops, compared to its predecessor’s three.

The pricier f/2.8 lens is, by contrast, described as ‘industry leading’ and is pitched at those needing accurate detail and pin sharp subjects. Resistant to moisture and dust, this is also the better option for low light shooting.

Both new Canon lenses will be available to stock and sell this summer. www.canon.co.uk

CAMERAWORLD TO GO ‘FULL THROTTLE’ AT BRANDS HATCH EVENT Lumix National Trust POS

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

With retailer-specific shows being all Complimentary 12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 Description • Complimentary National the rage of late, leading independent Trust Membership CameraWorld has been in touch with Campaign POS BPI News to say that it has added a second ‘Live’ event to its schedule for this year. In addition to its London show on October 27th, it is scheduling another on August 2nd at iconic racing venue Brands Hatch. This summer event will feature leading brands, live speakers and product ambassadors, as well as, of course, show deals on products, plus A3 Poster trade-in/trade up opportunities.

“Now CameraWorld are offering “CameraWorld has a new show and you twice Wobbler the opportunity to buy the we couldn’t be more excited,” enthuses best photographic gear, above industry Director Tony Stent. “CameraWorld standard trade in deals – all coupled Live at Brands Hatch will show us at with expert advice from a retail team full throttle. There will be plenty of who know photographers.” For more action to photograph, gear to test and info please visit the below URL: of course our famous show deals. www.cameraworld.co.uk/live ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

ust Z72

News

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Now you and your family can discover hundreds of new special places with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72.

Promotional period: 22/08/2013 – 31/12/2013. Promotional terms apply, please see panasonic.co.uk/promotions *Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. ELMARIT is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG

T48046 Panasonic_A3_Poster.indd 1

21/08/2013 13:54

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

Complimentary 12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Now you and your family can discover hundreds of new special places with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72.

In the nick of time for summer holidays, the distributor has unveiled a new series of Tenba Skyline bags, with prices starting at £35 SRP for the Tenba Skyline 7 (suitable for a small mirror-less, or APS-C camera with kit lens), and rising to £60 for the Skyline 13 offering (accommodating a pro DSLR with battery grip attached).

The customers you should be pitching these to are those ‘ just setting out on their photographic journey’, it tells us, with five different sizes available in the range, spread across two contrasting colour schemes. A bright blue interior is claimed to make finding all those photographic accessories that much easier. Also worth noting is that the Skyline series features customisable interiors and comes with the peace of mind of a five year warranty. www.tenba.com

DNP makes SnapLab snappier BPI News regular Dai Nippon Printing has announced a software upgrade, with the stated aim being to ‘provide the most complete all-in-one kiosk’. Snaplab+ version 3.3.14 is available now, and apart from a couple of adjustments for Italian and Catalonian users, provides more relevant tweaks for the wider world via the ability to now create 5x5 prints from 5x7 media on its DSRX1 HS printer, fix a bug on its SD40 regarding the counter for available media, while also being able to now select collage products in size 10x15cm in single increments if desired. DNP has also sorted out a mobile connectivity issue, allowing photos to be shown according to the date on which they were taken. www.dnpphoto.eu

Hang Tag

Photographic Promotional period: 22/08/2013 – 31/12/2013. Promotional terms apply, please see panasonic.co.uk/promotions *Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. ELMARIT is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG

21/08/2013 13:56

T48046 Panasonic_A4_Cling.indd 1

A4 Cling

British

21/08/2013 13:59

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Industry news Items shown are for reference only and are not to scale

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News Extra

LEICA OPENS NEW HQ, LAUNCHES RAFT OF NEW PRODUCT A fter a busy few months, the premium camera brand is celebrating the opening of a new headquarters in the grandly named LeitzPark Complex in Wetzlar, Germany.

“The new Leitz-Park constitutes a leading centre of the optical industry that will attract photo enthusiasts from around the world,” believes Leica’s Dr Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Leica Camera AG. “Providing a total of around 1,200 jobs, the entire site makes an important contribution to the region in many ways and will bring significant benefits for the City of Wetzlar and the tourist industry.”

The new site is home to four building complexes, including a 129-room hotel with interior design reflecting numerous aspects of photography.

For example, more than 250 works by 60 photographers are on display.

Adjacent to the hotel is the new Leica building, which contains a museum, archives, a photo studio, a Leica store and a museum shop. An anniversary exhibition: ‘Eyes wide open! 100 years of Leica photography’ is now on display.

The other two buildings are the head office of the company Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH, whose Summilux-C lenses, were, claims Leica, used on the 2015 Oscarwinning film ‘Birdman’, plus an office block offering space for local businesses.

With its new HQ opened, the manufacturer has excitedly announced a shedload of new product to entice well-heeled photographers. A luxurious compact lands the middle of this month in the 20 megapixel Leica C-Lux (above) at £875 SRP. With a zoom lens providing the 35mm equivalent of a 24-360mm reach, maximum shooting rate is 10fps, while a 3-inch touch screen, viewfinder and 4K-video (from which

Making the cut: Leica has declared its new German HQ (pictured) officially open - and launched a plethora of new products to celebrate, as also shown on this page

to grab 8MP stills) are also on board. It arrives in two colour options: Midnight Blue or Light Gold, naturally. Carry straps, wrist straps and body pouches are optional extras alongside the camera.

With the company loving its limited edition releases, a new premium example arrives in the shape of the Leica M10 ‘Edition Zagato’ body and Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens set (below), said to marry German craftsmanship with Italian design. This collectable edition is limited to 250 pieces worldwide, though your customers will have to dig deep down the back of the sofa as it costs an investment of £18K. Leica says the design of the focusing aid on the lens is in homage to Zagato

automobile design and the ‘doublebubble’ roofline of many Zagato models.

Slightly more manageable is a new Leica SF 60 flash unit (See top of page) (£450 SRP) and Leica SF C1 remote control unit (£250), which are available now from Leica stores and select stockists.

These are compatible with its S, SL and M systems and can also be used in combination with the Leica Q and CL. Obviously the remote control unit enables the possibility of off-camera flash with the SF 60. As the model name suggests, the unit offers a guide number of 60 at ISO100. Constant LED light output adjustable in nine steps may also hold appeal for videographers. Power comes courtesy of four AA batteries, while the remote unit takes two AAA cells.

For those in the trade who want to know what time it is, a further product is the Leica Watch (below), which is described as a ‘new and exclusive product line’ of mechanically complex and sophisticated watches made in Germany in short-run series.

Two models are available in the Leica L1 and L2, and their manufacturer claims that the ‘cambered shape of the glass is reminiscent of a camera lens’. These will be available at the Leica Store Mayfair, as well as watch dealers worldwide, from autumn this year. www.leica-camera.com

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 8 July/August 2018 | BPI News

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Print News

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PHOTO INDUSTRY

We talk to Beth Ingram Kodak Moments UK & Nordics Business Manager

As consumers return to printing their photos, photographic film is seeing a rise and print technologies are evolving, Kodak remains a big name in the industry and a key player shaping the future of the photo industry.

The reach of the Kodak brand spans across a range of products including film, photographic paper, kiosks and other photo printing equipment. As Authorised Kodak partner Tetenal work closely with Kodak Alaris distributing to the photo channel and managing the Kodak Express network of photo retailers.

We spoke to Kodak Moments UK & Nordics Business Manager Beth Ingram about the latest news from Kodak Alaris and what’s coming up.

What has the first half of 2018 brought so far for the Kodak brand?

The 2018 versions of Kodak Moments Kiosk software have greatly improved the workflow both for consumer image input and navigation, it also includes a larger variety of print choice directly from the kiosk.

Software version 6.3 released earlier this year included the ability to print “retro style” smaller prints. This style is very popular with the younger demographic and allows the store to compete with trendy on-line offerings.

We have also had great feedback following our latest film products. Earlier this year we launched Pro Image 35mm colour film, brought back T-Max 3200 35mm B&W film and launched a new Daylight non-flash Single Use Camera loaded with high quality Kodak 800 ISO professional film and there is more to come later this year.

What can we expect from software version 7 and can you tell us anything about release dates?

Version 7 software has recently been declared gold by us which means it will be released to Tetenal shortly for testing and made available for retailers after that.

The main feature of this version is a brand-new photobook creation workflow which brings great time benefits for the customer as it saves time when creating a book and for the retailer as kiosks are quicker available for the next customer. Research has shown that the main barrier for printing photobooks in store is the time taken to create one.

The goal for the new version of software is for the consumer to create a purchasable photobook as quickly as possible with options to edit as needed. Version 7 software will allow consumers to sort images either by date or alphabetically and will detect if they have selected too few or too many images for an optimal photobook. The new editing and customisation tool allows the consumers to easily and quickly navigate through their book creation.

What’s new for photo retailers in terms of photo printing equipment?

The Kodak 305 printer was introduced to the UK earlier this year, providing retailers with the perfect gateway into offering instant print services - or to replace an old Kodak instant printer.

Along with the latest software we are planning to run an equipment promotion of the D4600 Photobook printer in the coming months. In addition, there will be more exciting updates coming in time for Photokina taking place in Cologne in September.

As you touched on earlier 2018 has so far been a great year for film. What new products can analogue enthusiasts look forward to in the coming months?

We had been discussing the possibility of bringing back a slide film, and Eastman Kodak Company’s decision to launch a Super 8 movie camera provided us with the perfect opportunity to do so. Ektachrome slide film will be launched later this year around the Photokina exhibition.

You mentioned retro-style prints being part of software version 6.3, what else is new in the latest software?

Other products now included within the software are a selection of banner templates for panoramic printing on the 8810 printer or wide format printers, an increased choice of poster templates and colouring in greeting cards for printing on the DL2100. In addition, image transfer speeds have been improved, the customer can now transfer 1000 images in approximately 10 seconds to the kiosk.

TEL: 0116 289 3644

Above: New and relaunched Kodak 35mm film products Right: The recently introduced Kodak 305 Printer Far right: The G20 Kodak Picture Kiosk

| www.tetenaluk.com

| marketing@tetenal.uk.com

News

Canon adds 17 new ambassadors on scheme’s 10th anniversary

British Photography Awards seeks sponsors

Most photo manufacturers now use working photographers as ‘ambassadors’ for their products – bringing them out for demo days, roadshows and trade exhibitions.

Now, to mark ten years since the inception of its own scheme, Canon has announced a sizeable 17 new members, who join its existing 60-strong ambassadors spread across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The manufacturer says that following a rigorous review of 104 professionals, a panel of internal and external experts selected 14 new members to join in the programme. Three participants of the Joop Swart Masterclass 2018, organised by World Press Photo and supported by Canon, have also been granted a year’s admission to the programme, making up the 17 in total.

“When the Canon Europe Ambassador Programme launched in 2008, it set the benchmark for the industry,” believes Pro Marketing Manager for Canon EMEA, Richard Shepherd. “Through a collaborative approach with past and present ambassadors, we’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved in the last ten years… and we’re delighted to

With entries going live this July 12th, in anticipation of an awards presentation and dinner at London’s Savoy Hotel on January 28th, 2019, the organisers of the British Photography Awards are reaching out to the photo trade for potential corporate or private sponsors (who should contact sponsorship@ britishphotographyawards.org).

As far as entries go, meanwhile, UK photographers resident anywhere in the world are invited to sign up to the website and create their own password protected account. The awards are looking to ‘celebrate established and emerging British talent on the global stage’ and organisers say they have an advisory board in place with ‘big names’ from the photographic community.

“On top of this we are working with some great media partners and hope to give the sector the long overdue awards night it deserves,” they add.

Billed as an annual event, a gallery show displaying the work of the winners and shortlisted images will follow. With entrants making a donation, the official website claims that half of the money from the competition goes to a charity of the entrant’s choice, the other half towards prizes and processing fees.

For more details direct your browser to the official website: www.britishphotographyawards.org

continue welcoming new faces to the programme who bring fresh ideas.

“Whether through inspirational and educational stories, events and experiences, or the continuous support we offer through Canon Professional Services, supporting and championing photographers and filmmakers is at the heart of everything we do.” www.canon-europe.com/pro/ambassadors

BILLINGHAM FOCUSES ON BINO USERS

Arriving for you to stock from this August is a new range of Billingham cases aimed at binocular users which go by the name of ‘Galbin’, part inspired by astronomer Galileo Galilei, inventor of one of the earliest forms of the telescope, combined with the word ‘binoculars’.

The new range will be debuted to the general public – and potential customer base – at the Rutland Birdfair, which takes place from August 17th to 19th.

The new, English-made Billingham cases are designed to carry a variety of binocular sizes: 8x32, 8x42 or 10x42. Each case is claimed to be fortified with a layer of foam padding, while there will be two colour options available on launch – Sage FiberNyte with a full grain ‘chocolate’ leather trim, and durable Black Canvas with full grain black leather trim.

There are two prices for the two sizes of case available – with the Galbin 8 retailing at £120 SRP and the Galbin 10 priced at £135. A five year manufacturer’s

guarantee comes with each.

“With 45 years of experience of manufacturing highly protective photographic, leisure and travel bags, we felt that our venture into the observation optics industry was a natural progression,” says Billingham Director, Harry Billingham. “Our increasing conversations with our customers around the world uncovered the suggestion to create such a product, and we now believe it’s the perfect time to enter the market.” www.billingham.co.uk

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 10 July/August 2018 | BPI News

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BPI News Product Focus

XP Distribution has the ‘X-Rite’ product to make you a sale A colour-managed workflow will ensure that what your photographer customers see on screen is exactly what they’ll get when they print their photographs. XP Distribution offers a wealth of X-Rite branded products to enable this; chief among them the fast, professional and affordable i1Studio

Make the right sale with the X-Rite range of colour management tools, available to add to your stock now from XP Distribution - chief among them the i1Studio solution

W

ith photographers investing in premium cameras and lenses, and the biggest growth being seen at the top end of the market now the smartphone has by-and-large swept away cheap compacts, it makes sense to stock accessories that will cater to those who take their photography seriously.

Enter the X-Rite line up of products – as ably demonstrated by X-Rite Technical Support Specialist Ashley Bowman to BPI News back at The Photography Show in March – a range within which the X-Rite i1Studio comes highly recommended.

The pitch to your customers is that this is the ‘start to finish’ – capture to print – colour management solution for those looking for perfect results, helping to deliver prints that match their images across all devices.”

This handy device, resembling a roll of measuring tape crossed with a computer mouse, shows that colour management need not be dull or unsexy. The pitch to your customers is that this is the ‘start to finish’ – capture to print – colour management solution for those looking for perfect results, helping to deliver prints that match their images across all devices.

The fact that this is a high-end bit of kit promising a whole new level of accuracy, and that X-Rite is renowned for industry leading solutions, is reflected in an SRP of £450. Set against this outlay is the

fact that your customers will be making sizeable savings on otherwise wasted ink and paper. Peace of mind is also provided – and they can rest easy in the knowledge that what they see on screen is what they’ll get as regards the finished product.

A HOST OF FEATURES TO ENSURE ACCURACY Unsurprisingly, as its comprehensive sounding product name suggests, X-Rite i1Studio comes with a whole host of enticing features. These include printer profiling for black and white, scanner profiling, mobile device profiling, plus even monitor profiling for video – with many more stills photographers now also doubling up as videographers, colour accuracy is essential here too.

It all adds up to a fully-rounded and streamlined user experience.

It’s also worth pointing out that the colour management process need not be daunting or overly complex. With the X-Rite i1Studio, photographers, filmmakers and designers are guided through each step of the colour management process, with the ability for users to customise and finetune their workflow as desired.

Thanks to the product offering all of the above functionality and versatility, photographers will be able to simply focus on what they love – namely capturing more images.

For more product details, head to: www.xritephoto.eu/x-rite-i1-studio.html Members of the photo trade wishing to place an order or simply find out more about the above item, meanwhile, are directed to contact XP Distribution via sales@xpdistribution.com or on 0330 440 0189. www.xpdistribution.com

At a glance: X-Rite i1Studio n Quick, professional yet affordable solution for those wanting the ultimate in colour management and accuracy in their workflow n Saves considerable time and money on wasted inks and paper n Offers complete control over colour accuracy of the entire workflow – including capture, edit, scan and print n Gives photographers confidence and peace of mind regarding the results n SRP £450

Order stock of the X-Rite i1Studio from XP Distribution on 0330 440 0189, or via sales@xpdistribution.com @bpi_news

BPI News | July/August 2018 11

News

TRAVEL (& CASHBACK) TO BROADEN NIKON CUSTOMERS’ MINDS There a few better demonstrations of a camera’s capabilities than what can be achieved with it in the hands of a professional. So, with the summer holidays in full swing, direct your customers’ attention to a new series of travel shots (right) taken on Nikkor FX and DX lenses plus D850 and D7500 camera bodies by photographer Tomas Sentpetery – that may, in turn, inspire some sales for you.

With the theme of ‘look deeper’ in mind, Tomas tasked himself with photographing five European destinations: London, Paris, Krakow, Naples and the Granada region in Spain.

“There are hidden worlds all around us and I wanted to show there is more to popular tourist destinations than we might expect. Do your research before you travel and don’t be afraid to look deeper,” he advises. “With the right kit and a thirst for adventure it’s possible to deliver stand-out travel photography.”

Your customers choosing the ‘right kit’ for their travels – and Tomas’ portfolio shots – both tie in very neatly with Nikon UK’s summer cashback promotion, which began mid June and runs until August 31st 2018. It covers selected DSLRs and lenses purchased during that period.

For example, up to a whopping £275 cashback is offered on purchases of the Nikon D7500, while the D750, D500 and D7200 all have £185 redeemable.

Alternatively a purchase of the D5600 boasts a cashback dividend of £90.

As regards lenses, no fewer than 17 FX lenses form part of Nikon’s summer cashback, with eight DX lenses also included. Additionally, there are various camera body and lens combo kits covered. For example there is £365 cashback offered – a pound for every day of the year – for your customers upon purchasing a D7500 bundled with a AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens.

For more on the summer cashback, head to the URL below: https://gb.nikonpromotions.co.uk/summer-2018/

Photographers: Happy and they know it

Want to get into the mindset of your customers? Fortunately for the specialist photo retailer and camera manufacturer, it appears your customers’ minds are happy places. Insurer PolicyBee has conducted its own survey of professional photographers with the conclusion that 98% love their job. Some 72% would also recommend the industry to others. The main reason cited for enjoying their photographic career was ‘capturing special moments in people’s lives’. Further reasons for satisfaction included the ability to be creative, being their own boss, being able to be flexible and enjoy a healthy work/life balance, as well as meeting clients.

The survey of 300 professionals also found that a photographic career seems to attract people at all stages in life, with only 16% going into the profession as their first job – and 28% switching from a previous career that gave them less satisfaction. Biggest daily headaches were promoting themselves, as well as dealing with small business administration and red tape.

Interestingly for our trade readers, in order to feel supported in an industry largely comprised of people working on their own, many photographers choose to join a trade association or industry group. The survey found 58% of photographers are part of a trade association from which they enjoy networking opportunities, training, discounts on products and services. They also believe being part of a trade group helps them be seen as more professional, differentiating them from others. www.policybee.co.uk/blog/photography

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 12 July/August 2018 | BPI News

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BPI News Product Focus

LET PHOTOXPORT’S ID PHOTOS SOFTWARE EARN YOU HARD CASH

We’ve spoken about PhotoXport rolling out Pixel Tech’s Passport Office compliant ID Photos Pro 8 software in our past couple of issues. Now PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse tells us there has already been a major update (version 8.3) to make the prospect even more enticing for the trade…

I

f you’re a regular reader of BPI News, you’ll know we like to keep you informed. Therefore you’ll already be aware of new procedural changes introduced by the Passport Office a couple of months back that now let applicants upload a digital photo with their application form. And how, to avoid its retail partners missing out on such revenue, PhotoXport has worked with the company Pixel Tech on its own solution in ID Photos Pro 8 software, complete with ePassport and photo code feature. It’s further offering customers a printer and software bundle, so they have all they need to start producing Passport Office-compliant photo ID – a service on which profit margins at retail can be very, very favourable indeed.

ID PHOTOS PRO SOFTWARE VER 8.3 – WHAT’S NEW Now hot off the press, news reaches us that version 8.3 of the ID Photos Pro software is ready, and being distributed to all users. The update is described

Keeping up with the times - and customer demand: version 8.3 of ID Photos Pro software is available now via PhotoXport and makes sure users are fully compliant with both the recent Passport Office and GDPR procedural changes, so get in touch with the team now!

as ‘major’ and relates to recent GDPR changes that govern the way personal data is captured, stored and used.

In addition it is said to take secure cloud storage ‘to another level’, in offering this facility for every passport format, not just the UK ePassport only.

Of course, the latest software takes account of the integrated online validation of photos on the gov.uk website (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ hm-passport-office) as well as facilitating a print out of photos that are compliant with the classic passport format.

“We anticipate there will be a lot of people who will want a Passport Office compliant ID photo feature in their store.”

PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse

FAST, PRECISE – AND PROFITABLE PhotoXport’s Derek Fieldhouse is confident that any businesses looking to offer photo ID facilities – or replace an ageing out-of-date system – will be impressed with what ID Photos Pro 8 has to offer.

Claiming it to be “one of the fastest and most precise tools on the market”, Derek adds that only 10 seconds are needed from loading an image, to its verification, to the final print. The software also has a built-in database affording access to over

250 formats from more than 80 countries.

Naturally, there is an opportunity here for photo stores to profit, both from print and a digital file, the latter of which of course costs the retailer nothing, beyond the initial investment and their time. “We anticipate there will be a lot of people who will want this feature in their store,” says Derek.

So don’t miss out – get in touch now.

To enquire about the above and discover how you can seamlessly integrate ID Photos Pro software into your business in order to boost revenue, call PhotoXport now on 0116 2675907. www.photoxport.com

New features at a glance: n Secure cloud storage for GDPR compliant quick transfer of any digital ID photo to the customer n A GDPR assistant feature regularly controls and recommends optimal software security settings n Photos are automatically deleted from the archive after a configured time, while statistical data is also made anonymous after a configured time n Security features include the fact that a password is required to access the software, with other ‘sensitive’ features within it also requiring a user or administrator password. Furthermore the customer name field is now the more generic ‘order ID’ n Updated UK ePassport format features include integrated validation of photos on the gov.uk website

Find out more from PhotoXport about ID Photos Pro 8 software. Call 0116 2675907 now! @bpi_news

BPI News | July/August 2018 13

BPI News Product Focus

INDIGO INKJET FROM THE DPS GROUP: HIGH QUALITY PRINTS FOR LESS

Quality print media needn’t cost a premium, according to the DPS Group’s MD Maneesh Patel, who promises your customers will notice the step up in quality and visual impact Indigo Inkjet media can provide, while your bottom line will feel the benefit too…

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ent-based re-seller the DPS Group doesn’t just offer desktop and wide format printer solutions from the likes of Epson, Canon and HP. It also boasts an extensive range of compatible media to suit.

In offering everything from general use paper to photo paper to poster boards, for example, Indigo Inkjet (www.indigo-inkjet.co.uk) has something to match your every business and retail requirement. What’s more, a print perceived as high value results in boosted business and profit, whilst costing less to produce than you might think.

A flagship product in the range that will hold particular appeal for the photo trade are Indigo Inkjet poster boards at A2 in size, said to be great match with larger Epson machines, in particular its ‘P’ series printers. That being said, alternative print sizes are available to suit, including A1, A3+ and A4. “Bear in mind that, because this media is 1.5mm thick, it will only work with certain printers,” the DSP Group’s MD Maneesh Patel advises. “If in doubt, or to find out more, please ask us for advice, or book a visit to our showroom for a first-hand demonstration.” Handily, setting itself up as something of a one-stop shop, the DPS Group also offers many of the printers to match the media too!

“We are always looking for new products and innovative applications.

The whole ethos with Indigo media is that quality printing materials need not cost the earth” DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel

At a glance: Indigo Inkjet media via the DPS Group n Indigo Inkjet’s photography paper range includes everything from Photo Matt, promising brilliant colours and a short drying time, through Lustre, Satin and Gloss, up to Double Sided Photo Matt and Water Resistant Photo Matt. In fact there are 12 options when it comes to finishes in the current range n The canvas range comprises three offerings: Indigo Inkjet Artistic Canvas, Photo Canvas Bright White and Photo Canvas Textured

GREAT QUALITY PRINTS AT A GREAT PRICE As outlined at the start of this article, a chief appeal of Indigo is that it offers photographers and print specialists great quality at a great price, as well as providing one of the largest selections of high quality media under a single brand.

Its product range is constantly being added to and expanded on. “The whole ethos is that quality printing materials need not cost the earth,” the DPS Group’s Maneesh adds. “We are always looking for new products and innovative applications.” Indigo Inkjet has been producing print products since 1998

n Specialist papers include those suitable for banners, billboards and pop-up display products – allowing you to both expand your service offerings and your customer base n Indigo Inkjet’s key sales pitch is that offers high quality media that’s true value for money Indigo is go! Quality print media costing less than you might think offers retailers and minilabs the potential to enjoy a healthy profit margin

and says that all its paper is responsibly sourced. As we’ve noted, its high quality papers, films, canvas and banner media are suited to a wide variety of printers.

Get in touch with the DPS Group to find out more about Indigo Inkjet

media via Business Development Manager Julie Patel via 0203 157 4038 or jpatel@dpsb.co.uk www.thedpsgroup.co.uk www.dpsb.co.uk

Order your Indigo Inkjet media now! Contact DPS Group’s Julie Patel via 0203 157 4038 or jpatel@dpsb.co.uk 14 July/August 2018 | BPI News

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BPI News Extra

‘GO WEST’ WITH OLYMPUS: NEW GALLERY SPACE, E-PL9, STRAP OFFER & CASHBACK ALL SEEK TO DRIVE CUSTOM TO DEALERS After a long-running series of ‘pop up’ spaces in the East End – used to host launches, workshops, photo walks and exhibitions – all with the aim of getting cameras in hands and driving footfall to dealers – Olympus is heading west to a permanent space. Topically, it also has a summer cashback scheme, a new colour of E-PL9 plus limited body jacket and shoulder strap offer to further encourage sales

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amera manufacturers have long pursued a policy of looking to inspire their customers and simultaneously get kit in hands – forging a strong link between the two – as the quickest route to helping make a sale for their retail partners.

It may not have its own series of roadshows or photography ‘school’ to do it in, but for the past few years Olympus has pioneered the long-running use of a creative gallery space to host both talks and workshops – and yes, place product in front of prospective and existing customers. After ‘pop up’ stints in Bishopsgate and Bermondsey among others in the east of London, the manufacturer tells us it is finally moving west… with the launch of a brand new gallery space described as ‘permanent’.

The ‘After Nyne Gallery’ is taking up residence at 10 Portland Road, W11 4LA – aka London’s Holland Park – with an inaugural exhibition displaying works

by Olympus brand ambassadors Martina Govindraj, whose work engages with architecture and concepts of space, plus the award winning Steve Gosling, who it says is renowned for his signature black and white atmospheric landscapes.

Olympus UK’s Marketing Manager Georgina Pavelin tells BPI News: “Our opening exhibition will be a collection of images shot by Olympus ambassadors to support their work and highlight the cameras’ capabilities, along with the importance of printing and sharing images.”

She adds, that, as with previous Olympus spaces in London, “the gallery will enable support of emerging and established artists from all creative backgrounds, from painters to sculptors and of course, photographers. We are looking forward to sharing some exceptionally talented individuals work.

“It will also act as an events and education venue to host workshops

A space to exhibit, demo and to sell...

Olympus’ latest gallery space gives it a foothold in west London, from which it can drive footfall to trade partners

Build sales of the E-PL9 this summer with the free shoulder strap offer (worth £49.99) on top of a cashback scheme involving 16 July/August 2018 | BPI News

www.bpinews.co.uk

BPI News Extra CASH, NO QUESTIONS… The third bit of Olympus news this month is a reminder that the brand’s current summer cashback scheme runs UP TO £175 up until the CASHBACK! 31st of July – so GET MORE FOR LESS THIS SUMMER WITH CASHBACK just a few more REWARDS FROM OLYMPUS weeks are left to direct your customers to Olympus’ OM-D cameras and/ or M.Zuiko digital lenses (see also our back page advert this issue of BPI). Naturally the usual T&C’s apply (see bonus.olympus.eu for more).

With the ‘carrot’ of redeemable ‘bonuses’ of between £65 and £175 offered, three OM-D series cameras are included in the deal: the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, OM-D E-M10 Mark II and the OM-D E-M10 Mark III. Also featured are seven of its M.Zuiko Digital lenses, ranging from a 17mm prime lens to a 75-300mm zoom.

Financial incentives here range from £45 back when buying the M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 to £150 back on the M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro. For more details speak to your Olympus rep or email Olympus@sales-promotions.com Claims must be made by midnight on August 31st. www.olympus.co.uk

*

Whether you’re considering our high-quality OM-D cameras or outstanding M.Zuiko savings on selected models that will lenses – we have some cashback outshine the summer sun! Start the season feeling great – and take your photography to the next level. Buy any of these qualifying products and claim your cashback today! * Claim your cashback today or find out more about these special offers at bonus.olympus.eu

Offer and purchase period: 1st May to 31st July 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Participating products: M.Zuiko 1:1.2 PRO - £150 cashback, ED 45mm Digital lenses: ED 17mm 1:1.2 PRO 1:1.2 PRO - £150 cashback, 25mm - £150 cashback, ED 25mm 1:1.8 - £45 cashback, ED 60mm 1:2.8 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II - £85 cashback; MACRO - £65 cashback, ED 9-18mm OM-D cameras: E-M10 Mark II - £65 1:4.0-5.6 - £85 cashback, cashback, E-M10 Mark III - £65 cashback, E-M5 Mark II - £175 cashback.

The first exhibition at the After Nyne Gallery will feature works by Olympus photographer ambassadors Martina Govindraj (girls on bicycles shot) and Steve Gosling (ice sculpture image); their pictures demonstrating what can be achieved with the manufacturer’s kit

and photo walks, along with regular exhibitions and private views. After Nyne have a wealth of knowledge and experience to create a truly amazing gallery and we are proud to be part of this exciting new offering.”

For her part, Jennifer Conner, CoDirector of the After Nyne Creative Services Group says: “We’re excited to have Olympus’s support on this next exciting phase of our journey.

We are also delighted to have the opportunity to support Olympus in reaching new audiences for their UK operations and the work of their brand ambassadors and partners across the spread of their activities”.

Opening times for the After Nyne Gallery are 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday.

For more see: www.afternynegallery.com

E-PL9 owners offered ‘free fashion outfit’ It’s clear the market Olympus is aiming at with its most recent PEN E-PL9 camera release, an impression enhanced by the latest news that it has not only

introduced an eye-catching new blue ‘denim’ version of the camera (joining the existing white, black and brown models launched in March), but also an offer whereby those who purchase any version of the E-PL9 can claim an exclusive genuine suede camera body jacket and shoulder strap – worth £49.99 – absolutely free. So, photo specialists, make sure you mention this to prospective E-PL9 customers.

Being pitched as a ‘fashion outfit’, there are several colour shades of straps that E-PL9 customers can choose from.

These are the self explanatory: ‘Hei Coffee’, ‘Burgundy Temptations’, ‘Olive En Vogue’ or cool ‘Into the Blue’. a suitable recipient of the offer.

Your customers will need to fill in For more details, visit the below URL: a form to make the claim, include www.olympus-imagespace.co.uk their PEN E-PL9 proof of purchase /e-pl9-free-accessory-claim/ and serial number to be verified as

OM-D cameras and lenses. See www.olympus-imagespace.co.uk/e-pl9-free-accessory-claim/ and Olympus@sales-promotions.com @bpi_news

BPI News | July/August 2018 17

News

NIKON’S MONARCH IS CLASS ACT Two new lightweight and compact Monarch HG series binoculars (8x30 and 10x30) offering a wide field of view are arriving from Nikon – and are being described by the manufacturer as its most advanced in that line up yet. Selling points include a magnesium alloy body coating that boasts waterproofing and prevents fogging inside the optical system, plus a portable weight of 450g.

Nikon says that the models ape the sharp and clear performance of its Monarch HG 42mm diameter version, but in a smaller body. Use of extra low dispersion (ED) glass corrects chromatic aberration that can cause colour fringing, and the binoculars come with a soft-to-the-touch neck strap and semi hard type case to offer protection when in transit. An optional tripod adaptor offers the chance of an additional sale for the specialist retailer.

Pricing is £899 SRP for the Monarch HG 8x30 and £949 for the 10x30. Availability is expected later this month. www.nikon.co.uk

The new Diana for the Instagram generation With instant cameras currently doing well in the market, the Lomography brand is at it again with its colourful, strictly analogue offerings. The Diana Instant Square is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the appeal of which is its ‘lo-fi loveliness’, according to the brand. It adds that the new camera has all the original creative features of its Diana F+ model, launched back in 2007, but, like other models in its instant camera range, now uses Fuji Instax Square film.

Aperture settings can be adjusted and there is the ability for users to play around with multiple exposures. Also included is a hotshoe mount, allowing for a range of other flashes to be utilised, while we also get the facility to swap the lens in use. As Lomography’s own blurb inventively notes regarding the image quality: ‘imperfections aren’t faults, they’re little sparks of beauty.’ The accent here is on creative fun all the way. www.lomography.com

POLAROID PARTNERS WITH SUPER SNAPS Think instant prints and think Polaroid – for those of us of a certain generation.

Luckily for us gracefully ageing hipsters, retro is cool, so today’s smartphone snappers and square format Instagram lovers can order a ‘vintage feel’ Polaroid print direct from their handset, in what it claims are three easy steps.

Customers will need access to the Super Snaps website or app, which will enable them to also print shots from Facebook and Instagram, as well as their mobile device. The prints come with a white border ape-ing the classic Polaroid print ratio, although a variety of sizes and border colours are also available,

18 July/August 2018 | BPI News

as is the ability to customise the prints to commemorate special occasions.

“The trend for vintage and retro products is growing fast, and Polaroid is the pinnacle brand in retro-style photography,” believes Super Snaps founder James Washer. “We’ve recreated some of the Polaroid nostalgia for people who grew up around the brand. We’re also offering something new to our younger audience who are becoming familiar with the Polaroid name and the magic that physical photo prints have to offer.” https://supersnaps.com

www.bpinews.co.uk

Minilab News

WORKING 9 TO 5: THANK THE ‘LORD’ FOR FUJIFILM Having delivered a keynote address on the profits to be had from the ID photo business at Fujifilm’s dealer conference back in March, retailer Steven Lord of Lord’s Photography details how, with the manufacturer’s support and back up, he’s fulfilling new orders every three minutes – and all day long…

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aving switched allegiance to Fujifilm just one year ago, it’s clear that owner Steven Lord of Lords Photography in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, is brimming with enthusiasm when it comes to detailing what the brand has done for his business over the past 12 months. Despite the partnership with the manufacturer being relatively new, the specialist retailer has been around since England last won the World Cup: 1966.

Set up originally by father Bill, Steven has made great strides to continue the family business’ success – investing in ‘full set’ of hardware, including five Fujifilm DPC10 kiosks, four Fujifilm Drylab DX-100 printers and an additional 44-inch wide format printer.

You get the sense that Steven doesn’t do things half heartedly – and saw his recently formed partnership with Fujifilm as a chance to revamp not only how his print orders are fulfilled, but also the look and fit out of his store itself.

Unsurprisingly, Steven came back from a visit to see Fujifilm’s artisan-looking Wonder Photo Shop in Barcelona last year with a headful of ideas concerning how he could freshen up his proposition for his photographer customers.

“I was immediately taken by the Barcelona concept; it was a complete eye opener for me!” says Steven, and just about every Fujifilm retailer we’ve interviewed who has made a similar ‘pilgrimage’ to view the concept, which as regular BPI News readers will be aware, originated with Fujifilm Japan.

Independent chain Jessops – which is now also supported by Fujifilm as regards print fulfilment – recently unveiled its own ‘twist’ on the idea back in April (see interview in our May cover edition).

Steven tells us that after a period of reflection he set about designing a refit of the shop utilising the best elements of the Barcelona design. He also worked out that a lot of the new look could be achieved

by DIY means and at a very low cost.

“Out went the metal kiosks stands and old gondola display units to be replaced by industrial style wooden tables,” he says. “The walls were

Lords Photography makes no secret of its switch to Fujifilm, with prominently displayed signage making the most of the brand’s recognition factor and heritage. Owner Steven Lord (bottom, right) is thrilled with the inspiration and support the manufacturer has provided

covered in vinyl, printed in house with a brick facsimile.” Blackboards. pallets and crates completed the look.

The result is that Lords Photography now has a light, airy, contemporary, modern feel – and most importantly Steven says that the reaction from local customers has been one of amazement.

SUPPORTIVE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY Naturally a key advantage in being part of Fujifilm’s dealer network is having the manufacturer on hand to offer advice and support – in terms of both practical help, but moreover sound business ideas.

Steven tells us that Marketing Manager Peter Wigington and the team at Fujifilm have been fully supportive throughout the project.

“In all my years in the photo trade I have never received such backing from

Boost your print sales in 2018! Get in touch with Peter direct on 01234 572138 or via photoprintservices_UK@fujifilm.com 20 July/August 2018 | BPI News

www.bpinews.co.uk

Fujifilm Advertorial a supplier,” Lords’ owner marvels.

“Whenever I’ve needed something I know I can pick up the phone and the Fujifilm team will make it happen.

And obviously it’s a partnership. They know that I’m also putting in a big effort and making things happen. I’m passionate about making my store really stand out in the market place.”

Part of this desire to ‘stand out’ has meant Steven targeting mobile phone users as well as traditional photographers.

“We’re now in a world where the mobile

In all my years in the photo trade I have never received such backing from a supplier. Whenever I’ve needed something I know I can pick up the phone and the Fujifilm team will make it happen” Steven Lord of Lords Photography phone is the centre of most people’s lives.” he correctly reasons. “Millions of photos are taken every minute and exchanged with friends and family. My objective is

The interior of Lords Photography has undergone a major makeover, inspired by the artisan look of the Fujifilm’s Wonder Photo shop concept.

It certainly seems to be working as far as drawing increased custom to the store goes

to encourage people to use their images in a creative way, for display and gifts. In my store I have created an environment that is both modern and inspiring. I aim to show people what amazing things you can now do with a photo – whatever device my customers are using to capture it on.”

To this end, new display areas for photo panels and canvasses have been created, along with prominent displays of photo gifts. The emphasis is on using photos from phones to make wall display pieces and gifts, rather than just the standard 6x4-inches everyone might expect.

A HIVE OF INDUSTRY Steven has also rejigged his photo-gifting workshop. “It used to be upstairs which was not very convenient,” he notes. “A major re-jig of the back office means that we now make gifts near the shop floor.

This has also quickened production

times, allowing us to offer one-hour mugs and same day T-shirts, for example, which are already proving popular.”

The recent Father’s Day in June was the big test for the new look and Steven was not disappointed.

“On the Saturday we were completing an order every three minutes, from 9am to 5pm,” he marvels. “We literally had queues for our five kiosks for most of the day. It was like Christmas!

“The Fujifilm equipment performed flawlessly no matter how much work we put through it. I’m really impressed.”

As we noted in our introduction to this piece, photo ID – and the substantial revenue stream it can provide for the photo independent – is something Steven feels he has a vested interest in.

For many years he was the chairman of the Photo Marketing Association, a role which saw him actively involved in negotiations with the government over the future of passport photos.

“The government wanted to move to a fully digital system and abandon paper prints. It became obvious that the photo trade could lose this vital business to what amounted to people taking personal ‘selfies’. Our team pointed out the flaws of this concept and thankfully heed was taken. We now have a system, pioneered by the PMA team, at the time lead by Nigel McNaught, which allows us to offer digital passport uploads.” (See recent issues of BPI News for much more on this recent development, and the solutions and processes available – Ed).

“Although obviously other systems are available I personally use the Fujifilm system, which integrates perfectly with my Frontier minilab system,” Steven Lord concludes. “This offers a huge profit potential and every photo shop should invest in a system in my opinion.”

Indeed, Steven told us back in March that the “the most profitable item in your shop is the passport photograph”, which is certainly food for thought – or very much should be – for every photo retailer and minilab reading this magazine.

“Steven may be one of our newest additions to the Fujifilm dealer network, but his passion for business and his willingness to work with our innovative product offerings has seen him achieve amazing things in a relatively short period of time,” adds Fujifilm Marketing Manager Peter Wigington. “Moreover our business advice and marketing team is always on hand to help make anyone who is presently part of our network – or those considering joining it – a success.”

As ever, the contact details you need to get in touch and boost the potential of your own business are at the bottom of this article.

Boost your print sales in 2018! Get in touch with Peter direct on 01234 572138 or via photoprintservices_UK@fujifilm.com @bpi_news

BPI News | July/August 2018 21

News

MANFROTTO THREE BREAK FREE The Italian tripod and accessory brand has introduced three new premium additions to its range of Befree Advanced tripods. The trio of newbies includes a carbon version of the Befree Advanced, in the aptly named Befree Advanced Carbon, which comes complete with Advanced 494 aluminium Centre Ball Head and carbon fibre legs for £319.95 SRP. The unit weighs 1.25Kg. The other two options are the Befree Live Carbon tripod at £349.95 and the Befree GT Carbon at £399.95 (aluminium version also available at £239.95). The latter folds down to 43cm yet can take a load up to 10Kg. The Befree GT also mounts Manfrotto’s new Advanced 496 aluminium centre ball head, and, like the Befree Advanced Carbon, features an ‘M-lock’. This is a new twist lock developed by Manfrotto that enhances compactness and speed of use, according to the manufacturer.

The Befree Live Carbon meanwhile is described as a lightweight and ergonomic

video travel tripod, constructed to allow DSLR, CSC or camcorder users to record high quality video footage.

Of course, Manfrotto also makes bags.

So, complementing the new tripods is a new backback dedicated to travellers in the Advanced Befree Backpack.

Always on the go: Manfrotto’s not only offering a very portable trio of new travel tripods in its ‘Befree’ range, but also a new backpack to transport them in!

SRP is £119.95. Naturally an expandable side pocket provides the facility to transport its new travel sized tripod models. www.manfrotto.co.uk/collections/ supports/befree-advanced-series

FUJI FIRMWARE Want a new CONFIRMED bag? Sling it!

Direct your Fuji ‘X’ series camera owning customers to the news that the camera stalwart’s updates for its X-H1 and X-T2 cameras are now available.

The firmware for the X-T2 (Ver.4.10) adds focus bracketing and compatibility with the manufacturer’s new Fujinon MKX 18-55mm T2.9 and MKX 50135mm T2.9 lenses. It also allows for enlarged and customisable indicators, plus the addition of a 1080/120P highspeed video mode, as well as enhanced phase detection AF, the addition of flicker reduction and improvements to in-camera Raw file conversion.

The firmware for the X-H1 (Ver.1.10) meanwhile also adds focus-bracketing functionality, compatibility with the same two new lenses, enlarged and customisable indicators, and enhanced phase detection AF for both stills and video shooting. It also allows users to set the ‘Fn’ (function) button as ‘IS mode’ for quicker settings changes. www.fujifilm.co.uk

22 July/August 2018 | BPI News

Tenba’s Solstice range of bags has swollen for the summer with the addition of two brand new Sling bags, the two sizes (7L and 10L) accommodating mirror-less or DSLR sized cameras and accessories.

The Solstice Sling 7L (£89 SRP) is the smaller of the two and is designed to carry a mirrorless or compact DSLR camera with two to four lenses (up to 70-200mm f2.8). It will also fit a DJI Mavic or other compact drone. The bag features a padded tablet sleeve to carry an iPad Mini or similar sized 8-inch tablet. A reinforced side pocket can accommodate a water bottle or compact tripod.

The bigger Solstice Sling 10L (£99 SRP) can carry one or two DSLRs with between four and six lenses. The Solstice Sling 10L will take up to a body with 70-200mm f2.8 lens attached. It can also transport a full-sized iPad or similar 10-inch tablet and it too has a side pocket suitable for water bottle or compact tripod. Again, Mac Group is the distributor you need to contact for both of the above. www.tenba.com

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BPI News Product Focus

Game, set & perfect match: Sigma’s 85mm & Sony’s E system The Japanese lens specialist offers a range of high quality prime lenses that provide ideal companions for Sony’s full frame E-mount cameras (otherwise known as the FE mount).

BPI News plays with one of the latest in the 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM

W

e introduced Sigma’s latest ‘lucky 7’ line up of Sony full frame (FE mount) mirrorless compatible prime lenses back in our April edition. Now one of the flagship models from the range in the bright/ fast 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), available to order, stock and sell now, has arrived at BPI News Towers.

All the lenses in the ‘Art’ series family –including this one – purport to deliver the same high performance optical design, plus feature what Sigma describes as a newly developed control algorithm that optimises the autofocus drive and maximises the speed of data transmission.

This ensures high speed AF matches the level of a lens designed exclusively for mirror-less cameras, and, on a Sony E-mount camera, the ability for the AF to follow the subject around the frame when the AF-C mode is selected is described as ‘exceptional’. AF remains precise when the lens is utilised with E-mount cameras offering only contrast AF.

difference subtle adjustments make with your eye to the viewfinder, focal distance is also given on the barrel of the lens itself in both feet and metres.

The 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM feels substantial in the hand and when mounted to the camera, making for both rigidity and durability, with a brass bayonet mount and a rubber sealed connection area ensuring the lens can claim to be both dust and splashproof.

Like all Sigma lenses, this one proudly displays its ‘made in Japan’ heritage and a lens hood, cap and protective carry case is included in the box.

High-speed autofocus matches the level of a lens designed exclusively for mirror-less cameras, and, on a Sony E-mount camera, the ability for the AF to follow the subject around the frame when in AF-C mode is described as exceptional” What your customers will also want to know is that the lens is compatible with in-camera image stabilisation – with the Sony E-mount camera sensing the focal length of the lens and automatically optimising anti shake performance.

Creative uses for this one are broad, but obviously include portraiture, events and wedding photography, for when you want to isolate a subject from a possibly busy or distracting background.

So, if your customers want a wellbuilt lens at a reasonable price that does justice to their sizeable investment in a Sony mirror-less camera, then this ‘prime’ contender should swiftly become the ‘focus’ of their attention. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

GOOD IN THEORY, PERFECT IN PRACTICE

A perfect fit with Sony: Sigma’s 85mm prime lens delivers an attractively shallow depth of field with pin sharp centre detail for when your photographer customers really want their subject to jump out of the frame

While the above all sounds good in theory, how does it pan out in practice when you attach the lens to a Sony mirror-less model, such as the Alpha 7 Mark II, we were using it with?

In short, if you have the lens on auto, the response is swift, though we also enjoyed finely tuning the portion of the image in focus by manually rotating the focus ring on occasion (even when AF mode is engaged); especially when up close to our subject and enjoying particularly shallow depth of field, with both foreground and background attractively blurred, leaving only a thin strip of our image sharply defined to really draw the attention.

Though you can obviously witness the

At a glance: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM n Available in Sony full frame FE mount n Compatible with Sony’s Continuous AF (AF-C) and high speed autofocus n Compatible with in-camera image stabilization n Brass bayonet mount, dust and splashproof construction n Suggested retail price £1,199.99 n Available now (launched May 2018)

All lenses sold via Sigma Imaging UK come with the benefit of a three year limited warranty. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com @bpi_news

BPI News | July/August 2018 23

News Extra

PHOTOKINA 2018 AND 19: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR… With the German trade show – still the biggest European photographic event – rushing up to meet us like an express train, we focus on what we currently know about the changes being made by the organisers – not least as regards the proximity of the next two events, and the fact that from next year it will be held annually…

T

rade shows are great events at which to connect with fellow members of the photo industry, network and to get an impression of where the market is going. One of the world’s biggest as regards everything Photographic, Photokina (open to both trade visitors and the public) is now in its 35th year – a figure that is bound to multiply rapidly, as from next May, it will be an annual rather than biennial event.

The dates you need for now are that Photokina 2018 runs from September 26th until the 29th, whereas 2019’s show will run from May 8th until the 11th.

As to how this year’s event and next might otherwise differ in tone or focus from previous exhibitions, we begin to get a bit of a clue about with the latest news from show organisers informing us that smartphone manufacturer Huawei will have a ‘strong presence’ at Photokina this year. The brand has been much in the tech news lately for its P20 Pro handset that comprises a Leica triple camera in combination with Artificial Intelligence features.

“The aim is to also offer new imaging segments an attractive communication and business platform,” Katharina Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse – the venue at which Photokina is

Especially important are those who develop an interest in photography through Instagram and smartphones. They share with others, receive feedback for their photos, and then often delve deeper into the subject of photography and technology, developing the ambition to become better.” held – explains. “The participation of Huawei shows us that we are heading in the right direction. That one of the leading technological companies and market leaders from the mobile segment is exhibiting at Photokina is a huge enrichment for the event and our visitors.”

In addition to exhibiting at Photokina, Huawei will be putting on an exhibition of photos taken with its products, which it states is further proof of its commitment to continuously drive forward smartphone photography.

FROM THE ACTUAL TO THE VIRTUAL – AND BACK AGAIN

Team players with a focus on the future: Christoph Menke and Katharina Hamma

24 July/August 2018 | BPI News

Further keeping up with the increasingly virtual times, Photokina has given its Instagram channel what it describes as a ‘makeover’ – with the aim, it says, of presenting itself to relevant target groups as a competent partner for further photographic development. To this end it has recruited an Instagram expert

in Michael Schulz (@berlinstagram) to oversee it. As both Instagram and Photokina focus on the visual image, Photokina’s thirty-something Director Cristoph Menke sees boosting its presence on this platform as a natural step. “It makes sense to more intensively link both platforms with each other,” he reasons.

Schulz himself says: “Especially important are those who develop an interest in photography through Instagram and smartphones. They share with others, receive feedback for their photos, and then often delve deeper into the subject of photography and technology, developing the ambition to become better.”

Menke adds that he hopes the same audience will equally have the motivation to visit the trade fair. Since last month the Instagram account has been taking a behind the scenes look at successful photographers – who, in turn, will appear on the Communities Stage at Photokina itself, giving workshops and lectures.

As Koelnmesse’s Katharina told us last

www.bpinews.co.uk

Photokina latest month, it has taken all of its target groups into consideration for the redesigning of Photokina – seeking to equally fulfill the expectations of industry, trade and professionals, along with enthusiasts and beginners. In other words a delicate balancing act and a ‘something for everyone’ approach. “For our exhibitors, an appearance at Photokina involves

At a glance: Photokina facts & figures n Leading trade fair for the photo, video and imaging sector – welcoming professionals and consumers alike n Occupies Halls 1,2,3,4,5 of the Koelmesse complex, Cologne, Germany n This year’s dates are September 26th until the 29th n 2019’s dates are May 8th to the 11th n 2016’s event attracted 983 exhibitors and 190,669 visitors from 134 countries n Stated product segments include: cameras and camcorders, smartphones, VR/AR systems, camera accessories, long range optics, storage media, photographic studio equipment, lighting systems, microphones and audio equipment, image processing software, video/film technologies, digital imaging and processing, minilabs, image kiosk systems, online picture services, photo books, frames and albums, personalised photo products, home printing, large format printing, fine art printing, scanners, video screens and monitors, video projectors, computer generated imagery and imaging services

HARDWARE STILL VERY MUCH IN EVIDENCE

enormous effort and expenditure,” she noted. ‘For this they deserve maximum attention from potential customers and the public spotlight.”

The marketing spiel around this year’s show suggests that the upcoming and future Photokina will present itself as more complete, more virtual and ‘more ingenious’ than it has been in recent years.

As indicated in the comments above, themes including mobile photography and image processing, the social networks as a presentation space and images generated by computers, artificial intelligence, or the manner in which imaging technologies are already now influencing and will in future continue to influence our everyday routine, affect all the target groups for Photokina, and will thus be addressed at the exhibition.

@bpi_news

All this is not to suggest that ‘traditional’ photography involving dedicated cameras and the swapping of lenses isn’t well represented too, however. The organisers have been likewise keen to inform us that the usual international big names of Canon, Carl Zeiss, CEWE, Epson, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon, Panasonic, Sigma, Sony and Tamron will all be returning to the leading trade fair, at which they’ll share their new products.

As with any other fair of its type, visitors, whether professional or amateur, will have the chance to get hands on with kit and compare and contrast offerings, with a view to future purchase.

Olympus is once again putting cameras in hands as part of its Perspective Playground in Hall 1, and there are said to be more Photokina stages than ever before showing individual programmes and ‘enabling a dialogue’.

As Christoph Menke told us when his appointment was announced late last year: “Photokina is not becoming less about photography, it is becoming more about imaging in its entirety. Also,

Stepping things up: the previous Photokina drew just under 200,000 visitors... will the changes happening this year and next broaden its appeal further?

when we are looking at the world of imaging, the traditional photo market is part of a branch that has become a lot more significant, more diverse and more dynamic over the past few years, and shows no sign of slowing down. This branch deserves an annual business and communication platform like Photokina.”

He added: “This is an opportunity for traditional camera companies, not a threat. We’re expanding their highlight event to technology segments that are inevitably part of the imaging world anyway, and therefore make the show more attractive for everyone. As an imaging platform, we need to embrace those new technologies, building on the unchangeable brand core that is always the traditional camera industry.”

Our next issue of BPI News will be our regular all-singing, all-dancing Photokina Preview edition in which, along with the latest trade updates, we’ll drill into more detail of who’s exhibiting what and where. Of course in the meantime, keep an eye on the official website, which also includes advice on planning your trip. See you then! www.photokina.com

BPI News | July/August 2018 25

Business Advice

TURNING A MISSED SALE INTO A FUTURE OPPORTUNITY Photo retailers can’t be expected to stock every item a customer may conceivably want. But that doesn’t mean that they should be sending customers elsewhere when they can’t fulfil an enquiry. Resident business expert Adam Bernstein looks at how to turn a missed sale into a future opportunity, while also updating us on consumer law regarding product returns…

H

ave you ever asked for something in a shop and been told: “We don’t stock it because there’s not enough demand”? This happens quite often, as shop owners haven’t twigged that enquiries mean that there is a demand for a product.

To the consumer, of course, the inability to purchase the product they desire, in the here and now, is just a nuisance. But for the business it represents a loss of a sale and a risk that the consumer will go online instead and stay online.

The problem for retail is that when missed sales opportunities happen, they are not usually recorded. Accounts systems only record sales that are made – not sales that are lost. Complaints systems, too, usually record complaints about purchases made – not complaints about what the shop doesn’t sell.

CREATE A LOG TO GAUGE DEMAND The easiest way to start recording unmet demand is simply to start a logbook of every instance a customer asked for something you didn’t have. Looking through, say, a month’s customer enquiries might well reveal one or two significant areas of unfulfilled demand, which can

One interesting exercise is to look through your customer list and spot the missing people and groups. Are you mainly serving men? Do women feel comfortable buying from you?

What is the spread of the generations buying?” easily be met, now you are aware of it.

But look beyond the numbers too. If three people have taken the trouble to ask for something, you can bet that at least as many again have looked round the shop and either been too embarrassed, or not had enough time to make an enquiry.

It’s also quite likely that some of your paying customers will have walked out with something they didn’t 100% want, simply because it was the ‘next best thing’.

Ideally, ask staff to record what action they took in relation to the query, as well as the query itself. Are you able, for example, to place special orders for articles that are not otherwise economic to stock in bulk?

Or, if you really can’t meet the demand yourself, can you refer customers to a nearby specialist? A customer who has been referred to a specialist supplier, or who has had something ordered specially for them, will always remember the service you gave – and the goodwill arising from such instances means that they will probably continue to use you, as well as portraying

you in a favourable light to others.

Doing your own bit of occasional market research is also crucial. Go to a competitor store – perhaps a rather larger store than your own – and see what is moving off the shelves there. What do they stock that you don’t? How are the items that you are missing selling for others? That should give you an idea of whether a product will be a success. Of course, if they don’t stock it either, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no demand for it – they, too, may have been making the same mistake and missing a golden opportunity.

MISSING PERSON MARKETING Most marketing is directed towards finding out about customers who already buy a product. And inevitably, if you work in a shop, you will know the kind of people who shop there far better than the kind of people who walk past. So, most marketing is really only useful for keeping the customers you have. But how do you find out about the ones

Consumer law and returns policies If you do get a customer to buy a product from you, only to have them try to return it later – perhaps they cheekily wanted a camera or accessory for a holiday, or short-term use – where do you currently stand? It’s worth reminding ourselves that consumer law changed in October three years ago with the introduction of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA). Retailers obviously need to ensure they comply with their legal duty and responsibilities to protect their customers’ rights set out in the Act, says Matthew Gough, who leads the Consumer Law team at international law firm Eversheds Sutherland.

26 July/August 2018 | BPI News

Gough says that under the CRA, “customers may be entitled to a refund, replacement, repair and/or compensation where the goods they purchase are faulty, not as described, or don’t do what they are supposed to do.” These rules apply whether the goods are purchased at full price, at a discount in a sale, and even when goods are bought second hand.

As for returns, Gough explains that the CRA says that, for goods purchased, “the consumer has up to 30 days to reject the goods and get a full refund if they are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose, or not as described.” But what happens when a consumer returns a faulty item after 30

days, but within six months of purchase, and it can’t be repaired or replaced? Here Gough says that they would be entitled to a full refund in most cases, “with the onus being on the business to prove that the item was not faulty.” Looking beyond that period, after six months and up to six years, if the goods do not last a reasonable length of time, he says that the consumer may be entitled to some money back, “provided they can give evidence that the fault was present at the time of purchase and the goods should have been durable for the time period in which the complaint is made.”

Notably, these consumer rights also attach to goods purchased online, over the phone,

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Business Advice

who haven’t yet become your customers?

One interesting exercise is to look through your customer list and spot the missing people and groups. Are you mainly serving men? Do women feel comfortable buying from you?

What is the spread of the generations buying? Following on from what you identify, could you run a pensioner discount day, or offer free tuition to new, young photographers? What about commuters, who possibly don’t use you because your weekday opening hours provide a retail ‘window’ that’s too narrow for them? Once you’ve found

or by post. In such instances of distance selling, Gough says the seller is responsible for covering the costs of returns. He adds that in addition, “the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 provides customers with the right to reject the goods for any reason and get a full refund during the 14-day cooling-off period after receiving the order. Traders have an obligation to inform customers of this right to cancel; failure to do so could lead to the consumer’s right to cancel being extended to up to one year, instead of 14 days.”

Of course, many retailers offer voluntary no-fault return policies. Such return policies often go beyond these

@bpi_news

If a customer asks for something you don’t presently stock, don’t view it as an annoyance, instead turn it into an opportunity. Also ask staff to make a note of unfulfilled queries, so you can see if there’s a common thread, or demand increasing for an item to the extent that it might just be worth ordering in after all

the missing people, the action you need to take is usually self-evident.

If you know your four P’s of retail marketing, you’ll probably realise that we’ve covered product, price and promotion… but what about ‘place’? You may think that in a small shop, place is obvious. But some customers will go further out of their way than others to find what they want. Others will take one look, then walk out with their desires not met – despite the fact you may have had the product in stock, if they’d bothered to ask. Make sure that for quick purchases – memory cards, camera batteries etc – the

goods are easily accessible and visible.

One final point: Sometimes you do have the product; the right customer for it comes in; the product’s seemingly in the correct location in the store; and you still don’t get a sale. Make sure you are always ready to help – if there’s a queue for the till, or chatting shop assistants, you may never know how many customers went away without their need being satisfied.

Remember that unmet demand represents an opportunity. A customer asking for something you haven’t got is not a nuisance, but a potential source of revenue.

minimum statutory requirements. But Gough also makes a number of key points that benefit retailers: “Sellers need to be aware of the fact that, save for the cooling-off period applicable to distance selling, customers are not legally entitled to a refund just because they have changed their mind about a purchase.

Similarly, there is no automatic right to return goods, for example, where the consumer has bought clothes in-store in the wrong size, or where an item is an unwanted gift, unless provided for by the business’s own returns policy.”

In essence, if the item purchased is

not damaged or faulty, is as described and does what it is supposed to do, the customer will not have a legal right to return it. In addition, when buying online, there are also a number of exceptions where customers are not entitled to return the goods within the cooling-off period, unless they are faulty. These include goods that are personalised or custom-made, perishable goods (e.g. flowers, fresh food), sealed on delivery but have been opened (e.g. CDs, DVDs, computer software), or newspapers and magazines. Clearly, however, few of these items are found in photographic retail.

BPI News | July/August 2018 27

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News

(WE)X-MEN ASSEMBLE! Wex Photo Video’s gallery at its flagship London E1 store is playing host to superhero royalty this summer in the shape of portraits of X-Men stars Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen (shown) – forming part of an exhibition entitled ‘Portraitist’ by Brit portrait photographer Rory Lewis (also pictured). Beginning August 1st, it will run until September 30th. Other portraits featured include those of William Shatner, David Bamber, Tobias Menzies, Ciarán Hinds and Rufus Sewell, as well as royals and politicians.

“We’re honoured to present such an outstanding new collection of portraits in this very special showcase at our London gallery,” enthuses Wex Photo Video’s Head of Content Matt Devine.

“We hope that Rory’s extraordinary style and approach will inspire other photographers to experiment with their portraiture, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience this work for the first time, with a chance to own an exclusive print from the exhibition.”

Famous faces: Wex Photo Video’s East London store plays host to an exhibition of portraits by Rory Lewis (above) later this summer

Limited edition prints of Rory’s iconic work will be available for purchase throughout the period of the exhibition period, which is presented in collaboration with Epson. Each

photograph is printed on Epson Premium Luster media and output on an Epson SureColor SC-P800 A2 and Epson SureColor SC-P20000 64-inch printer. www.wexphotovideo.com

Leica rewards photographic creativity Got customers seeking creative inspiration for their own photography?

Then point them to the fact that the premium camera brand has selected its 12 finalists in this year’s Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2018 (with three finalists’

entrants fulfill the thematic requirements of the LOBA. We have consciously maintained the theme of ‘the relationship between people and their environment’ since the first request for entries to the LOBA competition in 1979. Today, this theme remains as valid as it was in the past – in fact, we could even say that it is now more important than ever before.”

Prizes given will amount to a total cash value of around 80,000 Euros. www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com From left to right: On the Edge of the World ©Stéphane Lavoué Svetlana ©Mary Gelman Road to Ruin ©Christian Werner

images shown here), who will now feature in a major exhibition in Berlin during October this year, with a formal ceremony taking place on October 10th.

Around 2,500 photographers from 110 different countries submitted entries.

This year, the jury was again impressed by the large number of entrants and the high quality of the portfolios, with Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director & Chief Representative Leica Galleries International, saying: “With every new year of the competition, it is remarkable to see how intensely and creatively the

30 July/August 2018 | BPI News

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