Industry

Kodak Turns 92-Year-Old Film Manufacturing Building Into Rubble

Yesterday marked the end of another piece of Kodak's once-powerful film manufacturing business. The company used 100 pounds of dynamite to take down the 92-year-old Building 53 at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York. The sprawling 250,000-square-foot plant, once used to manufacture acetate base for camera film, was reduced to 1,500 tons of steel and concrete in less than 20 seconds.

A Brief History of the Canon Canonet Rangefinder

In January of 1961, Canon introduced the Canonet, a consumer-friendly 35mm film rangefinder camera aimed at the average person. Over fifty years and fourteen variations later, film photographers still look back on the Canonet as an excellent choice for beginning and experienced photographers alike. Let’s travel back in time to see how it all began and why the Canonet remains popular even today.

Interview: Lytro CEO Jason Rosenthal on the Future of Light Field Technology

Lytro’s research into the world of light field technology has produced two consumer devices. Their first camera was released in 2012 and introduced photographers to the concept of being able to refocus images after they had been taken. Then in 2014, Lytro released their flagship: the ILLUM. Armed with an integrated 30-250mm f/2.0 lens, a 40 megaray sensor, and upgraded software, Lytro was ready to show the world that their technology wasn’t just a gimmick.

I Want the DxO One iPhone Camera Attachment to Succeed, But it Won’t

When Sony announced the QX-100, I jumped on Amazon and pre-ordered it immediately. It seemed to solve the most obvious problems I had with smartphone photography quality: a larger sensor, better low light performance, and better optics. But upon receiving it, the deficiencies quickly became apparent. The display-less design required you to use Wi-Fi to pair it with your camera -- a frustratingly slow experience. I tried shooting blind, but the lens barrel design gave you no indication of …

Nikon Offers ‘Maintenance Service Initiative’ to D800 and D700 Owners

Nikon has begun contacting owners of D800 and D700 DSLRs with an offer to participate in a new "Maintenance Service Initiative." Photographers who are interested can have their camera sent to Nikon's repair center, examined, cleaned, and repaired (if there are any issues discovered). The entire program -- including shipping both ways -- is being offered for free.

Fujifilm to Raise Prices and Kill Film Lines Yet Again

In response to struggling film sales, Fujifilm has repeatedly discontinued unprofitable lines and raised prices over the past several years. The company has now announced its latest round of price increases and film discontinuations for its Japanese market in an attempt to make sure that its popular and profitable films can live on.

Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 Rebirth will Bring ‘Soap Bubble’ Bokeh to Modern Cameras

Since Globell Deutschland revived the Meyer-Optik-Görlitz brand, they have been committed to continuing the legendary engineering of lens optics that began in 1896. As of late, they have introduced a number of high-quality lenses designed and crafted in Germany. Now, Globell wants to breathe life into a modern 100mm f/2.8 Trioplan ‘soap bubble bokeh’ lens, a piece of glass known for its unique bokeh. The company has launched a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign that has already raised …

6 Top Online Photography Portfolio Hosting Options

Your photography deserves a website that can showcase its creativity and beauty... without breaking the bank. Former TIME CEO and Curator Gallery owner Ann S. Moore told us in a recent interview, “Shame on you if you don’t have a website! You absolutely have to have one!” Today we'll be looking at a few of the top industry solutions for hosting your photography portfolio in style.

Anti-Freedom of Panorama Proposal Rejected by EU

Good news for photographers in Europe: freedom of panorama will live on to see another day -- in most countries, at least. Today the European Parliament voted on a controversial proposal that threatened to restrict the photography of copyrighted buildings and sculptures from public places. An overwhelming majority of MEPs voted against the plan.

Reporters Left Out of Canadian PM Photo Op, Told Phones Aren’t Cameras

Should smartphone cameras be considered "real cameras" when used by journalists? It appears Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's staff members don't think so. Despite having press credentials, a handful of reporters were denied entry to a photo op between Harper and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley yesterday because they only had smartphones and not non-phone cameras.

Concert Photographer, Where Did Your Integrity Go?

Over the last couple of weeks, the matter of photo contracts has once again been debated. First came Jason Sheldon’s blog post, calling Taylor Swift out on her hypocrisy when attacking Apple for demanding musicians give away their music for free while doing the exact same thing to concert photographers in her photo contracts. If you’re reading this, you’re probably well aware of that whole ordeal, so there’s no need to get into it further other than to say that I fully support …

Standing Up for the Concert Photographer… By Standing on Their Neck

Last week, the Washington City Paper made a stand against what it considered an unfair concert photography contract presented by the Foo Fighters with an article entitled "Why We’re Not Photographing The Foo Fighters." Concert photographers everywhere stood up and slow clapped for the headline, the main idea of the article, and the stand it took on photographers rights.

Newspaper Rejects Foo Fighters Photo Contract, Will Buy Fan Photos Instead

There's a revolution brewing in the world of concert photography. After photographer Jason Sheldon penned a viral open letter to speak out against Taylor Swift's concert photo contract, a major Irish newspaper decided to boycott photos at Swift's recent concert. Now a Washington newspaper has followed suit with another major player in the music industry: the Foo Fighters.

Jaunt Unveils the Neo 360° Virtual Reality Camera Rig

Jaunt is a virtual reality company with enough confidence to proudly claim the tagline of ‘the future of cinematic VR’. Aimed at creating high-profile cinematic virtual reality experiences through their camera technology, the company has announced their latest product. The Jaunt Neo is aimed at professionals looking to capture fully immersive 360-degree experiences.

Sony to Raise $4B to Ramp up Production of Sensors

Sony announced a few years ago that digital imaging would be one of its three main pillars (with the other two being games and mobile). It looks like the decision is paying off, and Sony is doubling down on its plans. After making 40% of all image sensors sold in 2014, Sony is now announcing that it will raise $4 billion in funding in order to increase how many sensors it can produce.

It Lives: Photoflex Acquired by PromarkBRANDS

Back in April, the lighting company Photoflex unexpectedly announced that it would be closing shop after 30 years in the business, to the disappointment of many. Later that month, the struggling company revealed that it was working on a deal to allow the brand to live on. They succeeded.

Major Irish Newspaper Boycotts Taylor Swift Concert Photos Over ‘Restrictive’ Contract

At least one major newspaper is taking a stand against Taylor Swift's concert photography contract, which has generated quite a bit of discussion in recent days over its 'restrictive' and 'unfair' terms. The Irish Times, Ireland's second most popular newspaper, explained today that it chose to leave out photos entirely rather than sign Swift's contract.

Magnum Adds a Record Six New Photographers

Magnum Photos is a prestigious international photographic cooperative that focuses on photojournalism. The organization is made up and owned by its members around the world. Every year, the company typically nominates one or two new photographers. This year, however, Magnum has nominated six new members: a record-breaking number.

Virtual Reality Stock Photos: Getty Images Launches 360° View App for Oculus

Getty Images has been known for its premium stock photography and video catalog. Now, with the birth of a major medium on the horizon, the company is looking to get into the virtual reality space. A new application, 360-Degree View by Getty, will give users a chance to experience their favorite moments as if they were there. Best of all, the application is available now on the Oculus Store.

Kendall Jenner’s Instagram Photo Becomes the Most-Liked Ever

If you thought you were Instagram popular, then you may want to check out Kendall Jenner’s ‘heart hair’ photograph, which has picked up 2.6 million likes in only five weeks. Jenner’s photo now sets the record for the most-liked Instagram photo ever posted. The previous holder of the title was Jenner’s half-sister, Kim Kardashian.

Jason Sheldon: My Response to Taylor Swift’s Agent

After my public response to Taylor Swift’s open letter to Apple, I didn’t quite expect the phenomenal reaction it received. I knew it was provocative. I knew it was going to be risky and could possibly harm my chances of getting access to other concerts in future, but it needed to be said -- out loud. When I thought hard about the possible consequences, and restrictions on my access to future work, I asked myself “What point is there in going to work if I can’t be paid for it, yet …

Hasselblad Says the Lusso is Its Last Rebranded Sony Camera

Hasselblad is a legendary brand name in the photo industry, but over the past few years the company has taken a hit in the eyes of some photographers by choosing to sell luxury, rebranded versions of Sony cameras. Starting with the Lunar back in 2012, Hasselblad made a habit of taking a popular Sony camera, redesigning the body with luxury materials, and then selling the "new camera" for multiples of the original price.

Selfie Sticks Banned at Disney Theme Parks

Selfie sticks may be growing in popularity, but bans of the photo accessory have been increasingly common as well. First sports stadiums started prohibiting spectators from using the sticks, and then major museums started following suit. Next in line: major theme parks.

The Science Behind Lytro’s Light Field Technology and Megaray Sensors

The shutter fires and your camera’s digital image sensor is hit by photon particles, creating a two-dimensional photograph; this process is one that photographers are familiar with in their day to day work. However, when Lytro introduced the first commercially available light field camera, the game was changed with a sensor that could capture more than before - aperture and focus became adjustable in post-production, and an interactive perspective became possible.