Breathing Life with Inkjet into a Colorless Façade

Wndow Graphics with Simple Perforated Window Vinyl

The Department of Education in Union City, N.J., recently procured warehouse space as a storage and shipping area in what used to be a large garage with windows facing two sides of the street.

Union City High School Window GraphicsUnion City High School graphic design teacher John Slater was asked to come up with graphics to both identify the building and give it a more welcoming feel.

“People loved a Christmas window display we did so much that we wanted to go bigger and bolder. From where we are you can see New York City, so I came up with a pop-art urban theme. It was a lot of fun and I’m glad the board gave me the chance to do it,” says Slater.

Consulting with his customer specialist, Vincent Bejar, who is part of LexJet’s Government Team, Slater settled on LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30). Slater’s designs were printed on an Epson SureColor S70670 64″ low-solvent printer and applied by Slater and a team of students.

Window Graphics with Simple Perforated Window Vinyl“Though each window is different, I wanted the continuity of the pieces to blend over. I took a picture of the windows first, and measured everything. The bars that criss-cross the garage windows were around 1 3/4″; I just substracted those and built the file in Photoshop using guides and rulers for each section and put each section in, minus where the frames are,” explains Slater. “The biggest challenge is large pieces, so we had two people holding the ends and another applying it with a squeegee. The perforated window vinyl is great, because you can’t see in but on the inside you can see out.”

The result is an almost street-long piece of pop art that helps bring the converted garage and the area around it to life with color and panache. Slater says it was quite chilly when the window graphics were being applied, but the students who pitched in helped make the project a lot easier to install.

“These graphics will be up for at least the summer before it’s transformed into something else. I feel like this is only the beginning because LexJet has so many different materials we can use for other projects, like wall murals and floor graphics,” adds Slater.

Canon and LexJet Offering Photo and Printing Workshop at Canon HQ

Canon LexJet Print Workshop
The next Canon/LexJet print workshop will be held at Canon’s newly opened headquarters in Melville, N.Y., on Long Island, a short trip from New York City, on Oct. 22.

Canon U.S.A. and LexJet announce a free workshop on Oct. 22 at Canon’s new headquarters facility in Melville, N.Y., that addresses the inkjet printing workflow for digital photography, fine art, sign and display applications. The workshop will be held the day before the PhotoPlus Expo and Conference opens, which is being held in New York City Oct. 23-26.

The workshop will be led by inkjet printing experts from Canon and LexJet and is geared toward anyone interested in learning about new and profitable applications and how to maximize their print workflow. Professional photographers Dan Neri and Rick Berk will also be on hand to discuss the latest innovations in Canon Photographic Equipment.

“It was large-format printing in a nutshell, from fine art and photography to posters and banners,” says Bill Szcepaniak, who attended the free workshop held earlier this summer in Irvine, Calif.

You will learn how to use the latest Canon imagePROGRAF (iPF) wide format inkjet printers, Canon printer software, applications relevant to your market with application demonstrations, and sure-fire production techniques to increase efficiency and profitability.

The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a continental breakfast starting at 8:30 a.m. Workshop attendees will receive a $50 gift certificate from LexJet, inkjet media swatchbooks, special printer and inkjet media promotions, printed samples, and other giveaways.

The number of attendees each day is limited, so please contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538 to learn more about the workshop and to register.

The address where the free workshop will be held on Oct. 22 is:

Canon U.S.A., Inc.
One Canon Park
Melville, NY 11747

PhotoPlus Expo Preview

PhotoPlus ExpoThe 30th annual PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is scheduled for Oct. 23-26 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City. Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future is the theme of this year’s show, which will be a common thread throughout the conference, expo and special evening events planned at PhotoPlus.

Registration for admission to the PhotoPlus Expo exhibit hall is free through Oct. 22 and $75 on-site. You can also pick up a PhotoPlus VIP Expo Pass for $75 before Oct. 22 ($100 on-site), which includes complimentary admission to all three keynote presentations, a private Customer Service Desk, VIP Expo lounge with free WiFi, and a premium gift bag filled with products, special offers, and discounts on a variety of products and services.

The PhotoPlus Conference includes more than 90 educational seminars in nine thematic tracks: Mastering Light, In Motion, Tips & Trends, Creating for Clients, Social Media + Marketing, Better Business, Shooting Memorable Moments, Post Production and Step by Step.

There’s also WPPI University, a one-day series of seminars on Wednesday, Oct. 23 with presentations by Tamara Lackey, Bambi Cantrell, Ryan Brenizer, Susan Stripling and more. The WPPI University conference pass is $99 through Oct. 22 and $179 onsite.

For a full schedule and pricing for the entire educational conference lineup, click here. All conference passes include free admission to all keynote presentations, Test Drive: New Product Preview + Networking Event, and the PhotoPlus 30th Anniversary BASH.

For more information and updates, visit the PhotoPlus Expo website or follow PhotoPlus on Facebook and Twitter.

Printing Iggy, Blondie, Dylan, Lennon, Jimi and More for an Iconic Musical Exhibition

SoHo Blues ExhibitionAllan Tannenbaum, owner of SoHo Blues in New York City, is one of the foremost music photographers of his generation. Though Tannenbaum is a seasoned international photojournalist with an extremely broad portfolio, he is best known for his work documenting New York City’s nightlife and music scene in the heady days of the 1970s and early 1980s.

SoHo Blues ExhibitionTannenbaum was there at the crossroads of the British Invasion, punk and New Wave, and New York City was the epicenter of this convergence. Tannenbaum was shooting for the SoHo News at the time, capturing the most important acts of the era as they blazed their way through the local clubs: the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Talking Heads, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, just to name a few, as well as a plethora of jazz and reggae acts.

Tannenbaum’s photography of this era became iconic, including the portrait work he did with John Lennon during the release of Double Fantasy in 1980, and shortly before Lennon was murdered that cold, bleak December day.

SoHo Blues Exhibit at Mr MusicheadFor Tannenbaum, the presentation is just as important as getting the capture right. His work has been featured in exhibitions across Europe and the U.S., and the medium gets the same care and detail as the message.

Tannenbaum’s most recent exhibition, the printing of which was sponsored by LexJet and Canon U.S.A., opened at Mr Musichead on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on June 27 and runs through September 13. As the name implies, Mr Musichead is a gallery that focuses on music photography and art. The gallery’s tag is Where Music Meets Art.

SoHo Blues Exhibit at Mr Musichead
Mr Musichead gallery owner Sam Milgrom (left) with Allan Tannenbaum at the opening of his photo exhibit on June 27.

“It’s the most comprehensive exhibition of my work concentrating on music. I have had a lot of exhibitions that have been more general about life in New York City in the ’70s, but this really focuses on music,” explains Tannenbaum. “The gallery is only about music and this exhibition is only about music, so it’s unique, diverse in its content and runs the gamut of the music scene.”

Tannenbaum and Mr Musichead’s owner, Sam Milgrom, sifted through the copious body of work Tannenbaum produced in that era and narrowed it down to about 40 images, which Tannenbaum printed and framed in sizes ranging from 11″ x 14″ to 24″ x 36″.

“We went back and forth on the images. Since that’s the market Sam knows best he was very helpful in choosing which images to showcase,” says Tannenbaum. “For example, one of the images we chose was a concert shot of Iggy Pop, who just did a show in Los Angeles and is popular there. We added a shot I have of him in his hotel room in front of a background I brought with me where I used a ring flash with my Hasselblad; it really pops out at you. I told him that if you’re going to have Iggy, you have to have this one.”

Allan Tannenbaum Exhibition at Mr MusicheadOther musicians featured in the exhibition include Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, David Bowie, Debbie Harry, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, John and Yoko Lennon, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, Sid Vicious (being arrested) and Sun Ra. In other words, a veritable who’s who among the most influential acts of their day, and for all time, really. The images for the exhibition were printed with Tannenbaum’s Canon iPF6100 on LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g.

“The printing went very well, thanks to LexJet and Canon. A few years ago I bought my iPF6100 and iPF8100 from LexJet, and they’re great printers, especially with the Canon Plug-In for Photoshop. In terms of getting a high-quality, nice sized image, and after experimenting with a lot of different papers, I had to come up with a standard: LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin. The galleries like the paper and the finish and it has a surface that is a lot like traditional photo paper,” says Tannenbaum. “One of my philosophies about photography is that it’s important not only to just to take great pictures, but to know how to make the image. The images hold up, even if you’re printing it large, like 30×40. There must be something in the Canon software that compensates so you don’t see any artifacts or degradation in quality at all. It’s a lot easier to compensate in the software than it is in the darkroom. And, the paper is phenomenal. When you tell people they’re digital prints, they can’t believe it. A photographer should be a good printer as well; it’s not just about taking the picture. I really enjoy making prints and seeing them on gallery walls or in people’s homes.”

To find out more about the exhibition and Mr Musichead, go to mrmusichead.com. And, for Tannenbaum’s portfolio, go to www.sohoblues.com.

Pick up Prizes and Additional Exposure in the PDN Curator Awards

PDN magazine announced the PDN Curator Awards, which PDN describes as the search for outstanding and undiscovered fine-art photography.

PDNIn addition to various prizes for winners – including a DSLR camera, PDN PhotoServe portfolio and a Gold Expo Pass to PDN PhotoPlus Expo in New York City – winning photographers will be featured in a New York City gallery exhibition this summer with an opening gala event.

Winning images will also be published in the winners’ gallery in the July issue of PDN magazine and at PDNonline.com. PDN says that the winning work will be seen by industry photo editors, art directors and art buyers.

Categories include Portraits/Nudes, Installation/Still Life, Abstract/Mixed Media, Nature/Street Photography, Photo Essay/Reportage and Student work. Judges include Jen Bekman, Bekman Projects; Daniel Cooney, Daniel Cooney Fine Art; Sarah Hasted, Hasted Kraeutler; Sasha Wolf, Sasha Wolf Gallery; Claire C. Carter, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art; Paula Tognarerlli, Griffin Museum of Photography; and Charles Guice, Charles Guice Contemporary.

The deadline to enter is March 26, and entry fees are $35 per image and $50 per series (a series must be related visually and is limited to six images.

Click here to enter the contest, and click on the following links to see past winners’ galleries: 2011 and 2012.

Special Events Planned for PhotoPlus Expo in NYC, Oct. 24-27

PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo announced a series of special events that will take place during PhotoPlus Expo from October 24-27 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Photography conference and eventThe events will provide attendees with additional insights, including a sneak peek at some the new products and technologies on display; an opportunity to have their portfolio reviewed by several industry icons; and a special screening of a lynda.com documentary film about the life and work of husband-and-wife artists Jerry Uelsmann and Maggie Taylor.

Test Drive Rally and Tweet-Up
PDN PhotoPlus Expo will host its second annual Test Drive Rally and Tweet-Up Product Preview event on Wednesday evening, Oct. 24, from 6-8 p.m. at the Javits Convention Center (Lower Level). The Test Drive Rally and Tweet-Up will provide media and conference and expo attendees with a sneak peek of products, services, and technologies on display during the PhotoPlus Expo, which opens on Thursday morning, Oct. 25.

The event will include a series of live Twitter boards where attendees can send tweets and photos to their followers about some of the interesting products they see during the Test Drive Rally. The live Twitter boards will also allow attendees to communicate with each other and share their thoughts and observations, in real time.

Admission to the PhotoPlus Expo Test Drive Rally and Tweet-Up is free to anyone who presents an official PhotoPlus Attendee or Media badge. Anyone can register for free at PhotoPlusExpo.com.

Portfolio Reviews
PDN and the Palm Springs Photo Festival are hosting a three-day Portfolio Review Program at PhotoPlus for professional and emerging photographers by appointment, Oct. 25-27. During the portfolio reviews you will receive valuable feedback, create new relationships, and possibly land your next assignment.

Participants registered by Oct. 12 can choose from more than 150 top industry pros and determine who will review their portfolios. The cost for five reviews is $275 and a 10 percent discount is available for 10 or more reviews. A Portfolio Review registration includes free admission to PhotoPlus exhibit hall.

Jerry Uelsmann & Maggie Taylor: This is not photography, a Documentary Film Premiere
He experiments in a darkroom. She composes on a computer screen. Together, husband-and-wife artists Jerry Uelsmann and Maggie Taylor create haunting, layered dreamscapes that push the boundaries of photography’s possibilities. Step inside the artists’ quiet Florida compound for a peek at their complementary work, contrasting processes, and inspiration-seeking expeditions through an alligator-dwelling swamp: lynda.com will premiere its documentary film, Jerry Uelsmann & Maggie Taylor: This is not photography, on Friday, October 26, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., including a Q&A session following the screening. Jerry and Maggie, along with the film’s director and producer, will participate in the Q&A.

This documentary from lynda.com explores both the technical and emotional aspects of Jerry’s and Maggie’s work, from the composition to the criticism, with insight from other preeminent voices in photography. Attendance to the film’s debut is free to all show attendees.

Annual PhotoPlus Expo BASH and Gold Expo Passes
Tickets are available for the annual PDN PhotoPlus Expo BASH at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in Times Square Friday, Oct. 26 from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Socialize amongst the “stars” while enjoying music, cocktail and plenty of photo opportunities. Click here for more information.

Gold Expo Passes are available for PhotoPlus Expo 2012 which include a three-day pass to the PhotoPlus exhibit hall, Oct. 25-27, an exclusive onsite Gold Expo Service Desk, admission to the Gold Expo lounge with free Wi-Fi, admission to all keynote presentations and a swag bag filled with premiums and special offers. Also, 20 lucky Gold Expo Pass buyers will find a Golden Ticket in their bag for an amazing prize valued at up to $500, such as an iPad, photo gear from B&H Photo, gift cards and more. Click here for more information.