Roberto Bigano Live Today!

One of the most fascinating photographers in italy…. his impossible shooting is amazing!

Born in Italy in San Bonifacio, near Verona, on June 1st, 1953.

I have been working as a photographer for publications, still life, advertisement and research since 1979.

In the 80s, my work was divided between photo reporting, in Europe and in the United States, and advertisement jobs for important Italian companies like Asolo, Belfe, Campagnolo, Canguro, Hatù, Nova Serenissima, Sauber, Zonin, Zuegg.

The early 90s were important years. With Bugatti Automobili I shared the exciting Italian adventure; with Mondadori, I realized about eight hundred images for a series of books; Franco Maria Ricci,gave many assignment for the prestigious magazine FMR and memorable books like “Divina Bugatti” and “Il cavaliere insistente”.

Later on I worked on important projects for Bburago, Fisher Italia, Volkswagen AG on the Bugatti trademark, Würth.

The advent of digital
In the late 90s, I started moving towards digital, by discovering the Imacon scanners with the 3F system, that seemed to have been created for my personal needs. Thanks to this, important works of personal research, realized throughout the years in Italy and abroad, came to life with amazing results.

The year 2000 started with a remarkable project with the prestigious “Museo Valenciano de Arte Moderno” (IVAM). At the same time, I developed a partnership with Ideal Marketing of Merano, working for some of the most important companies in SouthTirol (Doppelmayr/Agamatic, Apparatebau, Turbinebau Troyer, Pedross).

At the same time, I also developed, with increasing interest, what I like to refer to as “special projects”. These were an attempt to recover methodologies and extraordinarily efficient approaches of documentation and reporting. Photo shoots to work on for years to come, if necessary, without any commitment. Ceccarini, Shooting the Shoothers, Wonderful Mistakes, are some examples.

The Ixpress digital backs and the “impossible shoots”
In 2003 I switch to digital, only after finding the right tools, the Imacon digital backs, that allowed me to highly improve the quality of my work. Thanks to these tools I was able to develop my specialties, like overhead shoots, which brought me to specialize in what I call “impossible shoots”. Overhead shoots, panoramic shoots without distortion and other shoots that present apparently impossible problems.
Digital photography consultingIn the same period, I gradually built a consulting business for digital photography. I specialized in the Hasselblad softwares and Adobe Photoshop, for individual photographers, companies and Hasselblad itself.

Art publications and advanced technology
At the moment, I am divided between self-produced editorial projects, that I care a lot for, and “technological” photo shoot for Manfrotto – Bogen, Gitzo, Monier Roofing, and some of the most important companies in Southern Tyrol (Doppelmayr/Agamatic, Apparatebau, Turbinebau Troyer, Pedross ).

Two of the books I worked on received important prizes and recognitions. The first one, for the Milan antique dealers Cesati, received a prize at the antiques show in Maastricht; the second one, “Alta Cucina in Alto Adige”, by Ideal Edizioni, on the most important chefs of Bolzano province, received a prize for best food photography in Italy for 2007.

I developed many coopertaions working again with FMR of the Group Artè and starting a fascinating and intense work with southern Italy’s Institution of Cultural Assents, especially in Naples. I also created, together with Massimiliano Sampaolesi, an esteemed Neapolitan restorer, Acme21. This is a specialized company in advanced services for Cultural Assets.

For further information: www.bigano.com

Francesco’s Piras Slideshow of our Photokina 2008

Francesco, Roberto Bigano’s Assistant, gave us this amazing collection of pictures of our booth.

slideshow

Francesco Piras was born in Cagliari in 1978. Graphic designer and photographer, he starts his professional activity in 1998 working as a free-lance. He studied photography with Roberto Bigano with whom started an intense collaboration. Actually he’s involved with various communication projects for the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and important international Institutes of Scientific Research.

www.francescopiras.eu

Danny Ellinger Live Today

See it live here

Danny Ellinger, born in 1963, Zaandam The Netherlands. Although studied as a fiscal lawyer, his big passion was always nature and photography. After his study in 1992 he started a photo agency specialized in nature, travel and wildlife photography: Foto Natura. Running the agency took in the first years all his time and photography came a bit on the background. In 2001-2002 after introduction of the Nikon D1X he wanted to know what the new digital technology worked and could bring for the future. One hour after having this camera he was convinced: there is no way back and he saw a lot of opportunities. With his experience on scanning, colour separation and his new ‘hobby’ the digital camera, he started teaching his photographers the workflow of digital images. He became one of the frontiers in digital wildlife photography. Although leading the agency still was and is his main job he also found his big passion in photography back: BIRDS. “taking pictures of birds is one of the most difficult parts of photography, it is difficult to know what they do or where they go, they go there one way and that is always a challenge”. For Danny Birds are also a symbol for freedom and ‘ go your one way’.

In 1994 for he started to build up a team of photographers. His meaning was that photographers with different specialism and background could benefit if working together as a team. This was and still is unique. The so called ‘Foto Natura Expedition Team’ is still working together and one of their biggest assignments was an expedition to Aldabra which lead to a book in seven languages, many articles and exhibitions in leading natural history museum.

Danny Ellinger goes always for the best and he is never satisfied: it can always be better. He doesn’t accept compromises and for his photography he demands the best. Gitzo tripods and his Nikon equipment are the basement for his work. The photographer has to do it but without the good gear the top is impossible to reach!

For further info: www.fotonatura.nl

Harry De Zitter Live Today

The great photography Maestro Harry De Zitter, multi awarded advertising photographer is live today at 10:50 am CET and at 4:00 pm CET on www.imagingexperience.tv and at Photokina 2008, at the Imaging Experience Theatre (Hall 6.1)

Gitzo New Vintage Line

Presented at Photokina!

After celebrating in 2007 the 90th anniversary, Gitzo continues to recall the golden ages of photography with an exclusive celebratory Vintage collection. This unique collection consists of two kits and it is dedicated to real affectionate photographers. It is a genuine replica of Gitzo Seventies supports, that in those days, like today the Gitzo 6X carbon fibre tripods, represented the cutting edge and most advanced supports in the market. The Gitzo classic logos, the old style graphics and finishing and the stylish details, make these items the quintessence of history and emotion. From a technical point of view, these tripods are a phenomenal combination of old and new features that makes them incredibly versatile.

The upper casting configuration provides a great compactness and a great stability of the upper disc that sits directly on the large casting top end. The two section telescopic column, a key Gitzo innovation in those days, allows for a convenient height adjustment while maintaining a small foot print. These “old days” smart features are combined to the latest and most advanced Gitzo technologies, like G-Lock, Ground Level Set, Anti Leg Rotation, the new 1,2mm Aluminum tube, Power Disc and PTFE treatment for the heads.

Both kits come with a vintage bag, a stylish and well designed carrying solutions which doesn’t give up to Gitzo attitude in terms of functionality and attention to details. The bag design and the materials used are inspired to the 60s and 70s golf and sport bags. The classic Gitzo logo enriches and gives an “old fashioned” flavour, consistent with the genuine Gitzo vintage spirit.

The bag shoulder strap can also be used directly on the tripod as a smart carrying solution, embedded in the kit for additional use flexibility. The Vintage tripods are in fact provided with two rings compatible with the shoulder strap clips for a fast and convenient snap-on action. The bag features a side pocket, in genuine vintage style, sized to fit most of compact cameras in the market and any
other accessory you might want to carry with you.

THE BAG
The vintage tripod bag is a stylish and well designed carrying solution which doesn’t give up to any of the Gitzo guidelines in terms of functionality and attention to details. The bag design and the materials used are inspired to the 60s and 70s golf and sport bags. The classic Gitzo logo enriches and gives an “old fashioned” flavour to the bag, consistent with the genuine Gitzo vintage spirit. The bag has been designed and developed in Italy and it is made in Europe in order to guarantee a high quality standard. The materials used are abrasion resistant nylon and Italian leatherette on details like handle, shoulder strap and endings of the bag.

New Baby Lightweight Stands by Manfrotto you are just a click away from your baby

News froma Manfrotto Lighting world. A new line of babylight stands has been presented at Photokina 2008.

Ideal for kits, locations and studio work thanks to their light weight and compact size, the new Baby Lightweight Stands are extendible to between 240 cm and 385 cm, with various payloads between 4 kg and 10kg.

Portability is the essence with the new Piling System patented by Manfrotto. With a combination of the most innovative technical solutions and a unique design, it enables you to attach each stand to the others, saving a lot of room in the studio or when transporting the stands in a case for outdoor shooting. And when you want to detach a stand and set up quickly, just push on the new locking device with a click! The new baby, which is sold individually or in a kit of three, can now also stand up on its own even when closed.

In addition, a new bi-injection casting provides the photographer with a better ergonomic grip, while the new air cushioned system prevents any loads from unexpectedly falling down while the handles are unlocked, for safer product usage.

Jonathan Maher Live now!

The Philosophy of VSP Workshops

Core to our approach is the belief that great photography is within the realms of us all. We believe that a person can be taught to see creatively and so we attribute great importance to ’seeing’ and to the significance of ideas over technical know-how. Some of our offerings deal with more mechanical skills, others more investigative. What transcends all of our workshops, is our commitment to inspire you, bring you closer to your photographic goals and play a continuing role in your ongoing photographic journey.

We find the best photographic talent in the world to teach and we bring it together with our intimate knowledge of a location to offer you a learning experience you will find nowhere else. We always aim to bring our participants closer to the place they visit – preferring often to stop and savour a place over descending in a swarm for an instant. We encourage our participants to slow-down, open their eyes and see more of what is in front of them. In teaching, our critiques are always honest but constructive. We tell you what we believe, and why, and how to improve. We aim to inspire and encourage you.

We recognise that the world is full of spectacular locations to photograph and visit, and each year we aim to offer new and exciting destinations – but only when we know that we have a deep and intimate knowledge of the place. Light is critical to us, and our itineraries are always organised around it.
Photography is not just our business, but our passion. We hope you will decide to join us.

Jonathan Maher

In 2002, Jonathan setup The Venice School of Photography, now known as VSP Workshops. Today, Jonathan is still the Director of the organisation, and also managed to pursue his own professional work, attend every VSP Workshop around the world each year, and teach his own courses occasionally. Jonathan’s work mainly encompasses street photography, people and life’s unfolding events. He believes photography is a subtractive process – when we see an image – we are trying to reduce the frame down to its core. Having worked professionally for many years, Jonathan’s main focus today is running VSP Workshops, and ensuring a consistent level of quality in all teaching. Every year he runs his popular ‘Creative Seeing and Visualisation’ Workshop in Venice.

For further information: www.vspworkshops.com

M-Y by Manfrotto, the tripod for everyday use.

Designed for photographers using lightweight DSLR bridge and compact cameras, the M-Y tripods are the perfect choice for improving your photographic passion.

Portable, compact, essential and reliable, they offer a perfect tripod plus head combination. Without the hassle of choosing a separate head, M-Y tripod is always ready for mounting your camera, providing an immediate and simple solution ready to be taken virtually anywhere, even without failing to feature technical aspects, being reliable also in the hands of professionals.

To anyone who wants to express its creative inspiration and to improve its photographic technique Manfrotto, world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of professional equipment for photography, video and entertainment, dedicates M-Y.

Detailed specifications soon on www.manfrotto.com

Marc De Tollenaere Today Live!

Gondolas, photos on the Edge of Light
Friday 26th – CET 10.20 AM and 3.30 PM

Marc De Tollenaere was born in Tripoli, Libya, in 1969, from Belgian father and from once Italian region Istra refugee mother. He studied photography with Gianni Berengo Gardin, the most important Italian black and white photographer, David Alan Harvey (Magnum), Kent Kobersteen (former director of photography of National Geographic), Antonin Kratochvil (VII) and photographic multimedia communication with Bob Sacha (Life, Fortune and National Geographic) and various others.
Professional since 2002, his first book “Venice on the edge of light” Biblos 2007, sold out in a few months. 
After it he published the following books:
“Calcutta” Edizioni Fratelli dimenticati onlus Italy 2007,
“Verona” Biblos Italy 2007,
“There is no world without Verona walls” Biblos Italy 2007,
“Verona, the culture of beauty” Biblos Italy 2007,
“Venezia 1720” with Caffè Florian of Venice Italy 2008.

Distinguished photographer in the Day’s Japan World Photojournalistic Award in 2005 with the reportage made in Kolkata, India, “Children of the city of joy”.
In 2007 he took pictures of interior design for the Hangar Design Group. FotoVideo magazine of Prague has published in March 2008 his reportage made in the Belgian coast “Shrimp fishermen on horses”.

He is now working on a book on Gondolas in Venice for Biblos and with Bellitalia magazine of Milan for a reportage on Venice Historical Regatta.
In Italy and abroad he is represented by the Grazia Neri agency of Milan.

Since 2007 he is testimonial of Manfrotto.

For further information: www.marcphotos.net

Gitzo Ocean Traveler, challenging the elements

How many times approaching a beach with your gear, have you felt your heart leap at the thought of having your precious gear plunged into sand and salt water?

At the Gitzo booth at Photkina this year, there might be the solution to all these heart aches… The Gitzo Ocean Traveler, a fully water and sand proof tripod, with an astonishing design inherited by the reknown traveler family and the Limited Version Titanium Traveler.

The picture show a sneak preview of this new object of desire for all photographers. Extremely light, and with a self cleaning system included in the g-lock leg closing mechanism, this tripod, or better this piece of jewelry, is probably one of the best new comers of the year.  Although all castings are in Stainless Steel, the tripod is extremely usable still keeping super professional performances.

More deetails will soon released by Gitzo. (www.gitzo.com)