"Focus On Imaging"

[Keith Tapscott.]

Has anybody on the forum visited the `Focus On Imaging` exhibition this week, if so, what did you enjoy about this trade show the most?

 

[mikeg]

I went on Sunday. I enjoyed it, but even less there for analogue users than last year. It was great to see some of Tim Rudman's lith prints in the flesh on the Ilford Harman stand and good to have a chat with Simon Galley again. I don't know how he does it, but he always remembers your face and when and where he last met you! The Harman stand were plugging SFX and in particular their new inkjet fibre paper. They also had a DeVere enlarger with the digi head and were pushing the new fibre paper for that as well. I missed Les' demos unfortunately (although I believe they were all digital talks). Last year, Harman were very much analogue B&W, this year they were a mix of analogue and digital but the emphasis was probably more on the digital side.

I especially enjoyed David Ward's intro to large format. I'm not a LF photographer but I was sorely tempted, especially when I was looking at the "build your own" 5x4 camera from Badger and the guy there was clearly wanting to do a deal.

Lots of the usual stands for portrait and wedding photogs, along with a lot of stands dedicated to digital printing, (I know as the friend I was with was after an A2 printer and we went around all of them ). Also, a number of computer software companies large and small, e.g. Apple, Adobe and smaller PS plug-in companies.

As already mentioned elsewhere, a number of regular analogue specialists weren't there, in particular Robert White. I see that they are having their own show down in Bournemouth. I suspect that's the best way forward for analogue specialists now. The market is getting smaller and smaller and these big shows are no longer cost effective.

Mike

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

I went on Sunday. I enjoyed it, but even less there for analogue users than last year. It was great to see some of Tim Rudman's lith prints in the flesh on the Ilford Harman stand and good to have a chat with Simon Galley again. I don't know how he does it, but he always remembers your face and when and where he last met you! The Harman stand were plugging SFX and in particular their new inkjet fibre paper. They also had a DeVere enlarger with the digi head and were pushing the new fibre paper for that as well. I missed Les' demos unfortunately (although I believe they were all digital talks). Last year, Harman were very much analogue B&W, this year they were a mix of analogue and digital but the emphasis was probably more on the digital side.

I especially enjoyed David Ward's intro to large format. I'm not a LF photographer but I was sorely tempted, especially when I was looking at the "build your own" 5x4 camera from Badger and the guy there was clearly wanting to do a deal.

Lots of the usual stands for portrait and wedding photogs, along with a lot of stands dedicated to digital printing, (I know as the friend I was with was after an A2 printer and we went around all of them ). Also, a number of computer software companies large and small, e.g. Apple, Adobe and smaller PS plug-in companies.

As already mentioned elsewhere, a number of regular analogue specialists weren't there, in particular Robert White. I see that they are having their own show down in Bournemouth. I suspect that's the best way forward for analogue specialists now. The market is getting smaller and smaller and these big shows are no longer cost effective.

Mike

I was hoping to attend yesterday, but was unable to. It is heart sinking when analogue photography seems to be a declining market.
I will check out Robert White`s site.
Thanks for replying.

P.S. Did you take a look at the Paterson stand?

 

[Paul.]

Thanks Mike, wasnot able to make it this year for health/fiscal reasons. Had hoped to stock up on paper from Iford and Fotospeed plus some toners and may be investigate a Lee filter system, still next year hopefuly. In meantime resort to mail order.
Regards Paul.

 

[mikeg]

It is heart sinking when analogue photography seems to be a declining market.

...

P.S. Did you take a look at the Paterson stand?

Well, Focus is a trade event to which the general public are also allowed in and the trade is predominately digital now. So, I think smaller, very specific shows targeted at the analogue user will become the order of the day. Things like the APUG conference and the Silver Conference that Ilford Harman are organising will become more important.

I walked past the Paterson stand but I didn't have time to stop. They had their developing tanks, spirals, contact printing frames etc on display. I can't remember seeing any chemicals, but I could easily have missed them.

I had a quick look at the Kentmere stand but it was very busy so I didn't get a chance to talk to people there either. I wanted to ask them what the status was on the Document Art and Classic Art replacements, or if they've given up on them.

Overall, the show seemed to be very well attended. I got there about 10:20 am and went straight to the Ilford Harman stand. It was already buzzing. Last year at that time, the stand along with the rest of the hall was relatively empty.

Cheers

Mike

 

[mikeg]

Thanks Mike, wasnot able to make it this year for health/fiscal reasons. Had hoped to stock up on paper from Iford and Fotospeed plus some toners and may be investigate a Lee filter system, still next year hopefuly. In meantime resort to mail order.
Regards Paul.

Fotospeed were there, they even had a couple of Kaiser enlargers around the back! I wanted to get some selenium toner, they had every toner there but selenium. Someone had forgotten to load it onto the van! So, I got some Ilford toner instead.

It can be fiscally challenging I managed to spend less this year than last. My only major purchase was a new mount cutter.


Cheers

Mike

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

I walked past the Paterson stand but I didn't have time to stop. They had their developing tanks, spirals, contact printing frames etc on display. I can't remember seeing any chemicals, but I could easily have missed them.

Cheers

Mike

It was rumoured that the Paterson range of photo-chemicals would be relaunched at this years show, but no mention of this on the Paterson website to be fair.

 

[Roger Hicks]

It was rumoured that the Paterson range of photo-chemicals would be relaunched at this years show, but no mention of this on the Paterson website to be fair.

The chemicals were there: I saw them and taked with Roger Parry.

Fotospeed/Kaiser/Nova etc. had a fair amount of 'real' stuff; Ilford was excellent, as ever, though they were pushing their new FB inkjet paper; Fuji's Choosefilm.com has been mentioned elsewhere; and De Vere's digital enlarger was fascinating -- they made a proper MG WT print from a 'neg' (B+W file) I shot with a Leica M8 (don't worry -- I had an MP as well...). And if I could afford a Chrysotype, I'd buy one. Silvershotz was there; so was GMC (B+W Magazine); and the Linhof & Professional stand ('The Hub') was well worth visiting. Bob Rigby had 'real' stuff, and so did RK -- who have lots of new Meoptas in stock, incidentally.

There were several excellent exhibitions, many of them silver halide, but an awful lot of it was pure digital.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

The chemicals were there: I saw them and taked with Roger Parry.

Fotospeed/Kaiser/Nova etc. had a fair amount of 'real' stuff; Ilford was excellent, as ever, though they were pushing their new FB inkjet paper; Fuji's Choosefilm.com has been mentioned elsewhere; and De Vere's digital enlarger was fascinating -- they made a proper MG WT print from a 'neg' (B+W file) I shot with a Leica M8 (don't worry -- I had an MP as well...). And if I could afford a Chrysotype, I'd buy one. Silvershotz was there; so was GMC (B+W Magazine); and the Linhof & Professional stand ('The Hub') was well worth visiting. Bob Rigby had 'real' stuff, and so did RK -- who have lots of new Meoptas in stock, incidentally.

There were several excellent exhibitions, many of them silver halide, but an awful lot of it was pure digital.

Cheers,

R.

Thanks for that Roger, perhaps they will mention this on their site.
Hope you enjoyed the visit.
Cheers,
Keith.

 

[gr82bart]

Here's a link to the event website: http://www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk/ The event looks pretty decent from the pics on the web. Like most trade shows today the focus is digital unfortunately.

Regards, Art.

 

[Bob F.]

Just been to the NEC and stopped off at Banbury to see the Michael Kenna exhibition on the way back. Matt paper: who'da thunk it...

I entered the enemy camp armed with a Silverprint carrier bag as a statement of intent...

Paterson had developers in a new livery. Don't know if real or mock-ups as they were in a glass display case. RK Photographic had new SFX at 3 x 35mm rolls for a tenner (not quite the £7.00 per roll a certain weekly UK photo magazine predicted...).

Somewhat disappointed that the FujiFilm stand appeared to not acknowledge the last syllable of its name and had no film in evidence at all (though a retailer next to them had some in a fridge).

Spoke briefly to Tim Rudman who had a display of prints on the Ilford/Harman stand. Those lith jobbies are really something in the flesh - far more subtle tones than are evident in the book illustrations. Saw Les but he was busy talking to two Ilford suits and was gone when next I passed.

Lots of interesting images dotted about (much of it inkjet posters (and I mean "posters" - a lot of BIIIIIG printouts as printer makers show off how wide/long theirs is...) but hey: it's primarily an industry/pro show so that's to be expected) but some nice stuff on Ilford, Kentmere and some of the framing suppliers etc stands.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[pentaxuser]

RK Photographic had new SFX at 3 x 35mm rolls for a tenner (not quite the £7.00 per roll a certain weekly UK photo magazine predicted...).



Cheers, Bob.

Thanks for the info Bob. This makes it about the same price as I remember it and gives it a big price edge on Kodak HIE. I was worried that at the price quoted(£7) then it had lost its major advantage especially when it seems that you need to invest in a SFX filter to get the "wood effect" whereas with Kodak a red filter will do the same job.

pentaxuser

 

[Bob F.]

Thanks for the info Bob. This makes it about the same price as I remember it and gives it a big price edge on Kodak HIE. I was worried that at the price quoted(£7) then it had lost its major advantage especially when it seems that you need to invest in a SFX filter to get the "wood effect" whereas with Kodak a red filter will do the same job.

pentaxuser

That may have been a special Focus price - probably best to save the hurrahs until it hits the shops... Still, at 4.50 per roll (the single roll price at Focus) it's unlikely to rise as far as £7.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

Read this thread with interest, it was really nice to meet up with a few Apuggers, we really did have a great show, and were very busy, I know analog people do obviously come and see us... but MORE than last year and over 400 students, less than 5% doing Dxxxxxl only...I did all 4 days and did'nt get to see too many other stands I am afraid.

It was really nice to have Philip Pankov, Dave Butcher and Tim Rudman on the stand with their work and of course Les McLean presenting, I thought the images were the best ever on an ILFORD photo stand.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

 

[smudwhisk]

That may have been a special Focus price - probably best to save the hurrahs until it hits the shops... Still, at 4.50 per roll (the single roll price at Focus) it's unlikely to rise as far as £7.

Cheers, Bob.

I've just had a look at RK Photographic's site and they've listed 35mm at £5.95 each and 120 at £4.95! If it stays like that I'll have to make do with the out of date stash still in the fridge, which is a shame 'cos could do with getting some of the space back. Perhaps some of the other online dealers will get some in and sell it at a lower price. The last lot I bought was about £3.50 a roll which makes it more viable for use. Shame I didn't get round to Focus, was suffering somewhat from going Quad Biking the day before!

 

[tim rudman]

Dear All,

SNIP SNIP
It was really nice to have Philip Pankov, Dave Butcher and Tim Rudman on the stand with their work and of course Les McLean presenting, I thought the images were the best ever on an ILFORD photo stand.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

(I've been away from here for a month or so with little internet connection)
We met a lot of people visiting us on Ilford's stand and it was great to see so much enthusiasm - both for products and the prints on show.
Only one person actually identified themself to me as 'apug' and of course the name tags generally don't tally with the identities seen online here, so there may have been more of you (??).
However, it seemed to be a good show from Ilford's perspective and they were kept mighty busy most of the time.
Tim

 

[kevs]

Hi all,

I went up on Wednesday, it was a long ride from Plymouth but worth it. I was impressed to see the Siderotype.com stand, that was really interesting, had a chat with the guy on the stand. It was really good to see the prints up on the wall, as someone said, they have more 'life' than the reproductions in magazines etc.

Looking at the shiny new things was nice, but i was interested to stumble upon David Noble's stall. The huge photogravures really do look the business, and he had some loose ones out on a table too. They are really a sight to behold and handle. Wow.

I had a wander around the Ilford stand, i enjoyed seeing Tim Rudman's lith prints, really impressive. As a souvinir i picked up some Black and white enthusiast mags (early Silvershotz) and a 120 roll of SFX 200 which i may even use some time!

 

[Matt5791]

I went to Focus on the Wednesday, and contrary to what others may think, I came away encouraged.

1. Fuji did have part of its stand dedicated to, and marketing strongly, their film products. They have started a new brand "Choose Film" and there were people in red shirts with "Choose Film" on them and a logo of a 35mm canister and film tail. The Choose film brand is in conjunction with their new website www.choose-film.com They were also giving away stickers and by Wednesday they had run out - especially the ones "I love trannies"

2. There was the new Paterson range of chemicals - that so many people said would not happen. They tell me that they are bing mixed in Germany and to typically strict German quality control.

3. There was a mobile Darkroom performing demonstrations.

Plus lot of other encouraging things, including of course the Ilford stand - yes it had their new FB inkjet range which they were taking the opportunity to launch, but, nevertheless, it was very nuch an alanogue stand.

Also, I can concur with the above about Simon's incredible memory - he even remembed what type of car I drove!

I feel that the hysteria of digital and the decline of analogue is now begining to settle down and, whilst, as we all know, digital has the lion's share of the market, I had the feeling that people are seeing analogue as viable again, and some of the big players are seeing an important market, now stabilised, whome they can target.

Matt

 

[ajuk]

Fuji's Choosefilm.com has been mentioned elsewhere

Where? I went there, looks like a black website to me, and the domain seems to belong to some bloke in Edinburgh!

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Where? I went there, looks like a black website to me, and the domain seems to belong to some bloke in Edinburgh!

Don't forget the hyphen...

Dead Link Removed

Barry

 

[ajuk]

Well thats a good idea, about time they did something like that aimed at pros.