Too bad all they want is digital, we could really make a showing.
- Greg L.
Olympus Partners with America 24-7, The Largest Photography Project in History.
04/25/2003
PR Newswire
(Copyright (c) 2003, PR Newswire)
Olympus Reunites with Originators of Best-Selling "Day in the Life" Book Series
to Produce Epic Digital Capsule - America 24-7 PRNewswire MELVILLE, N.Y. April
25
MELVILLE, N.Y., April 25 /PRNewswire/ - Today Olympus America announced that it
will reunite with photo visionaries Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen,
original creators of the highly acclaimed Day in the Life series of photography
books, for America 24-7, the largest collaborative photography event in history.
The project will center around an epic one-week digital photo shoot May
12th-18th involving 1,000 of the world's most talented photojournalists and an
army of participating amateurs from the American public. All will vie for the
chance to be published by capturing the most compelling digital images
representing their views of American life. Dispatched by America 24-7, this
huge corps of digital photographers extending from coast to coast will be asked
to shoot images for a digital time capsule representing life in America over
the course of one week.
"Olympus is demonstrating its commitment to digital photography and all that it
envelops by helping to bring the 'digital experience' to life in accessible and
experiential ways," said Mark Gumz, President & COO, Olympus America Inc. "We
hope to empower thousands of Americans to take part in the digital revolution
by participating in America 24-7. Introducing Americans from coast-to-coast to
the thrill, excitement and possibilities of digital photography is what this
project is all about."
Every image shot for this project by professional photographers and the public
alike will be electronically submitted to http://www.america24-7.com/ where
they will be compiled, judged and edited. America 24-7 will use this
unprecedented wealth of imagery to create:
- A spectacular national volume, America 24-7, a 320-page large format book
scheduled for publication by Dorling Kindersley in November 2003. - 52
large-format illustrated volumes to be published in November 2004, celebrating
each individual U.S. State, with special volumes devoted to New York City and
Washington, D.C. - A website ( www.america24-7.com ) enabling photo enthusiasts
nationwide to submit up to seven of their best digital images to the America
24-7 website powered by Snapfish. In preparation for their shoots, amateur
photographers can hotlink to the Olympus website (www.olympusamerica.com) for
digital photography product information, as well as advice from Olympus pros on
shooting tips and techniques. - Customized home pages will be developed
allowing both the professional and amateur photographers to showcase their
personal images to family and friends. Every participant will be "published" on
the project's personalized home page. - Traveling national exhibits of selected
imagery will be presented and customized for individual states and regions.
In the weeks leading up to the shoot, millions of digital photography
enthusiasts will be directed to visit the America 24-7 website,
http://www.america24-7.com/, to learn more about the project and how to
participate, including simple instructions on how to submit pictures to the
project. The site will suggest assignments and provide examples of images
chosen for publication in previous Smolan-Cohen projects. Digital photographers
nationwide can use these examples to develop similar stories and assignments in
their own communities.
In addition to public participation, America 24/7 has hired 1,000 top
photojournalists from across the country, equipping them with Olympus C-5050
Zoom 5.0 megapixel digital cameras. Designed for advanced photographic control,
the C-5050 Zoom is a state-of-the-art, all-purpose tool designed to create the
most realistic digital images possible for a broad range of users. Smolan and
Cohen believe that the images captured with these Olympus cameras will reveal
the best digital photojournalists in America, as well as undiscovered
photographic talent.
Seventeen years ago Smolan and Cohen collaborated to create A Day in the Life
of America, which captured the country's imagination and became the
best-selling photo book ever. America 24-7 will use this new medium of digital
photography to document American life in the new millennium.
"America 24-7 is designed to be a landmark series in documentary photography
and the watershed event of the new digital photography age," commented Rick
Smolan, a former Time and National Geographic photographer. "Since the book
will use digital images exclusively, it was important for us to partner with a
company who shared our vision about the importance of digital photography in
all of our futures. Having worked with Olympus before, we knew they were the
camera company that most closely aligned with our vision for this book: that
digital photography is changing the photographic experience, and that the
technology is now accessible enough for everyone to use," explained Smolan.
"The America 24-7 project is about igniting creativity and inspiring
imagination," remarked Martin Lee, Vice President of Marketing, Olympus
America. "We hope millions of images are submitted for the books, and that
through our partnership with America 24-7 we can contribute to ushering in the
digital revolution."
ABOUT OLYMPUS - Nothing's impossible.
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a global
leader in developing new technologies and designing, manufacturing and
marketing optical-digital product solutions for healthcare and consumer
segments. The company leverages R&D investment in technology and manufacturing
processes across diverse business lines that include:
- Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders; and - Minimally
invasive diagnostic and surgical endoscopes; - Advanced clinical and research
microscopes; - Chemistry-immuno analyzers and lab automation systems.
In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus America Inc. serves healthcare, scientific and
commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial
and other service offerings and is the leading brand in gastrointestinal
endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's
market-leading consumer camera products and services business spans North and
South America. Olympus America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers
and parent company to develop state-of-the-art products and services that are
innovative, intelligent, and easy to use. For more information, visit
http://www.olympusamerica.com/.
|