Aussie Moab Master

We're excited to announce the addition of our very first Australian to the Moab Master program.  Joshua Holko has appeared a few times in this blog recognizing his award-winning work.  

His recent photo Blue Berg won the prestigious Gold Award at the Australian Professional Photography Awards.  The upcoming issue of Color Magazine will also be featuring his work in a four-page spread.  And next month the International Aperture Academy will be featuring Holko as their photographer of the month.

We were impressed by his overall body of work (not to mention his favorite paper being Moab). Holko prints all his exhibition images on Somerset Museum Rag, which "has a gorgeous, sensuous texture that is a delight for the senses."

Welcome to Moab-country, Joshua.  

Why Photographers Should Love Google+

Interesting article from James Brandon of Digital Photography School on the merits of Google+ vs Twitter/Facebook.

A short while ago, I wrote an article titled “Why Photographers Should Love Twitter” detailing the reasons why I love Twitter for interacting with other photographers and how great the community is there. Twitter is still great but everything has changed with the introduction of Google+. I’ve just started looking into Google+ and I’m already hooked.

Read more

Slick reviews for Slickrock

OK, sorry about that headline.  With some of the first reviews of Slickrock coming out our excitement got the better of us.

Luminous Landscape calls Slickrock "really something special"

Want to test the paper yourself?  Give us a shout and we'll send you a free sample.

Slickrock has started to ship with many dealers having it in stock.  Here's a list of Moab resellers near you.

The End of an Era

Last week's return of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, marks the end of the NASA Shuttle program.  So, we thought it timely to check in with photographer and Moab Master, Michael Soluri, who has documented the final few years of the shuttle program.

A really cool photo essay was recently published online in NPR's The Picture Show gallery.  Back in 1972 Soluri photographed the workers behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center.  These striking B&W images detail the jobs of NASA technicians and engineers.

For something a little different, Time Magazine published a collection of Soluri's work covering the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia.  

As the space shuttles find their new permanent homes around the US, expect to see a lot more from Soluri in the coming months.

Introducing Slickrock

At every trade show, seminar and Moab Day we attend, people have been asking us for a Moab metallic paper.  After a year in the making we're excited to announce Slickrock Metallic Pearl 260 - a new category of fine art inkjet paper featuring an innovative, pearlescent coating.

Slickrock is designed for photographers seeking to enhance their images with a metallic look, transforming an image into lifelike, almost 3D quality.  The paper's high gloss and unique sheen make this ideal for everyday prints with a twist.

Contrary to all the buzz surrounding the launch of Slickrock, there's no invitation-only access code or special VIP Pass necessary to begin experiencing Slickrock.  Simply click here to request a sample.

Winners of The Curator contest

The search for outstanding and undiscovered fine art photography has come to an end (this year, at least). We're proud to annouce the winners of the 2011 Curator fine art contest:

Sophia Wallace (Portraits/Nudes)
Klea McKenna (Abstract/Mixed Media)
Klaus Enrique (Still Life)
Jane Fulton Alt (Nature)
Matt Eich (Photo Essay/Reportage)
Christopher Patrick Ernst (Student)

The winning images will be on display through July 17th at the Milk Gallery in NYC. You can also pick up a current copy of PDN magazine, which features these winning artists and their work.

Congratulations to these remarkable photographers!

Maine Media Workshops: What it's like

Moab Master, Michael Zide, just completed his week-long workshop up at the Maine Media Workshops. Remarkably, he had some time to produce a video during the workshop.  Check out the clip below to catch a glimpse of what the week was like.

The Golden Image

It's rare to find photo competitions that still accept hard-copy prints as part of their entry applications, so you can understand our excitement to learn that the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPA) requires images to be submitted only as prints to their APPA annual competition.

We were doubly-excited to learn that one of the Gold winning prints was produced on Somerset Museum Rag!

Australian nature and wilderness photographer, Joshua Holko, took Gold (and three Silvers for additional images he submitted) for the image to the left titled ‘Blue Berg', which was photographed in Iceland last year.

"The APPA awards are somewhat unique these days in that all judging is done of actual prints by a panel of highly experienced photographers (rather than by submission of digital images). The craft of the print is as important as the image itself and its fantastic to be a part of such an event. All of my prints were made on my absolute favourite paper Moab Somerset Museum Rag. Photography after all “Is all about the Print.”

Congratulations, Joshua, from all of us (up) here at Moab!

Happy Fourth of July

Photo: Jeanette Powers, outside our Moab, UT offices

Portfolios for Photographers

Andy Biggs, the "Global Photographer" (and Moab Master) "put together a video here in the studio to show many of the different portfolio options that are on the market today. The idea was to put forth some tangible ideas for your own photo portfolios, and the products in the video range from around $5.50 to around $400."

In addition to some great products from Lost Luggage, PortfolioBox and Dane Creek Portfolios, the video includes our Chinle Ice Nine Portfolios, Chinle Digital Books and Chinle Economy Folios.

Portfolios for Photographers by Andy Biggs from Andy Biggs on Vimeo.

Lasal Exhibition on Exhibition

We're always on the lookout for exhibits where the photographers printed on Moab, so we're especially pleased to learn that Scott Frances used our new Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 for his MonoVisioN show that opens on Tuesday June 21st 2011 @ the (fittingly) Decoration & Design Building in midtown Manhattan.

Frances is best known for his architectural photography.  If you think Lasal Exhibition Luster does wonders for skin tones, you've got to see what it does for buildings.

The opening reception will be held from 6pm – 8pm, Tuesday June 21st 2011 @ The D & D Building, 222 East 59th Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

Please be sure to RSVP to RSVP@DDBuilding.com or 212.759.5408

The perfect blend of fun, creativity and learning

We've got some exciting news to share about Michael Zide's week-long course up at the Maine Media Workshops later this month.  Zide will be adding a technical printing component to the program under the direction of printmaster Jim Roselli.  

The course kicks off on June 26th and is designed to help photographers develop an awareness of their unique visual voice and of the artistic and technical decisions that lead to successful landscape photographs. Students will then be able to fine-tune their images to obtain the perfect fine art print produced on a variety of Moab papers.

The class caps off at 14 people and is almost full.  Head over here for more info and to register.

Print Like a Pro

We're bringing in the big guns for this camera and printing seminar in Chicago on Wednesday, June 22nd. Join Brian Matsumoto and Andy Biggs for their seminar entitled, Capture. Print. Present. Simplifying the Journey of the Digital Print.

This full-day seminar on Canon's Chicago campus in Itasca will unravel the mystery behind getting the best image from capture to the final output so you can tackle the digital photographic workflow with ease. There will be extensive Q&A as well as hands-on shooting and printing.

Free prints of your favorite image will be printed out on Canon's large format imagePROGRAF printers (on Moab paper of course).  Registration is $30, which is credited toward any Moab and Canon products purchased through IT Supplies. Lunch will be provided.

International Exhibition in support of Indigenous Peoples

We're excited about our collaboration with a new international traveling photography exhibition titled DIGNITY:  TRIBES IN TRANSITION, which includes 60 black and white photographs by acclaimed artist Dana Gluckstein from her recently published book, DIGNITY.

The focus of the exhibition is to educate and raise awareness in support of Indigenous Peoples.  The exhibition opened in Berlin at the Willy-Brandt-Haus Museum in February, 2011, and was just invited by the United Nations to present in Geneva at the Palais des Nations from July 11 – August 31, 2011.

The opening night will be hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and coordinates with the annual UN session of the Expert Mechanism of Indigenous Leaders. The exhibition will then continue touring in Europe before beginning a U.S. tour in 2013.

All the prints were produced on Moab's Entrada Rag Natural 300.

Object of Desire

The new Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 was selected by PDN magazine for this month's Object of Desire by gear-guru and tech editor, Dan Havlik.

"Even if you’re not planning a gallery show any time soon, crank out of few of your photos on Lasal Exhibition Luster 300 and the wheels in your head will start spinning. Images printed on this paper demand to be exhibited."

Read the full review here.

Haven't tried it yet?  Email us for your free sample.

Sneak-Peek at current FridayPhotoSchool.com episode

Moab Symposium

What's better than spending four days in Moab improving your photography and shooting in one of the most beautiful places on earth?  Hangin' with John Sexton might qualify. 

It's the Moab Symposium time of year again (May 12-15) when photographers from all corners of the globe come together to attend workshops, photograph the Moab surroundings and learn from the pros.  The four-day schedule is jam-packed with events that we got exhausted reading through the list!

To make this symposium even sweeter (impossible, right?) are Moab Paper prizes, giveaways and the chance to spend unlimited time with our local Moab rep...priceless. 

Space Photography

There's something awe-inspiring to see images taken from space.  Usually the images provoke the curiosity in us - like 'how' was this shot or 'what' were the Astronauts doing?

Moab Master, Michael Soluri has some answers. Soluri had exclusive (and unprecedented) access to the space shuttle mission that saved the Hubble Telescope.  Some of his story was recently published in Aperture Magazine and an excerpt can be read here.

With the final NASA shuttle launch still pending, the enormity of Soluri's project comes into focus.  Some say the final launch marks the end of an era.  We're just grateful Soluri was able to document and share his images with the world.  Stay tuned for a national exhibit of his work and a book sometime in 2012. When his exhibition goes up, his gorgeous images will be printed on Moab Entrada Rag.  

Shooting this summer on the North Shore

With the flowers blooming so do the summer photo workshops. We're psyched about one that's happening on the North Shore of Lake Superior from August 8-11.

Led by led by Alec Johnson, of AC Johnson Photography Workshops with teaching assistance from Travis Bechtel and Robert H Clark, the student teacher ratio is pretty good considering that space is limited to only 10 participants.

We're told that you'll spend a ton of time shooting, editing and discussing with little downtime, working from sunrise to sunset or later.  August is also a great time to be on Lake Superior with the best weather and no bugs. 

Interested?  Click here for more info and to register.

Reflections on Print Competitions

We asked photographer Jim Lasala to comment on his experiences in the recent Annual State Print Competition in NJ, where he won top honors for his image, Forgotten.

"After taking a year off from print competitions because of some personal issues I was finally ready to get back to business. I was full of anticipation going into our Annual State Print Competition, at the Photo NorthEast convention that NJ shares with NY.  

There were approximately 400 images that were judged over a three day period by a panel of 6 jurors.  Print competitions provide exciting opportunities to listen and learn.  It's also a great way to keep your juices flowing and to continue to push for new ideas.

Well this year was a very special year for me. I decided that one of the images I submitted would be of my dad titled, Forgotten. It is a portrait of my dad which was taken while going through some rough times.  My parents had just lost their daughter (my sister Kathy), who I dedicate these awards to. Just after that loss, my dad suffered a heart attack and was brought back to life 3 times after his heart stopped beating. He survived and was recuperating at a Nursing Home in Staten Island, NY when this image was taken.

I 'm happy to say that my dad at (93) and my mom (94), who have been married for 71 years, are still together, living in a assisted living facility, and are doing well."

- Jim Lasala

The image Forgotten received a perfect score of 100 (the first image ever to score 100 in NJ).  

Here are the awards that were given to this image: 

- Best in Show Award (Fassbender Award)

- ASP Award

- Fuji Award

- (2) Courts of Honor