What is Duratrans?

Kodak Endura Display Material (Duratrans)

Duratrans (Kodak Endura Display Material) is an opaque backlit film used to make prints for light boxes. The product is made by Kodak and is still considered the highest quality product for light box display.

Duratrans is a light sensitive photographic product, to print an image onto it, one needs to expose an image to it. The exposure can be made using a photographic negative in an enlarger, or using a digital file in a digital photographic printer. One the Duratrans is exposed (in the dark), it is then developed, bleached and fixed in colour chemistry. The process and chemistry can also be described as a silver halide process, or wet darkroom printing.

The key to it's quality is the black areas of an image reproduce very faithfully, blocking all but the strongest backlighting. This is not currently possible with any inkjet process. Evidence of this is that Apple, currently the largest company in the world, and a master of managing brand and image, insists on durations for it's point of sale graphics in it's iconic Apple Stores. This client alone may be solely responsible for the survival of Duratrans as a product.

Atkins no longer produces Duratrans prints itself, but regularly prepares files for and arranges Duratrans prints for customers. We can also fabricate light boxes to suit your custom purpose. Please request a quote if you wish pricing.

Pilgrimage: From Medina to Mecca

From Al-Masjid  Al-Nabawi to Al-Masjid Al-Haram the most sacred sights of Islam, this visual journey across the holy lands of Saudi Arabia provides a rare glimpse into the places, customs and rituals that bind 1.6 billion people together.

An exhibition of photographs by Mark Zed.
Link to Mark's website.

Where: Atkins Gallery, 89 Fullarton Road Kent Town, SA
When: SALA Festival, August 2017
Link to SALA website.

Photographic tour: Unbolting the Port

Photographer led tours of our Port's secret places - Torrens Island Quarantine Station, Department of Marine and Harbors Building, and Hart’s Mill. Led by noted local photographer Tony Kearney, this tour is one for amateur analogue photographers with a passion for urban exploration.
Session time: 9 am Maximum 10 people. $30 per person, bookings required.

Click here for more information and to make a booking: phone 08 82076255

The Retro Lens: Vintage Photography Festival

SA Maritime Museum - Sunday 21 May 10am -5pm

A family friendly Sunday packed with all things analogue: photographic tours of the Port's hidden corners, pinhole camera and printing workshops, a chance to create stunning cyanotype prints in our Loft Lab, and photograms in our Shadowcatcher sessions. Take a tintype portraiture (for a 19th century price tag) with the Tintype Traveller caravan, dress up and pose against vintage
studio sets and take snapshots with our two free photo booths, and scour the Port’s street for The Beastie and Mr Bond’s portraits.

Our managing director, Paul Atkins, will be helping run the Tin Type darkroom at the festival, so pop in and say hi.

For more information and to book for events, click here.

Online ordering software problems with MacOS X 10.12

For any launch failures in macOS 10.12 Sierra after updating from 10.11 or to try full re-install:

First, Delete the old dmg files and the .ROESEngineCache folder from your system.

To do this, open Finder and in the top menu click Go and select Go to folder from the list.  A dialog window will open with a field to type a path into.  Please enter:
 
~/.ROESEngineCache
 
and click OK/Open.  When the new Finder window opens select the entire contents of the folder and send to Trash.
 
Delete the desktop icon for the ROES program.

Delete the branded ROES.app from the Applications folder

Using Safari, do a fresh download of the launch.dmg from the default install page.  A newly downloaded version of the launch.dmg is needed!

The new installer will show a few additional dialog windows, including one that needs further action to confirm creation of a desktop shortcut.

As an additional workaround, drag the specific ROES .app in the unpacked disk image (.dmg that opened) and drop into the Applications folder. Then double click and run the .app file from there to install.

The Smiling Victorian

A photo found by Flickr user Kevin Lightner

When surfing the web one day I stumbled on (or perhaps Tumblr-ed upon) across a Flickr group dedicated to collecting images of smiling Victorians. It is filled with typical cabinet cards and tin-types of formally dressed folks posed, but surprisingly they are smiling. I am so used to the dour, serious and stern looks the majority of photos from those early years of photography brought us. These took me by surprise. In my mind I had associated a somber sobriety to that era.

We know that it was an era of strict morals and formal rituals, but in my naievety I had assumed either they were just plain sad or disliked posing for photos. Which of course is a lack of thinking by me, and I assume, others.

We know the low sensitivity of the early 'film' meant sitters had to hold their expressions for several minutes, and an impassionate face is easier to hold.

I had suspended reality because of photography.

It was so enlightiening to see Victorians full of life with smiles and hugs, clearly enjoying their life and friends. It is worth spending time on that Flickr site, it is rewriting history.

So as photographers, how will you write history? If you print or if your digital files magically last, this legacy of photographs will be not only our memories, but it will go to form the understanding of our social fabric.

Paul Atkins.

Link to Flickr group "The Smiling Victorians": http://www.flickr.com/groups/513477@N22/

AIPP Professional Photographic Awards printing.

AIPP Professional Photographic Awards printing.

For the 2017 awards season, Atkins are offering three service levels for your award entries:

1. Direct print, mount and matt.
This process bypasses our artwork and file preparation, and we simply print and mount your entry to your specifications. We will however identify obvious flaws where we can and notify you, if you require us to do more then, option 2 below, is more appropriate. The price per entry varies depending on the image size, paper type and matting complexity, however a typical entry printed on art paper mounted and matted to specification, will cost around $80.

2. Atkins assisted print mount and matt.
In preparation for printing, under your guidance, one of our experts (David or Miriam), will:

• check for digital blemishes / artwork (minor artwork, colour and density adjustments is included)
• check for textural consistancy
• check for adequate resolution of files
• general advice on final image selections
• print a gicleé fine art print
• mount on an award specification sized matt board
• matt to award specification sized foamcore backing
• The cost of this is $105 per entry, regardless of the paper type and print size selected, however complex matts may incur additional charges.

3. One-on-one preparation session with David or Miriam.
If you wish to book time with one of our experts to plan and print your awards entries, their time can be booked in 15 minute sessions. The cost is $40 per 15 minutes. Add to this cost the direct print mount and matt cost of around $80 per entry.

Click here to email and make a booking for your awards printing.

Critical dates around the 2017 SAPPAs.

• Atkins deadline for the award print special, only when ordering 4 or more print, mount and matts, is Thursday June 1st at 5pm CST, we can accept orders beyond this date, but the price will be list price, or possibly rush rates.
• AIPP Online registration for entry closes 5PM Thursday 15th June 2017
• All print cases must be received 5PM Thursday 22nd June 2017
• Judging dates - Sunday 25th June & Monday 26th June
• Awards presentation dinner, Tuesday 28th June

Link to AIPP SA Awards information and rules.

A word about the SAPPAs.

The Epson AIPP SA Professional Photography Awards are an excellent way to learn about modern photography and image making. At all of the events around the awards there is rigorous discussion of what makes a successful image. Just sitting in the audience at the feedback nights, or during the judging will be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Non members are welcome at most events, please contact AIPP organisers if you want more information.

Print cases:

Print cases.
 
Atkins also stocks the AIPP print cases, they cost $140.00 (incl GST). They hold around 6 matted prints, you get them back afterwards, they are very durable and will last forever. 

Eventually they will be covered in entry stickers and filled with years of hopes and dreams, they become a loved old friend :).
 
Click here to email Atkins and order your print case.

Needing help with your AIPP awards entries?

Confused about the awards?
Photoshop not getting the results you want?
Need help finalising awards entries? 

Spend time with the two-time Australian Illustrative Photographer of the year, awards judge, AIPP Master of photography and professional educator Gee Greenslade for some one-on-one awards help. She can teach you her photoshop tips and tricks, guide through the portfolio and category choosing process, help retouch your work and start you on the path of collaborating with our infamous David and Miriam the Awards printing gurus of Atkins Pro! 

Sessions go for one hour or more, and will be completely tailored to you. Your first hour includes a 15-minute consultation with David and Miriam discussing paper choices and printing test strips. 

To find out more about Gee, click here.

Gee Greenslade

Serious Matter

Helena Foll's - Global Marble and Milan Foll's - When I grow up is a combined exhibition that explores "Serious Matter".

Where: Port Noarlunga Art Centre, 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga, SA 5167 Australia
When: 13th April - 13th May, 10:00 - 4:00 Monday to Friday, 12:00 - 4:00 Saturday, Sunday Closed.

About Helena:
I was born in Prague into a bohemian family of two artists. From an early age I was surrounded with paints, brushes and a playful artistic environment. I started to draw and paint as a teenager.

In 2012 I decided to experiment first time with creating collages and with photography. In my recent collection, Global Marble, I continue to explorevarious photography and collage techniques to convey my interpretations about one my favourite books, The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint Exupery. The book is a tender tale about friendship and life’s universal truths intertwined with a social criticism of shortcomings of humanity.

Helena says: “ I remain amused by the fact that Exupery apologises to children for dedicating his book to grown-ups. He continues with a statement that all grown-ups were children once. He may be implying that children are granted a clarity of vision without the complications and restrains of commercial and practical concerns of adulthood. When reading the book, you are able to momentarily immerse yourself in the children’s world full of its all magical wonderment.

Global Marble collection is dedicated to the individual chapters of the book, the unique stories and the ageless moral tales.

I add my own commentary on the gown-ups conformity and my own experiences and philosophical observations about life and human nature.

About Milan:
For Milan it is the observation or the possibility to tell a story that is the most important part of the photograph.

Milan says; “when you read a book, in your mind you convert words into pictures.  I like to engage with viewers to create words out of my pictures and to inspire the observers to compose their own unique stories.”

Milan’s latest collection – “When I grow up” - focuses on capturing and freezing random moments of ever moving and transforming lives in today’s contemporary society with the main emphasis on youth.

Central to Milan’s work is his ongoing pursuit in revealing and evoking human emotions by using his classic conceptual minimalism in composition and colour.

Judith Crispin's Lumen Seed

We are proud to be hosting the Adelaide launch of Judith Crispin's book The Lumen Seed.

The evening will include a conversation with the artist, Judith, that will reveal her approach and process that has led to this remarkable body of work as well as a small exhibition of prints, and projected images.

For more information and to book your place at this event, click below:

Hidden Port

Wool store, Santos Parade, Photographer: Danica Gacesa McLean

"The Port is in flux. Dormant industrial buildings are being reclaimed and repurposed.  With analogue cameras and rolls of film, three local photographers have unbolted doors to capture this moment of transition.

The ghosts of the working port are everywhere.  In the wool stores, jarrah floors reek of lanolin.  In the flour mill, dusty machines evoke the thunder and rumble of steel and stone cracking wheat.  At the quarantine station, bedding laced with moth holes is tossed back from an iron bedstead as if the internee has just departed.

Of the cluster of boat yards that clung to Cruickshank's Corner, however, nothing is left but steel slipways; the rest was demolished in 2009.

The photographers find beauty in abandoned spaces—hidden elements revealed by a shaft of light through a broken window, the solidity of stone quoins that once bore the weight of tons of milling machinery."

Atkins is proud sponsors of this wonderful exhibition. All prints are available for sale at this gallery.

Where: SA Maritime Museum, 126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide
When: Open now through to April 2017
Cost: Free with General Admission pass to the Museum.

Italy Photo Tour

Experiencing Italy is a feast for the senses.  For photographers Italy offers classical landscapes, timeless small villages, the unbridled charm and culture of the cities.  Remnants of Etruscan, Roman and Renaissance civilisations are everywhere and the villages and cities offer limitless opportunities for people and street photography.
 
In October 2017 Alberto Giurelli and Keith Seidel will co-lead Photo Tour Italy 2017.
 
Across 12 nights (October 10-22, 2017) this small group photo tour will take in Rome and its surrounding hill villages; the hilltop villages and classic landscapes of Tuscany; the art, culture and history of Florence; and, the wonders of Venice. Participants will be provided with an opportunity to experience some of the best that Italy has to offer.
 
Photographing in autumn will provide wonderful light whilst avoiding the peak summer crowds that can make it difficult to photograph in the cities' more popular locations. Not that the tour will be sticking to the popular locations.
 
Alberto and Keith are keen to take you beyond "postcard" photography and will be combining some of the iconic locations with other interesting possibilities that Alberto and Keith both know of from their photography in Italy.  The programme will be flexible enough to take advantage of "found" opportunities, and Alberto's intimate knowledge of Rome will add a local flavour to the eternal city.
 
The tour will suit lovers of landscapes, architecture, street and candid people photography with an added local flavour. Photo Tour Italy 2017 will also provide opportunities for participants to experience the history, culture, food and wine of the cities and small villages alike.
 
If you would like to register your interest to receive information updates on this exciting photographic opportunity please contact Alberto at:  alberto@manefocus.com.au  or call Alberto on 0412 112 976 or Keith on 0418 838 504.  Keep an eye on Alberto and Keith’s Facebook posts for more information and Keith will be providing regular updates on his website at www.kseidelphoto.id.au
 
Alberto and Keith are hoping that you will consider joining them in Italy in October 2017

A Small World exhibition and auction closes soon.

Steven DaLuz's Emergence.

One of the most interesting exhibitions to happen in South Australia in recent years is Magpie Springs A Small World.

The concept is to show small works of art (painting, collage, photographs), 6x4inch small, en-masse to demonstrate the connection of artists world wide. Most of the participants were reached through Facebook, and the organiser Avril Thomas has worked tirelessly to bring them together.

Artists had to send their submission via mail to the Southern Vales gallery where Avril collated the works, set up a website with auction features, hung the works and hosted hundreds of visitors to the show.

It is a stunningly engaging show, at first glance you see a grid, then like a microscope on a lawn, the closer you get, the more life you see. I found myself lost in the collection, struggling to pick favourites.

The exhibition closes January 15th 2017 as does the auction. Bidding is slow and steady, but it is looking like it will heat up as the closure nears. To really grasp the enormity of the show, you have to visit the gallery.

“A Small World” exhibition is also raising money for Cancer Council SA’s research, prevention and support services with money raised going to the Cancer Council SA on behalf of Marilyn Jetty Swim.

Paul Atkins
As a caveat, I too have a work in the show, a small print of one of my favourite photographs, Flying Solo, here is the link to it on the auction site.

Exhibition Website link
Auction Website link

Paul Atkins' exhibition and auction entry, Flying Solo.

SAHMRI Stroke Forum

Atkins Lab was a proud sponsors of the SAHMRI Stroke Forum, and event established to get medical experts in the field of strokes together to discuss break thoughts at SA's new medical research facility, the SAHMRI.

We provided subsidised prints which artist Jenefer Hill prepared for display and sale. The displayed works meshed art and science to enhance the forum. It was most successful.

Album Registry is officially in the house December 1

Can't fork out for photos? Album Registry is an online gift registry which allows family and friends to pitch in. Don't let your memories rot on a USB. #printyourphotos

December 1st, 2016.

Come and meet Jannah the founder of Album Registry and learn how creating beautiful online gift registries for your clients will not only boost your product sales but also your website traffic and builds your client database. 

Album Registry bridges the gap between your clients and the print products of their dreams and an amazing gift idea from their family and friends. You can learn how the implementing this tools has radically changed photography businesses globally with minimal fuss.

Bookings every two hours from 10.30am Thursday December 1st.

Bookings are essential but don’t be afraid to come in groups of two or three.  She loves a crowd and you will have plenty of questions.

Jannah Dryden of J Create and Album Registry

Werner Herzog's River Of Lost Dreams

Werner Herzog’s River of Lost Dreams

Atkins are proud to show Murray White's latest exhibition at our recently renovated gallery space.

First contact with new lands and an ode to the German film maker, Werner Herzog.
The photographs discover a new world between reality and abstraction. They present invisible land and seascapes that draw the viewer into unchartered territory and lay down a back-beat to world of 15th century explorers, the crawling king snake and Herzog's quest for the unknown. 

Photographs shot in Chiang Mai, Thailand between 2014 and 2015. 

About the photographer.
Murray White spent 20 years as an Asia based photojournalist and now lives in Adelaide.
Work published worldwide including in The New York Times, The Independent, South China Morning Post, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin, L'Express, The Telegraph, The Japan Times, Fortune Magazine, Asiaweek, Asian Business Magazine.
Previous exhibitions: "Rodin in China" Rodin Museum, Paris and "The Pursuit of Paradise" The Gallery, Sydney.

Murray White's website.

Opens Friday December 2nd, 5pm to 7pm.
Murray will be in the Gallery Saturday December 10th for questions.
Atkins Gallery, 89 Fullarton Road Kent Town, South Australia

Exhibition closes January 15th 2017.

Sight for All - Red exhibition launch

Please join us for the launch of "Red" at the Adelaide Festival Centre, 
November 29th at 6-7.30pm.

Red runs through to January 22nd 2017, and then will move to the Adelaide Airport.

The exhibition is a curated set from all of the entries we received in this year's challenge. The judges, Lisa Slade - Deputy Director Art Gallery South Australia, Narelle Autio - acclaimed Australian photographer, and Hugo Michell - Art dealer, at the Hugo Michell Gallery did a great job, and now we at Atkins are making the prints and mounting them for the show.

The artists who’s work has made it into the exhibition are: Sarmad Akkach, Alex Aleshin, David Baker, Richard Bennett, Alyce Capurso, Simon Casson, Kirsten Eyles, Sarah Fairbanks, Alex Frayne, Stephen Hunt, Tony Kearney, Louise Kotz, Benjamin Liew, Stephanie Mallen, Mignon McLeay, Mike Moore, James Muecke, Wendy Philip, Badstance, Deb Saunders, Renate Smitham, Michael Stentiford, Cassie Thring, Karen Waller, Margaret Walsh, Simon Ward, and Robi Watt.

At the exhibition we will announce the winning image that attracts the $5000 prize from Optos, a Nikon company.

Click on the below link to book your free ticket to the One Day for Sight - Red exhibition opening.

Please note, due to the cost of service, there will be no catering at the opening.

International Art Exhibtion/Auction begins today

A SMALL WORLD – a Postcard Exhibition
An International Exhibition of small works held at Magpie Springs Gallery, South Australia
Exhibition Opening 13th Nov 2016 2pm  –  Exhibition Concludes 15th Jan 2017 5pm

As artists we can share our works and make connections never before possible every day with each other on social media. We often see our artist friends works but the chance to see or even own an original from that artist is perhaps slim, especially if they are on the other side of the world.
This is your chance to take part in an International show, purchase an original piece from your favourite artist and support cancer research – it’s about making connections through art.
Marilyn Jetty Swim
The Magpie Springs “A Small World” exhibition is raising money for Cancer Council SA’s research, prevention and support services with money raised going to the Cancer Council SA on behalf of Marilyn Jetty Swim.

Kodak film being sold in Australia again.

(finally!)

Several years ago Kodak made the decision that they would not chase film sales here in Australia. This was expressed by prices that were uncompetitive and resulted in most film sales either going to Fuji or grey market imports. The biggest source of these imports was from the USA.

Over past years, film sales and processing has hit rock bottom, and generally bumped along the bottom, seeing small rises and falls. However, in recent times there has been a significant rise in the sale and processing of C41 (colour negative) film, some of it being used by professional wedding and portrait photographers such as Jose Villa, Katie Grant, Mark Dohring and Dan Wooldridge.

US labs have been successfully promoting film photographers as early as 2013, and several of them have turned it into a big business, attracting processing from Australian photographers. Some of these labs even destroy your film and deliver scans only as part of the service!

Regardless, I digress, this slide away from film for Kodak lead to them not wanting to import, store and sell film here in Australia. They were not alone, Fuji too chose this path. They never said they would not supply it, but they priced themselves out of competition, thus forcing the grey imports. Our cost for much of the film, was three times the price a New Yorker would be paying.

The past few months has seen a reversal in Kodak's policy. I believe it is the result of pressure applied to a customer focussed professional Kodak Alaris rep, Paul Cullity. We at Atkins as well as another Kodak focussed prolab asked nicely and repeatedly. Paul is always listening and saw the opportunity, and we now have a Kodak film supply channel.

To keep the channel open, like the mouth of a slow river, we have to move some stock. Bulk film (20 pro packs or 100 rolls or more) is less than you will pay importing it, and delivery is covered to parts of Australia. Not every Kodak film type is available at such competitive pricing, Kodak Portra 400 in 120 is $10.02 per roll in bulk. Single propack prices have improved a little, but we have to cover storage.

Well done Kodak!

Masterclass: Transitions; emerging to professional

The Centre for Creative Photography are offering an amazing four week class to help emerging photographers into a better 'business' frame of mind.

This is a four night workshop over four Thursday evenings, 27 October – 17 November 6.30-9.30pm

N.B. This course is strictly limited to 12 participants.

You will be mentored and gain a wealth of knowledge from longtime professional photographers Milton Wordley and Simone Hanckel.

The Seminars:

Transitioning from a student of photography to making a living after your studies is challenging.  The CCP and Atkins technicolour have planned a series of seminars to support students by addressing the realities of this process. We are particularly inviting all students of photography to attend these evenings, whether they are:
•    Just commencing their photographic studies
•    Nearing the end of their studies or,
•    Just considering a career in photography.
We believe that it is wise to learn sound business principles and practices early.
The fact is that many students do take on paid work and every professional photographer will face competition from well-intentioned but inexperienced amateur photographers.

•    All sessions are limited to a maximum of twelve students.
•    Light refreshments will be provided during the networking Q&A sessions.

A segment of each class will be dedicated to questions and answers and networking. There will be classroom-based exercises based on the below topics as well as assignments:

•    Pricing : The differences in Domestic pricing and Commercial quoting
•    Photography business models – Commercial and Domestic
•    Basic business budgets; overheads—what does it cost to do nothing?
•    Legal obligations
•    Branding, marketing and Social Media
•    Copyright and licensing
•    Planning and strategies for the Commercial and Domestic market
•    Insurance
•    Career pathways—assisting, art, media, wedding, portrait, commercial, fashion…
•    Case studies
•    Digital asset management (workflow)

Please note: Despite the content of budgeting etc., this is not a bookkeeping or business course, but a realistic approach to making it in the Photographic Industry.