PhotoKina 2010 info...

[Stany Buyle]

PhotoKina 2010 is approaching...
In this topic I'll try to cover the event with some general info, company's press releases and other related news...

Click(right mouse click/ "Open in new window-command") on the underneath screenshot to open the link.

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[Stany Buyle]

From the Carl Zeiss website:

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 24.08.2010.
This year’s visitors to the Carl Zeiss booth at photokina will be able to touch, test and even walk through high-quality lenses. The optical experts want to make an encounter with the world of Carl Zeiss something to remember.

“We will present new lenses and, for the first time, accessories at photokina. You'll have to be a bit more patient to find out exactly what we have in store," announces Martin Klottig, Marketing Manager of the Camera Lens Division at Carl Zeiss AG. Twice as large as its predecessor in 2008, the "application island" at the booth in Hall 2.1 will allow visitors to test the entire line of Carl Zeiss lenses. Using a number of real subjects, photographers and anyone else interested will have the opportunity to try our various focal lengths and settings. In addition to the entirely new ZEISS lenses, guests will also be able to use Sony lenses featuring Carl Zeiss technology and the coveted Compact Prime CP.2 lenses on HDSLR cameras for video recording.

The walk-through lens introduced in 2008, invites this year’s visitors to experience the 120-year history of lenses at Carl Zeiss. It shows how Carl Zeiss has accompanied photography from one era to the next and how developments of the past have laid the foundation for the future. The high-performance Tessar lenses, for example, have been around since 1902. These pioneering, compact designs are used in a miniaturized form in high-end Nokia mobile phones.

Our partner Nokia will also present its latest smart phones at our booth, and demonstrate how compact, creative and high-quality mobile photography with Carl Zeiss works.

Using its social media channels on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/carlzeisslenses) and Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com/carlzeisslenses), Carl Zeiss will keep informed for the first time photo enthusiasts who are unable to travel to Cologne.

[Stany Buyle]

Wacom at Photokina 2010: Tools, tips and techniques for professionals and amateurs




Additionally Wacom is part of the Creative Alliance Theatre Programme and is also in the CGI Area
Hall 4.1, Stand l-019, Photokina 2010, Kölnmesse, Cologne, 21-26 September 2010 - Wacom, the leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays and intuitive interface solutions, will be demonstrating the potential of digital imaging tools at Photokina 2010 - the imaging industry's leading international trade fair. 'Your inspiration and where it comes to life' is the guiding idea behind Wacom's presence at the show where the focus will be on the professional products including the Intuos4 and Cintiq range. Wacom will also be showcasing the Bamboo Fun, a versatile device for consumers keen to develop creative skills. Experienced imaging specialists will be present on the stand to share valuable tips and techniques around digital image processing with visitors. Together with five other noted suppliers of photographic products, Wacom forms part of the Creative Alliance. The Creative Alliance will be demonstrating the complete imaging workflow as part of an informative and exciting programme in the same hall at stand I-010 as well as holding panel discussions in the evening. Wacom also has a presence in the CGI-Area on Stand A-030.
Ask the Expert
Wacom evangelists - Calvin Hollywood and Robin Preston, both photographers and digital artists, will be present on the stand along with Robert Hranitzky, a motion graphic designer - to demonstrate how works of photographic art can be created using pen tablets and interactive pen displays. Visitors to the stand can 'ask the expert' and acquire new insights and techniques favoured by these respected artists. Other specialists that form part of the Creative Alliance Partnership, such as Adobe, Nikon and Nik Software, will also be regularly present at the stand to answer questions about the interaction between individual elements in the digital workflow.

Numerous work stations will also be available where visitors to the trade fair can try professional pen tablets from the Intuos4 range as well as the Cintiq 12WX and Cintiq 21UX interactive pen displays. One particular area of focus is the ability to work together with the new Adobe Creative Suite 5; its potential can only be fully realised with a professional pen based input device like Intuos4 or Cintiq.

Jürgen Kuschewski, the Event Marketing Manager and responsible for Partner Management at Wacom Europe GmbH,comments: "Photokina is the leading international fair in the field of digital imaging. With our own stand and our inclusion in the Creative Alliance, we can show professionals and amateurs how well things can be achieved by combining their inspiration and our tools. Our experts demonstrate their tips and techniques which often leave even experienced digital imaging professionals open-mouthed."

The Creative Alliance is an association of six leading suppliers to the professional photographic market: Adobe, Hewlett-Packard, Nikon, Nik Software, Wacom and
X-Rite. At Photokina, regular lectures will be given by distinguished experts in the Creative Alliance Theatre. Daily from 14.00 to 14.45 for example, Calvin Hollywood and Robin Preston will take turns to provide helpful imaging tips entitled 'Power tips and tricks to better imaging'. Each day after the fair has closed, professional and amateur photographers can also exchange ideas on various topics with specialists as part of the Creative Alliance Pro Evening from 18.00 to 20.00. Wacom's senior evangelist, Robin Preston, is the Creative Director of the Creative Alliance at Photokina.

With its Bamboo Fun, Wacom will also be demonstrating exactly the right product for consumers at Photokina. The interactive tablet combines multi-touch input and pen input. Stylishly designed and equipped with an extensive imaging software package, it is available in two sizes and provides, for example, ambitious amateur photographers with the ability to get the best out of their photos on their PC or Mac.

Further information about Wacom and its products is available at http://www.wacom.eu

[Stany Buyle]

I visited Photokina, as I didn't want to lug around all day with my D200+lens I took some pictures with my fuji F10.
It was my first visit to this fair and I was very impressed. I stayed about 7-8 hours and tried to visit as much stands as possible including most of the major software brands. The presentations of new (pro)version of ACDSee (which I like basically as picture explorer)and DXO took my attention, Dxo is really revolutionary "users friendly" and effective at the same time with some applications.
The presence of Nikon was remarkable, everywhere... which are signs of a company doing very well at present I guess...


I came in trough entrance east, the overall organisation of the fair pleased me very well...

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First stand I visited was sigma, curious for there SD14, and you were enabled to put your own CF card in the camera and take some shots...

Arriving at Nikon's, lots of D80's all over the place with different lenses to try, though not the new 70-300 AFS VR(which was only presented in the glass showcase).


The rest of the Nikon stand was extremely complete with possibilities to try out in a very professional way all kind of lenses(200-400mm as well) on all kind of bodies...very tempting to make you spend even more money in gear as most of us do already right now...
xxx








I asked a Nikon representative what is the origin of the difference in noise and IQ output between D80 and D200 while having the same sensor... I was a little amazed when he answered me they are NOT the same sensors, aiming on the importance of 2channel vs 4 channel...

 


Interesting movie @ Zeiss booth...


Mayami with their 39Mpix beast...




Passing by several other stands I visited Fuji for some news on the S5pro which seems on the outside only a relabeled D200 with inside the S3pro sensor. What I do not understand is why Fuji can't deliver this camera right now yet, finally putting a 3 years old (great) sensor in another body can't take that long...(just my opinion)


Hasselblad...

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At Tamron I tried their newest 18-250mm lens on a Canon 20D(while the Nikon version wasn't available yet) and I was pleasantly surprised by the quick AF (I had a Tamron 18-200 myself and I changed it for the nikkor 18-200 mostly because of the slow AF). They also told me that the newer version has improved concerning to image quality parameters such as distortion...strange, even a bigger focal range and less distortion???


One of the nicest contacts I had was at the stand of Nikonians, very nice people with an immense knowledge about Nikon gear.


Photokina is very nice...


Yes! I'll be there again in two years,...I hope.

[Stany Buyle]

From the PhotoKina website:

The drunken photographer

Together with its partner ScanBull, photokina 2010 will enable visitors to the World of Imaging to look into the future: At the special show area "World of 3D at photokina powered by ScanBull," visitors to the World of Imaging will have a chance to become fascinated by the range of different possibilities of the third dimension for photography and film. Here cutting-edge digital technology makes it possible to blend together objects from real life and realistic 3D environments. The World of 3D also shows the photokina trade visitors how new areas of business can be accessed by means of 3D scanning and 360° photography.

Visitors to the 3D café "The drunken photographer," for instance, are able to have themselves animated in 3D and directly inserted into a realistic scene of everyday life, explore the surroundings and be amazed by fascinating effects. photokina visitors also can experience true to life 3D animation with an altered reality in the True Lies Area. And fans of virtual worlds can listen to music in an entirely new way at Magic Music: Here artists on the stage present attractions and play instruments, for example, that the visitor can hear and see in 3D only when wearing special glasses.

In the "3d-mystic tunnel," 3D technologies are used to easily - but also amazingly - make connections between virtuality and reality. What's more, the visitors to a modern 3D movie theater will be very impressed by the latest possibilities that can be realized with 3D animation. Every visitor can place himself or herself into a film, change things, and experience 3D scenes they make themselves, in real time. The observer thus becomes the protagonist, is placed in realistic and comprehensible scenes that display characteristics similar to that of one's usual environments. This evokes the feeling of reality and of being connected to what is depicted.

Under the motto "Yes I Scan," visitors to the special show can bring along objects and have them scanned in. At a 360° 3D scanning competition, the most interesting 3D scan models can afterwards be rated and honored daily. The winner has the chance to win a 3D ScanBook QuickCap Professional and take part in a workshop in the ScanBull training center with all the other winners.

The presentation on the 500 square meter special area "World of 3D at photokina powered by Scanbull" in Hall 4.1 (A-020 /A-028) will be perfectly complemented by the exciting, whole-day program features including discussions, activities and live presentations - in keeping with the motto: "Touch - Experience - Understand." The topics range from the question of what effects 3D technology is having on photography to the possibilities of product photography in 3D to business-oriented offerings concerning creative lighting for animation, generating 3D content, and addressing questions about the market and potential of the world of 3D.

[Stany Buyle]

From the PhotoKina website:

"One picture says more than a thousand words" - this traditional saying remains as true as ever today. After all, a single image can awaken almost any emotion in a viewer, be it sadness and empathy, joy and enthusiasm, anger, pain, longing or excitement. And that fact is illustrated by the photography exhibitions at photokina 2010. As part of the trade fair, visitors can enjoy a variety of exhibitions that offer something to suit every taste, because amateur photographers as well as experienced professionals and award winners will be presenting their works here. This year for the first time we will be offering interested visitors a series of "Spotlight Tours," in which selected experts will provide background information and be available for talks and discussions.

Expand your horizons! - Panorama photography shows more than just ordinary perspectives
Entirely new ways of seeing will be offered in the form of two unusual photograph series by the artist Edgar E. Sacayón and the nonprofit International VR Photography Association, whose members are VR (virtual reality) and panorama photographers. Under the title "Beyond the evident" the photographer Edgar E. Sacayón will be showing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guatemala in an unusual way. By using a large-format camera and an infrared-sensitive trilinear scanning system, he has created mystical images focusing on the all too easily overlooked details of the most beautiful places in Guatemala. This series of photographs can be seen in Passage 2/4.

The exhibition organized by the IVRPA, which is sure to thrill visitors with its expansive panoramas, will feature photographs taken by the winners of its competition for panoramic photography. The competitors' expertise will be on display in three categories: VR panoramas, printed panoramas, and gigapixel printed panoramas. The IVRPA will also be offering presentations, shows, and workshops at its stand in Hall 4.1.

Fascinating Flora and Fauna - The beauties of nature
Nature has always been one of the most popular motifs in photography. Whether it's the impressive displays put on by natural forces or small and previously unnoticed details, Mother Nature offers something for every taste - and that will be demonstrated at photokina 2010 as well. As in previous years, visitors will once again find a series of "Highlights", selected by Mara Fuhrmann and Udo Höcke. This year the artists Marco Antonini and Alessandro Gruzza will be presenting their nature photographs. Marco Antonini originally wanted to make a close study of the courtship behavior of swans. As he worked, he repeatedly observed the swans as they groomed their feathers. This may seem to be a routine process, but through the lens of his camera Antonini has created unusual images of impressive grace. On a hike through Zion National Park in Utah, USA, Alessandro Gruzza passed the spectacular Water Crack, and with his camera he succeeded in capturing the concentrated power of this narrow waterfall in an autumnal setting. These artworks can be seen in Passage 4/5.

"The Stone Heart of the World" is the term Georg Tappeiner applies to the Dolomites and the unique landscape offered by this Natural World Heritage Site. His 50 photographs, presented by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GERMANY, document the varied scenery of this spectacular region. This exhibition can be found in Passage 4/5 at photokina 2010.

In her ten-part cycle of works called "A Vision of Silence", Ulrike Harbach will be offering a contrast to the fast-paced world of today. Using a walk-in camera obscura, and with a special affinity for striking images, she has created an impressive photo series of the Mecklenburg Lake District. These photographs and the camera obscura itself can be seen in the Passage 5/6 on the exhibition grounds.

"Making the essence of a person visible in a photograph is the highest form of the art of photography." (Friedrich Dürrenmatt)
A photograph can provide deep insights into an individual's inner life, fascinate other people, create bridges between very different personalities, and much more. The following exhibitions show in a variety of ways how photographers have mastered this fine art of photography. In a moving and fascinating photographic essay, the Finnish photographer Henrik Malmström shows the final months of his sister Maija's fight against cancer. "On Borrowed Time" moves the viewer in a quiet and gentle way, but stirs up deep feelings nonetheless. Malmström's impressive works can be seen in Passage 2/4.

It's rarely obvious who exactly is the artist behind a certain work - and this question presents itself especially often in the field of photography. In search of an answer, photo agency akg-images took a closer look at the question "Where is the photographer in the picture?" and used some photographic sleight of hand to put the creators of the photographs into their own works. This presentation of and for photographers can be seen in the foyer of the Press Center in the Congress Center North (first floor).

In his works, the famous Japanese photographer Masaya Nakamura reveals his special relationship with women. The artist, who died in 2001, became well known for his black-and-white photographs of nudes, which capture a certain magic through various devices including an artful manipulation of light and shadow. A selection of Nakamura's best works from the collection of the JCII (Japan Camera Industry Institute) will be exhibited in Passage 2/4.

The international photography competition "UNICEF Photo of the Year" has established itself as a competition that is known throughout the world. The winning photos from 2008 and 2009 will be exhibited at photokina in Passage 3/4 under the title "Children: The Presence of the Future".

After the death of his professional mentor Dean Collis, Tim Mantoani developed a wish to capture famous photographers and living legends for posterity. In order to do so, he staged photographs in which the photographers pose together with their most famous creations and show how they came to be. After a journey that lasted almost four years and came to mean much more than a series of photo shoots, he now presents his project "Behind Photographs" at photokina 2010 in Hall 9.

A sharp eye for unusual motifs
These exhibitions are sure to astonish visitors, because they display the award-winning creations of outstandingly talented photographers. Visitors can find out more about the individual photographers at the following galleries.

Visitors who take a look at the entries sent in to Europe's largest contest for amateur photographers, the "Blende" photo contest for German newspaper readers, will surely conclude that the works submitted by these amateurs can compete with those of professional photographers. There's something here for every generation, as the ages of the participating photographers range from four to 80. Visitors can enjoy the variety of these multifaceted works in the middle section of the Boulevard (4/5).

Under the imposing title "For Originals", this year's Hahnenmühle Anniversary Photo Award will be presenting a very special mix of images. The international jury selected 41 award winners whose works will now be presented at photokina 2010 in Hall 6. There is a very broad spectrum of motifs, ranging from portraits and landscapes to nature shots, architectural studies and still life compositions.

Visitors at photokina will also be able to attend an official award ceremony. On the first day of the fair, the winners of the competition "Germany's Best Photographer", initiated by SIGMA and AUTO VIDEO FOTO BILD, will be honored in Hall 4.2. The accompanying exhibition will be divided into six different categories: People and Technology, Young People to Age 25, Aesthetic Nudes, Digital Art, Architecture, and Nature.

How do young people really perceive the world? One answer to this question is given by the exhibition associated with the German Young Photographer Prize. Here it becomes obvious how different young people's views can be, as the photographs range from still life compositions to fantasy motifs. The exhibition is located in Hall 5.1 as part of the meet the communities event.

Another community that can be seen in Hall 5.1 is the fotocommunity, which is displaying the best entries from its contest in the categories of Travel Photography, People, Nature, and Digital Art. The members of fotocommunity selected the best photographs out of the 3,936 entries. They will be on show at the fotocommunity stand at photokina 2010.

Regional history since 1853
Cologne had the first cable car system crossing a river, and it's the organizer of the biggest German carnival parade, but that's not all. It's also the city where the first German photography book was published. More than 500 photography books on a variety of themes have been published since 1853. This year interested visitors will be able to view a photography exhibition dealing with history in the northern section of the Boulevard at photokina 2010.

Spotlight Tours
For the first time in the history of photokina, the team from the Kultur Event office is offering a special tour for photokina visitors. In line with the saying "You only see what you know," visitors who are interested in finding out about the stories behind individual photographs and would like to acquire some expert knowledge can register for a one-hour tour that costs ¤5. Further information and a schedule are available at http://www.kultureventbuero.de/photokina.html.

[Stany Buyle]

From the PhotoKina press release:

A star photographer will be on hand each day to portray visitors at this year's photokina

A daily program will offer something for everyone

Visitors can watch world-class photographers at work and get advice on how to improve their technique

Professional photographers will provide top tips for fellow professionals

It's photokina time once again, and naturally Guido Karp is in Cologne for this flagship show. This year the renowned photographer of famous rock acts such as Robbie Williams, the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and AC/DC has invited along some of the world's best photographers to present their work onstage in Hall 9. And, once again, visitors to photokina will have a chance to have their pictures taken by these world-class practitioners of their art. Each day of the trade fair will showcase a special theme, ranging from weddings to fashion and music.

Setting the ball rolling on Tuesday will be Mike Larson, the well-known wedding photographer from the U.S. He will be portraying married couples who turn up in their wedding outfits. All brides and grooms who would like to have a wedding photograph taken by one of the world's best wedding photographers should therefore take a peek in the closet and see whether they still fit into their bridal gowns and wedding suits. Only those who appear on stage in the appropriate garb will have a chance to be selected by Mike Larson for a wedding photo opportunity.

Wednesday's theme is fashion. Steve Thornton, a "genuine cowboy" from the U.S. and one of the world's leading fashion photographers, will be on the lookout for models among the general public at photokina. According to Steve, all that potential subjects need to bring along is a sense of fun and an enthusiasm for modeling. He will take care of styling and everything else required to produce a perfect fashion photo!

Thursday's special guest will be advertising photographer Tim Mantoani, who also has an exhibition of his own work at photokina. Mantoani will be on hand to take glossy images of photokina visitors in a quality that could grace any advertising campaign.

On Friday the stage will be set for Guido Karp, the photographer of famous rock stars. Karp will be taking photos of all visitors who come to photokina as solo artists or band members, complete with a musical instrument. Anyone who has always fancied himself or herself as a pop idol and would also like the photographic evidence - including clouds of dry ice and concert lighting - to prove it, should make sure to visit the stage in Hall 9 on September 24.

Saturday's featured star is the well-known Playboy photographer David Mecey, who will be screening the general public for models willing to take part in a bikini shoot. Mecey has been taking photographs for Playboy since 1979. The celebrities captured by his lens include Brooke Shields, Carmen Electra, and Sharon Stone.

On Sunday a talented young photographer will be given an opportunity to demonstrate his or her skills on stage. As ever, models will be selected from among the general public.

Each day, in the intervals between the three shooting blocks, the world's leading photographers will also take time to divulge some of the secrets of the trade, including the tricks they use to get the best possible pictures, how they came to their careers in photography, and the best ways to achieve better photos. Of particular interest to the professional photographers in the audience will be their tips on how to land the top jobs and thus gain a foothold in the elect circle of star photographers. The guest photographers will be on stage in Hall 9 from 10:00 a.m. onward, and the selection for the first shooting session will start at 10:30 a.m.

[Stany Buyle]

Final Report: photokina 2010 sets new standards

• Impressive attendance: Number of visitors from around the world increases by more than 7% to over 180,000
• 1,251 exhibitors from 45 countries
• Lively order activity results in an excellent atmosphere
• Greater number of visitors and exhibitors from abroad
• photokina now the meeting place for Web 2.0 photo enthusiasts
• High-quality event program fascinates trade visitors and end consumers
• Significant increase in the number of young visitors

The 31st photokina - World of Imaging closed its doors in Cologne on September 26 2010 with outstanding results. The numbers recorded for the exhibition (including estimates for the last trade fair day) show that the imaging sector's biggest technology and trend show attracted over 180,000 visitors to Cologne, a increase of more than 7% compared to the previous event. The proverbial Who's Who from the international photo and imaging industry was in an outstanding mood in Cologne, where 1,251 exhibitors from 45 countries presented a huge range of new products, technical innovations, and future trends to visitors from more than 160 nations. International retailers responded to the great innovative power of the exhibiting companies by filling their order books. The share of visitors from abroad totaled 68%, and there were also a large number of country participations. "This exhibition is a must for everyone in the industry," said Koelnmesse Executive Vice President Oliver P. Kuhrt, "photokina is the international revenue generator, and it has once again impressively demonstrated why it's the most important international business platform for the imaging sector. No other event provides so much innovation and business momentum for this industry."

Christoph Thomas, Chairman of Germany's Photographic Industry Association (the co-organizer of the World of Imaging), was also full of praise for photokina 2010. "This was a photokina that truly deserved to be called a 'world champion,'" he said. "It was a huge success in every way, and its high quality and large number of international visitors are beyond comparison with anything any other fair in the sector can offer. This year's event was also outstandingly successful in incorporating new theme areas and addressing new visitor groups. This is especially evidenced by the many young visitors it attracted."

The international specialist retail sector also seemed overwhelmed by this year's photokina, which Michael Gleich, Executive Director of the Ringfoto GmbH retailer association, described as outstanding: "From our point of view, the trade fair couldn't have been any better. We were absolutely thrilled."

Large numbers of trade visitors from around the world flocked to the stands from the very first day on, and their lively ordering activity filled the suppliers' order books and heightened their mood. Jeppe Frandsen, managing director of Canon Deutschland GmbH, was in great spirits as well: "In 2010, we saw once again why photokina's platform offers the right concept for the international imaging industry. We came to Cologne with very high expectations both in terms of revenues and visitor numbers. These expectations were more than fulfilled, and the foundation was laid here in Cologne for very successful business at the end of 2010." Duncan Ferguson, Director Professional Graphics, Epson Europe, said this year's photokina "was a great success for business at Epson," adding that he was very pleased to see how thrilled the many photography professionals and consumers were when they visited his company's stand.

Erwin Schwarzl, Kodak Cluster Director, Consumer & Commercial, DACH, also expressed his satisfaction with the excellent response to his company's new products - and the large number of orders it received: "photokina 2010 was a complete success for us, and in terms of orders our expectations were more than exceeded." Heiner Kayser, Managing Director of Sihl Direct GmbH, also felt the mood at the event was excellent. "photokina impressively confirmed its position as the leading trade fair for imaging communication," he said. "We were very pleased with both the number and the decision-making authority of the visitors. The feedback we received shows that even in the digital age, the appeal of the printed photo remains unbroken." CeWe Color was also extremely satisfied with the results of the fair. "photokina 2010 provided us with an outstanding platform for communicating our brand messages," said Dr. Rolf Hollander, Chairman of the Board of Management of CeWe Color Holding AG.

The exhibitors were also very happy about the large number of visitors from abroad. Sigma Deutschland GmbH Managing Director Marco Hahn said the ideal mixture of target groups at photokina was one of the main reasons for the fair's success: "photokina is the only trade fair that precisely targets our important customer groups. It's also the only trade fair in the world that brings together all the key players in our sector - retailers, consumers, global imaging media representatives, and photographic artists. Cologne is the only place where you'll find that combination. All of this makes photokina unique and very important for us. That's why we use it to present all of our new products to visitors from around the world."

The share of trade visitors at this year's photokina totaled 46.5%, of which 35% were from abroad. With visitors from 167 nations, photokina also once again underscored its international importance. Michael Langbehn, Manager PR / CSR / Trade Marketing Panasonic Deutschland, was thrilled by the great many retailers and media representatives who visited the Panasonic stand: "photokina 2010 was a major success for Panasonic in terms of both sales and brand communication. It's the ideal international platform for our imaging products." Also particularly noteworthy was the degree of decision-making responsibility enjoyed by the trade visitors in attendance. The initial results of an independent survey show that around two thirds (65.7%) were either major procurement decision-makers or else involved in purchasing decisions in some capacity. Martin Winkler, Commercial Director Sony Deutschland GmbH, was also very pleased with photokina 2010: "We can look back on a fair that was successful in every way and had extremely positive results for our company. photokina 2010 was everything we expected it to be. We were especially pleased by the trust our partners displayed in our company, and we are also very satisfied with the business the fair generated."

The exhibitors also expressed their satisfaction with the tremendous media coverage photokina 2010 received. The presence of well over 6,000 journalists from all over the world ensured extensive coverage by domestic and international media outlets. Thorsten Kortemeier, Managing Director of MINOX GmbH, had praise for the heavy visitor traffic at his stand and said that the media exposure for photokina had helped to make the fair a huge success: "We were extremely satisfied with how the fair went, and the great media presence we saw was much higher than we had expected."

The exhibitors' satisfaction with photokina 2010 was mirrored by the opinions of the visitors, 85% of whom said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with what they saw at the exhibition. Trade visitors were pleased with the opportunity photokina offered them to achieve their trade fair goals, with some 80% expressing their satisfaction or great satisfaction with this aspect and 92% reporting that they would recommend the event to a good business acquaintance.

International trade visitors and end consumers also had great things to say about the attractive photokina event program, which featured numerous highlights that offered great added value to both groups. The program for imaging professionals from around the world focused on the sharing of information about the latest sector trends, market developments, and business models for the future. The numerous events allowed visitors to touch, try out, and directly experience the products photokina showcased for end consumers.

Professional visitors were especially interested in the 1st International CGI Forum, which photokina used to highlight a new market trend at an early stage of its development, one which represents a key growth sector for the trade fair. The CGI Forum presented outstanding examples of computer-generated image design and provided the numerous visitors with the associated know-how as well. This forum, which was staged in close cooperation with the imaging sector, created a trade fair segment in which new companies, institutes of higher education, and service providers were able to present themselves to the international imaging industry for the first time.

The Creative Alliance presentations at photokina also attracted a huge rush of visitors, with many professional photographers taking advantage of the opportunity it offered them to receive inspiration from some of the best-known experts from the imaging sector. The Creative Alliance - an association of six major professional imaging companies - demonstrated tips and tricks for imaging professionals in daily workshops during photokina. The topics it addressed ranged from picture-taking to printing and marketing opportunities for professional photography.

Young visitors were particularly attracted to the brand-new photokina umbrella brand "Meet the Communities," which occupied a special area where exhibitors were able to more directly address the needs of the younger target groups who heavily frequent social networks on the Internet. "Meet the Communities" brought together for the first time real and virtual photo enthusiasts in an area covering over 1,500 square meters at the center of Hall 5.1. Here, social networks, photo festivals, imaging associations, and publishing companies offered photokina visitors a unique platform that featured a broad range of highlights on and around a large stage. Presentations at "Meet the Communities" focused on networking, communication with state-of-the-art terminals, and the latest generation of cameras. In addition, Twitter meetings, photo BarCamps, and community meetings offered plenty of opportunities for users of online services to share information. Not surprisingly, the stage and the surrounding area were crowded on every day of the fair.

Franziska Jorke, Group Leader Corporate Communications & Events at Olympus Europa Holding GmbH, was very happy about the higher number of visitors, especially younger visitors, at the Olympus stand this year: "Personal contact is sometimes neglected in the digital age, which is why we were all the more pleased to see more visitors at our stand this year. We were especially pleased by the many young people who showed up at our large-format stand displays and by the great interest they expressed in our new products."

The artistic highlight at photokina was once again the exhibitions held in the Visual Gallery. For years, these exhibitions have impressively linked the worlds of photo documentation, photo design, photo journalism, and photographic art. Among the works on display were those by Michael von Graffenried, who just recently won the Dr. Erich Salomon Award, and whose creations blur the lines between art and photography. The increasingly important photo design sector was represented in the Visual Gallery by works from well-known photographers such as Stephan Zirwes and Thomas Herbrich.

photokina's Passage 4/5 featured an especially large project that gave visitors a view of a world in and of itself. "The world's largest photo globe" had a diameter of six meters and transfixed visitors from around the world as it "floated" above them. It was also one of the most frequently photographed exhibits at photokina 2010. The globe was the result of a joint project carried out by the Photographic Industry Association and its members Adobe Systems, CeWe Color, Epson, Fujifilm Imaging Germany, Hama, Kaiser Fototechnik, Kodak, Lowepro, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung, Felix Schoeller, Sigma, and Sihl, as well as Prophoto GmbH and Koelnmesse.

Another new feature presented by Koelnmesse during this photokina year was photo.COLOGNE. The new umbrella brand brought together in September the activities of Internationale Photoszene Köln with its IPK and Koelnmesse GmbH with its Visual Gallery and the "photokina: cologne takes pictures!" event. photo.COLOGNE offers amateur and professional photographers and people who are interested in photographic art a never-before-seen combination of events and cultural highlights for photography. The results speak for themselves, as even visitors who arrived in Cologne long before photokina began were virtually unable to avoid the theme of photography. The goal of the partners is to use this umbrella brand in the future to further solidify and enhance Cologne's standing as a major center of photography.

The next photokina Cologne - World of Imaging will take place from Tuesday, September 18 to Sunday, September 23, 2012.