New York, NY – June 26, 2018 –Adorama, the trusted source for market-leading photo, video, audio, imaging and electronics products and information, will host its Adorama INSPIREExpo on Friday, June 29th and Sunday, July 1st from 10:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The Adorama INSPIRE weeklong conference-festival pays homage to cinematography, photography, music making and social influence, offering specially curated workshops and community platforms that focus on improving technical expertise, important industry discussions and artist-immersed experiences such as photo walks, flying drones, and community art galleries, many of which will be free to attend. Closing out the creative celebration is the Adorama INSPIRE Expo. The largest creative expo in New York City provides attendees hands-on experience with the latest creative technology and gear from Adobe, Apple, Blackmagic Design, Canon, Dell, DJI, Intel, Nikon, Red, Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic, Rokinon, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, and many more. In addition to the massive creative display, Adorama INSPIRE will have on hand the latest in home electronics including wildly popular products from Apple, Nest, and Sonos. 

“Companies like Canon, Nikon, Intel and Sony are at the cornerstone of creativity and are important Adorama INSPIRE partners who are deeply involved with the community,” states Lev Peker, Chief Marketing Officer, Adorama. “Their forward-looking technology and vast understanding of this market space combined with the world-class talent of their pros will elevate the level of discussion and community engagement at the Adorama INSPIRE conference and expo. We are thrilled they are on board and look forward to the outstanding sessions and hands-on opportunities that they will provide the community at the expo.”

Adorama INSPIRE Expo Details: 

Friday, June 29th from 10am-5pm & Sunday, July 1st from 10am-5pm* 

Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W 18th St New York, NY 10011) 

FREE to attend 

*The Adorama INSPIRE Expo will be closed Saturday, June 30th.

Register to attend on Friday, June 29 at https://bit.ly/2Jkk8sl and Sunday, July 1 at https://bit.ly/2IOFdxY. 

Adorama Important Industry Discussions 

In addition to the hands-on experience at the expo, Adorama INSPIRE will host the following industry discussions at the Metropolitan Pavilion:

Art & Advocacy 

Friday, June 29th 1:00 PM 

The Art and Advocacy panel will explore the capacity of photography to impact social change. Seen from the viewpoint of actively engaged artists, photographers, and writers, each panelist will discuss their specific advocacy-related art projects. Topics/issues include work affecting cultural and ethnic awareness and justice, mental health and addiction, and environmental advocacy. Discussions will reflect on how individual creative practice informs issues of concern and what mechanisms can facilitate change. 

NPPA Presents: State of Photojournalism 

Sunday, July 1st at 1:00 PM 

Moderated by Akili Ramsess, a multiple Pulitzer Prize-winning photo editor and the current executive director of National Press Photographers Association, the former director of photography of the Orlando Sentinel and the former deputy director of photography at the San Jose Mercury News. She began her career as a freelance photographer in the Los Angeles area covering news, entertainment, and sports for local newspapers, and wire services before landing a staff photographer position with the now-defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner.

Technology in Photography: AI and Blockchain 

Sunday, July 1st at 1:00 PM 

Moderator Maria Kessler, a veteran of stock photography and a Blockchain evangelist, will discuss with panelists Paul Melcher (MelcherSystem and Kaptur Magazine) and Joe Naylor (ImageRights International) the benefits and impact that new technologies will bring to the image industry and photographers. 

ADORAMA: More Than a Camera Store

Adorama is more than a camera store –it’s one of the world’s largest photography, video, audio and computer retailers. Serving customers for more than 40 years, Adorama has grown from its flagship NYC store to include the leading online destination for imaging and consumer electronics. Adorama’s vast product offerings encompass professional video and audio, connected home, musical instruments and more, while its services include an in-house photo lab, AdoramaPix; resources and gear for photographers, filmmakers, production studios, broadcasting and post houses, and recording artists through Adorama Business Solutions; professional equipment rental at Adorama Rental Company; and the award-winning Adorama Learning Center, which offers free creative education via online channels such as the popular AdoramaTV on YouTube. 

Visit ADORAMA at www.adorama.com. 

Press Contact 

Alexis Isaacs 

Zazil Media Group 

(e) alexis@zazilmediagroup.com 

(p) +1 773 816 7944 

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New York, NY – June 19, 2018 – Adorama, the trusted source for market-leading photo, video, audio, imaging and electronics products and information, invites visual storytellers to New York City this June to hear how world-renowned photographers and filmmakers have leveraged social and online platforms to build their successful businesses and brands at Adorama INSPIRE. Chris Burkard, renowned photographer and filmmaker (“Under an Arctic Sky”) and Instagram star with 3 million followers will lead the brand building session on Storytelling in the Digital Age and Prince McClinton, creative powerhouse and business phenom behind Art of Visuals, the creative community platform with over 1 million followers, will take attendees into The Business of Content Creation.

In addition to the specially curated brand building sessions, Adorama INSPIRE will also feature a session on Crowdfunding and Building Your Audience with successful crowdfunder and filmmaker Christina Raia and Producing a Successful Livestream with broadcast expert Alex Lindsay.

Storytelling in the Digital Age with Chris Burkard

Attendees are invited to join renowned global adventure photographer and Instagram star (3 million followers and climbing), Chris Burkard, as he talks compelling content and engaging storytelling in a highly saturated social media landscape. The session, moderated by acclaimed travel photographer and editor-in-chief at Resource Travel, Michael Bonocore, will explore the necessary skills and approach to developing a social media following, generating engagement, and how to leverage this following. Attendees can expect a captivating dialogue covering how and why social media is used as a storytelling tool in the digital age, how to be sure people are seeing and actively engaging with your content, and how to effectively convey passionate experiences to followers.

“The art of long-form storytelling is rapidly disappearing as our attention spans become ever shorter and we are continuously exposed to new content on our various feeds,” says Michael Bonocore. “With this, social media becomes the number one place where it is absolutely critical to catch, and keep, someone’s attention long enough for them to want to hear your story. So how do we as creatives tell the stories that we are passionate about in just a few square-cropped photos? And how do we ensure people are actually seeing and actively engaging with our visual stories? I am excited to sit down with Chris Burkard at Adorama INSPIRE to talk about his passion for social media and storytelling, and how he has successfully combined them to create one of the most dynamic social media feeds on the internet today.”

Details:

• Thursday, June 28th
• 10:00am- 12:00pm
• Union Square Ballroom
• Admission: Free

The Business of Content Creation with Prince McClinton (Art of Visuals)

Prince McClinton, founder of Art of Visuals, one of the world’s largest creative communities inspiring over 1 million people daily via the wildly successful Art of Visuals Instagram creative community, sits down with amazing artists and creators - Josh Perrett, Paola Franqui, Josh Alvarez and Paul Seibert - to discuss photography, video, travel and the business of content creation. To be followed by a gallery reception celebrating art curated from the @artofvisuals community. Must be 18+ to attend.

Details:

• Monday, June 25th
• 6:30pm- 9:30pm
• Union Square Ballroom
• Admission: Free

Crowdfunding to Build Independence

This specially designed crowdfunding workshop led by expert Christina Raia takes attendees inside successful campaign strategies and the essential steps taken to connect with audiences, reach crowdfunding goals, and ultimately, distribution, with the end goal of a building a sustainable career. Christina Raia, NYC-based writer and director, the founder of CongestedCat Productions and the crowdfunding director at Seed&Spark, will host this workshop on financing film projects. Her work, a collection of short films, a web series and two feature films, has gained a large online following through multiple crowdfunding campaigns. She has been covered by press outlets such as Indiewire, AfterEllen and BuzzFeed.

Details:

• Tuesday, June 26th
• 6:30pm- 8:30pm
• Union Square Ballroom
• Admission: Free

Producing a Successful Livestream

Join livestream expert Alex Lindsay for an in-depth discussion on what is needed to execute a successful live internet broadcast. Alex has produced over 1,500 livestreams for celebrities, Fortune 100 companies and TV networks, which have been streamed from every continent to most of the popular live platforms. Folks of all skill levels are welcome to attend this free event, from on-the-go run-and-gun YouTubers to the big guns with broadcast trucks - events of all sizes will be discussed. Attendees can expect insights on planning, from video, audio and encoding, to learning how to manage the most important factors of an event that can often thwart a stream. Along the way, Alex will break down broadcasts and dive into key metrics to identify what makes a live web event great beyond just technical success.

Details:

• Thursday, June 28th
• 4:00pm- 6:00pm
• Union Square Ballroom
• Admission: Free

The weeklong Adorama INSPIRE conference-festival pays homage to cinematography, photography and social influence, offering specially curated workshops and community platforms that focus on improving technical expertise. Attendees can find the full Adorama INSPIRE schedule and registration details here.

ADORAMA: More Than a Camera Store

Adorama is more than a camera store – it’s one of the world’s largest photography, video, audio and computer retailers. Serving customers for more than 40 years, Adorama has grown from its flagship NYC store to include the leading online destination for imaging and consumer electronics. Adorama’s vast product offerings encompass professional video and audio, connected home, musical instruments and more, while its services include an in-house photo lab, AdoramaPix; resources and gear for photographers, filmmakers, production studios, broadcasting and post houses, and recording artists through Adorama Business Solutions; professional equipment rental at Adorama Rental Company; and the award-winning Adorama Learning Center, which offers free creative education via online channels such as the popular AdoramaTV on YouTube.

Visit ADORAMA at www.adorama.com.

Press Contact

Alexis Isaacs

Zazil Media Group

(e) alexis@zazilmediagroup.com

(p) +1 773 816 7944

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Ronkonkoma, NY – June 7, 2018 –Sigma Corporation of America, a leading still photo and cinema lens, camera, flash and accessory manufacturer, today announced its participation in Adorama INSPIRE, a brand new, weeklong event filled with designed-to-share experiences for visual storytellers. Offering education, inspiration, a networking platform and hands-on gear testing, Adorama INSPIRE will take place June 25 through July 1 in and around New York City and features prominent industry creatives including Sigma Pros and many more.

INSPIRE: Capturing Adventure in the Great Outdoors with Sigma Pro Liam Doran

Kicking off the Adorama INSPIRE event is renowned adventure photographer Liam Doran’s session on Outdoor Sports and Travel Photography. A Sigma Pro veteran, Liam will share his secrets to capturing his most iconic images and commercial covers including the gear used, lens choices for each image, camera settings and timing.

When: June 25 from 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Union Square Ballroom (27 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003)

Cost: FREE

An outdoor sports and adventure travel photographer based in Colorado, Liam’s work covers all aspects of outdoor mountain life including skiing, biking, trail running and fly-fishing as well as travel and lifestyle. His images appear regularly in commercial advertising and in today’s top magazines including Powder, Outside, Ski, Skiing, Trail Runner, Mountain Magazine and more. For more information, visit his website at www.liamdoranphotography.com or follow him on Instagram at @liamdoranphotography.

Register here: https://bit.ly/2LpZUOp.

INSPIRE: Central Park Zoo Shoot with Sigma Pro David FitzSimmons

Adorama INSPIRE attendees are invited to come to the Central Park Zoo where Sigma Pro and noted animal photographer David FitzSimmons will be leading a photo shoot. David will share his tips and tricks for photographing animals in a zoo setting. As part of the Sigma sponsored workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to borrow Sigma lenses for the shoot and get feedback from a Sigma Pro (please bring photo ID, camera and memory card).

When: June 28 from 10:00am-1:00pm

Where: Central Park Zoo (E 64th St & 5th Ave New York, NY 10021)

Cost: $20

David FitzSimmons is an award-winning photographer and writer. He has photographed and written for various magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, Professional Photographer and Shutterbug. David’s most recent publications include Animals of Ohio’s Ponds and Vernal Pools, Curious Critters, Curious Critter Volume Two and Curious Critters Marine, which have won multiple national book awards and sold over 100,000 copies. For more information, visit his website at http://www.fitzsimmonsphotography.com/.

Register here: https://bit.ly/2JbRr4G.

Get Hands-On with the Latest Sigma Global Vision Lenses at the Adorama INSPIRE Expo

Come to the Sigma booth and check out the full line of Sigma Global Vision Art and Contemporary lenses. Sigma technical representative Marc Farb will be available to answer your questions and highlight features and benefits of the latest Sigma glass. Sigma will also be offering a special promo on select lenses during the expo.

When: Friday, June 29th from 10am-5pm & Sunday, July 1st from 10am-5pm*

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W 18th St New York, NY 10011)

Cost: FREE

*The Adorama INSPIRE Expo will be closed Saturday, June 30th.

Register to attend on Friday, June 29: https://bit.ly/2Jkk8sl.

Register to attend on Sunday, July 1: https://bit.ly/2IOFdxY.

Adorama INSPIRE Event Schedule: https://www.adorama.com/g/inspire-2018-schedule.

ADORAMA: More Than a Camera Store
Adorama is more than a camera store – it’s one of the world’s largest photography, video, audio and computer retailers. Serving customers for more than 40 years, Adorama has grown from its flagship NYC store to include the leading online destination for imaging and consumer electronics. Adorama’s vast product offerings encompass professional video and audio, connected home, musical instruments and more, while its services include an in-house photo lab, AdoramaPix; resources and gear for photographers, filmmakers, production studios, broadcasting and post houses, and recording artists through Adorama Business Solutions; professional equipment rental at Adorama Rental Company; and the award-winning Adorama Learning Center, which offers free creative education via online channels such as the popular AdoramaTV on YouTube. Visit Adorama at www.adorama.com.

About Sigma Corporation

Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, Sigma has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning cine and camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan.

In 2012, the company introduced the Sigma Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sport. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony and Sigma, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last.

Sigma continues its tradition of imaging excellence with the mirrorless sd Quattro, sd Quattro H and the compact dp Quattro camera line. Leveraging the ultra-high resolution Foveon sensor, the Sigma Quattro cameras are designed to produce the highest quality image with every shot.

For information about Sigma, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com or follow the company on Sigma Blog, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Press Contact

Anya Nelson

Zazil Media Group for Sigma Corporation of America

(p) 617-817-6559

(e) anya@zazilmediagroup.com

New York, NY – June 6, 2018 – Adorama, the trusted source for market-leading photo, video, audio, imaging and electronics products and information, invites photographers, videographers and digital storytellers to come explore New York City and its surrounding attractions in a completely new light at Adorama INSPIRE. Taking place in and around NYC beginning June 25th, these one-of-kind designed-to-share event experiences will take place at iconic New York landmarks including a tour of an empty Metropolitan Museum of Art, photoshoot at the Freedom Tower Observation Deck, and night shooting in Central Park, with “field trips” to the Storm King Art Center, Belmont Park and more.

Led by some of the most creative minds in photography and filmmaking, Adorama INSPIRE is a weeklong conference-festival that pays homage to cinematography, photography and digital storytelling, offering specially curated workshops focused on improving technical expertise, important industry discussions and artist-infused experiences such as photo walks, drone flying and community art galleries, many of which will be free to attend. Win a trip for two to NYC to attend Adorama INSPIRE.

A few of the stand-out designed-to-share sessions at unique and iconic NYC locales include:

Tuesday, June 26th

• Night Sky On-location, Central Park, 7:30pm-10pm. Photographer Stan Honda will be hosting a night sky shooting session in Central Park where he’ll be teaching the basics of photographing celestial objects with a digital camera and ordinary lenses. Experience Central Park at night and you’ll walk away with truly stunning images of the city as darkness falls.

Wednesday, June 27th

• Storm King Photo Field Trip with @tutes, Storm King Art Center 10am-7:30pm. Get out of the city for a change and join @tutes for a photo field trip to Storm King Art Center, which collects, exhibits and conserves modern and contemporary art, from large-scale sculptures situated in Storm King’s expansive landscape, to site-specific earthworks, to related drawings and photographs. @tutes will share some photo tips while attendees enjoy the day and art with other photographers. Ticket includes transportation and lunch.
• Creative Elements of Architecture: Out with the Rule Book, Freedom Tower Observation Deck and Oculus, 11am-3pm. See the incredible Freedom Tower and Oculus through the eyes of Olympus Visionary Frank Smith. Frank’s focus on the graphic elements of architecture means that he breaks the standard rules and creates his own unique artistic approach to architectural photography. Follow Frank as he enlightens you on his unique approach in photographing architecture around the globe and see architecture through his lens when the standard rules don’t apply. Ticket includes admission to the Freedom Tower Observation Deck.
• Belmont Horse Racing Workshop with Dave Black, Belmont Park, 12pm-7pm. Nikon Ambassador Dave Black will be taking INSPIRE attendees to a day at the races, documenting all that Belmont Park offers. With credits including Sports Illustrated, TIME, Newsweek, ESPN and more, Dave will provide tons of useful guidance on photographing action-packed movement. Ticket includes lunch and admission.

Thursday, June 28th

• Empty Met Tour with @tutes, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 8:30am-10am. @tutes is back Wednesday of INSPIRE for a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York like never before – attendees will have access to a VIP empty Met tour. Head inside the Met before opening and see its most famous exhibits with one of the museum’s own guides, with plenty of time to snap photos of your favorite works.
• The Strengths of Speedlites and Strobes, Central Park, 2pm- 4pm. Take a photo walk through Central Park with Francisco Hernandez, a professional on-location portrait photographer. Learn how to maximize lighting gear with the beautiful Central Park as your backdrop.
• Manhattan Skyline at Night, Special Location in Hoboken, 6pm- 9pm. Capture NYC from a totally new vantage point just across the river. After a group ferry ride to a special location in Hoboken, photojournalist and Lumix Global Ambassador Kevin Gilbert and friends will lead a workshop with models/athletes, doing creative portraiture against the stunning NYC skyline.

Attendees can find the full Adorama INSPIRE schedule and registration details here.

ADORAMA: More Than a Camera Store

Adorama is more than a camera store – it’s one of the world’s largest photography, video, audio and computer retailers. Serving customers for more than 40 years, Adorama has grown from its flagship NYC store to include the leading online destination for imaging and consumer electronics. Adorama’s vast product offerings encompass professional video and audio, connected home, musical instruments and more, while its services include an in-house photo lab, AdoramaPix; resources and gear for photographers, filmmakers, production studios, broadcasting and post houses, and recording artists through Adorama Business Solutions; professional equipment rental at Adorama Rental Company; and the award-winning Adorama Learning Center, which offers free creative education via online channels such as the popular AdoramaTV on YouTube.

Visit ADORAMA at www.adorama.com.

Press Contact

Alexis Isaacs

Zazil Media Group

(e) alexis@zazilmediagroup.com

(p) +1 773 816 7944

As the lighting enthusiast in film school in the late 1970s, my friends and colleagues suggested I invent a light and call it the “glow light” after my last name. I had to wait almost 40 years for that to become a reality, so I believe I was born to review my namesake light. Designed by Adorama, the Glow Softbox Octo 36 R is a flexible softbox that encloses almost any lighting instrument, while softening (and enlarging) the light’s output. The 36-inch diameter softbox folds to fit into a small pouch and may be erected in minutes when the need arises.

FEATURES

The 36-inch Octobox features a backward umbrella design. Weighing less than 2 pounds, the soft wrap of the 36-inch Octobox is created by the backwards umbrella design. The reflective fabric channels the light to either the white diffuser or the baffle and can easily handle the output of a 650-watt tungsten light. The Glow Octobox assembles easily with eight aluminum rods that slide into the fabric and the Velcro keeps the diffuser in place. Although the Glow Octolight does not come with a speed ring, most lights can easily be positioned to work with the unit. With a two-year warranty, the heat-and water-resistant fabric should handle multiple setups and tear downs. The manufacturer also states that the dyes protect the softbox from turning yellow with age.

IN USE

I was anxious to receive Octobox Glow light for several reasons. I believe most people prefer a softer, diffused light when doing interior illumination. Whether it’s for beauty, fashion, portrait or just filmmaking, one of the reasons the Octobox is so versatile, is that it is simply a diffusion source that is placed in front of a light—turning that instrument into a soft light source.

The glow light was able to maintain light from spilling when using it with a blue screen. My first use with the enclosure was on a studio set with wood paneling and a blue screen backdrop. As you know, soft even light is critical when doing any green or blue screen work. A hard light source creates too many shadows and imperfections that are difficult to remove in post. In this instance, I used a 650-watt Mole-Richardson Tweenie Fresnel as our key light source. Using the Fresnel alone, although less harsh than an open-faced light, still created too many shadows on the blue screen background. Placing the Octobox in front of the Tweenie softened the light on our actress’ face and did not spill over on the blue screen making keying that much easier.

Also, simply moving the Octobox closer or farther from the light source changes the size and quality of the light—simple physics. Rarely does someone want to make a light source harder. Softer lighting is much more flattering especially when used in close proximity to the talent.

The second situation when the Glow Octobox was an asset was doing tabletop photography for a company who manufactures knee replacement parts. Shooting stainless steel objects against a white background was made possible with the Glow Octobox attached to a strobe light source. Using a strobe bounced into an umbrella did not achieve the highlights in the parts we desired. Using the strobe alone creates too harsh of a light and subsequent shadow. Putting the strobe inside the Octobox with diffusion on the front gave us the perfect combination of specular highlights without the shadow on the backdrop. With the strobe firing each time it was triggered by the camera we had the exact look the client wanted.

SUMMARY

It most any situation, softening the light source creates a much more flattering look to the subject. Everywhere I shoot, the Octobox will travel with me.

Chuck Gloman is an associate professor and chair of the TV/Film Department at DeSales University. He may be reachedchuck.gloman@desales.edu.

➤FAST FACTS

APPLICATION
To be used with most lights when you want to soften the unit’s output.

KEY FEATURES
Large 36-inch diameter softbox with an almost 14-inch depth. Water-and heat-resistant fabrics make the unit durable as well as practical.

PRICE
$129.95

CONTACT
Adorama
800.223.2500
www.adorama.com