Elusive Okapi photographed in the wild

As reported by AFP, an Okapi was recently photographed in the wild using camera traps. This method gives new meaning to the word "snapshot," which already has hunting overtones. The Okapi looks like a cross between a small giraffe and half a zebra (it's legs have zebra stripes). Click here to read more and see pics of this fascinating animal in captivity. (He looks like he is doing his own impression of the dramatic chipmunk, no?)

An Okapi in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The okapi, an African animal so elusive that it was once believed to be a mythical unicorn, has been photographed in the wild for the first time, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said Thursday.

(AFP/HO/Zoological Society Of London)

Air Guitar meet Air Camera

Justin James Reed had an inspired moment. While ruminating on another's post on an air guitar contest in Germany on his most excellent blog, he noted the following:

Dagmar professed that, "(a)ir guitar looks much more spectacular than air camera."...I am here to differ, as I think that we can make "Air Camera" rock way harder than air guitar. So, in an effort (and on a whim) to get this going, I am sharing my first attempt at Air Camera here (see above)... Also on a whim, and as an encouragement for all of you out there to share your attempts at Air Camera, I have started a new blog named, what else, AIR CAMERA. I am looking for Air Camera of any format, be it Air 35mm, Air Medium Format, Air Large Format, etc., show me what you've got!

Two submissions are now up on the newly launched blog, three if you count his above. Surf on in and check out aircamera.blogspot.com and submit one of your own!!

Below is the submission information. Now, go get your shoot on!

Submit all images to: Justin@JustinJamesReed.com Image Requirements: All images should be 72 dpi. Sized to 10 inches on the longest side. Saved as a .jpg file and labeled as your name with no spaces or punctuation: your_name_1.jpg. Please feel free to submit a link to your personal site which will be included with your best "Air Camera," along with a title (i.e. camera format), where your from, and any other relevant information.

Somewhat good news from Rochester...finally

Somehow I missed this piece in the May 2nd issue of the New York Times, "At Kodak, Some Old Things Are New Again" by Claudia H. Deutch, until Shane pointed me to it.

That's Steven J. Sasson, an electrical engineer who created the first digital camera, above. Here is an excerpt from the NTY, with a link to the whole article below. My father, who has met him a couple of times, reports he is a very nice and humble fellow.

ROCHESTER — Steven J. Sasson, an electrical engineer who invented the first digital camera at Eastman Kodak in the 1970s, remembers well management’s dismay at his feat.

Allan Camp, a technician at Kodak’s inkjet development center in Rochester, works on the development of print heads for printers.

“My prototype was big as a toaster, but the technical people loved it,” Mr. Sasson said. “But it was filmless photography, so management’s reaction was, ‘that’s cute — but don’t tell anyone about it.’ ”

Since then, of course, Kodak, which once considered itself the Bell Labs of chemistry, has embraced the digital world and the researchers who understand it.

Read more here.

Check out this AP story about the digital camera turning 30 in 2005, sort of...it would be 16 years until Kodak released its first digital camera in 2001.

Here is an image and hyperlink-based digital camera timeline. By the way, this is only the 1970s, so be sure to click around.

ABOVE PHOTO: James Rajotte for The New York Times

Kodak building implosion update

David Valvo sent me some new pics of Kodak buildings 65 and 69 after their implosion (check out the last post for more information) on October 6th. For those who know Rochester, they are (were) near the corner of Ridge Road and Lake Avenue. Above is a close up of building 65, where all yellow mailers were processed that folks used to send to Kodak. Even a week later, David noted, several people still gathered to pay their respects if you will.

Building 69 (called Photographic Technology), photo by David Valvo

Building 65 (color print and processing), photo by David Valvo

Monday (late) Show and Tell & The Viewfinder Shift

We made it back from SPE and Miami! Many poor souls are still stuck in airports across the country, but we managed somehow to get out with minimal delays. Quick update: took the PRC student show down in one day (with amazing interns) and after a night of rolling with the punches, Jen Bekman emerged triumphantly with a smashing presentation to a standing-room-only audience! Thanks Jen!

I will have little time to blog in the next few days, but wanted to share this great image with you courtesy of Adam Gooder's mother from a recent trip (can you see the monkeys in the background?). I've always wanted to write an essay or musing on the impact of not looking through a viewfinder anymore (and some digital consumer cameras not even having one) on contemporary photography. This will hopefully get the ideas flowing for you and me. (PS - I haven't forgotten my 5 things meme either Jeremias!) Enjoy the image...