Fujifilm is one of the first companies to commit to National Photography Month, the major marketing initiative planned for next year.

National Photography Month is the UK's first such event dedicated to celebrating the value of photography. Organised by the Photo Imaging Council and The Photo Marketing Association, National Photography Month, which will run during June 2012, will feature nationwide events, celebrity exhibitions, a mobile Capture and Keep bus, and special offers from suppliers. Highlights include the creation of the world's largest family album, as members of the public are invited to submit family snaps for a project which will be unveiled to mark the start of events, and a celebrity auction in aid of charity.

At the heart of the campaign is the message that the importance of photography lies not just in creating good images but in the role photographs have as historical records. The nation's images represent a vast trove of personal histories. But while we are taking more pictures than at any other time, the fleeting nature of digital images means we are printing or keeping fewer of these important documents. National Photography Month aims to encourage the nation both to get more involved in photography, and to explore new ways to capture and keep life's most important moments.

Nigel McNaught, UK Director of the Photo Marketing Association says: 'From mobile phones to digital cameras, we've never taken more pictures at any other time in history. But, ironically, we print far fewer, meaning that we're in danger of losing a whole era of photographic records. The aim of National Photography Month is to reverse this trend so that traditions such as family photo-albums continue in their role recording vital personal histories - rather than becoming a thing of the past.'

To find out more about National Photography Month visit www.nationalphotographymonth.co.uk and to keep up to date with plans for the event check out www.facebook.com/nationalphotographymonth

Fujifilm’s space-saving photo printer, the Digital Photo Centre, has been re-badged and now bears the name Quick Print Station.

Originally launched in March of this year, the counter-top unit uses the ASK-300 thermal dye sublimation printer as its output device. It features an easy-to-use touch screen and a built-in digital media reader and with a tiny footprint of just 0.12m2, the Quick Print Station gives retailers the ideal opportunity to turn unused space into profit. Another handy feature is the ability to run up to four ASK 300 printers from the one terminal, this greatly adds to the productivity and flexibility of the system.

With Fujifilm’s IP 10 photo printer being discontinued, the Quick Print Station is a great way to break into the lucrative ID and passport photo market, at the same time giving retailers the chance to offer an instant, in store print service, with a choice of four popular sizes (6”x4”, 6”x8”, 5”x 3.5” and 5”x7”). It’s an economical option too – retailers can get as many as 400 6”x4” prints from each roll, significantly reducing the frequency of renewing paper and ink ribbon, with a 6”x4” image taking just 12 seconds to print.

The ASK-300 printer has a printing resolution of 300 dpi that gives sharp, professional quality results producing a continuous tone at 256 gradient for each of Y, M and C. The ASK-300 is a dye-sublimation printer that uses thermal transfer to achieve its stunning results. Its thermal transfer colour print technology produces superior high quality images producing a continuous tone at 256 gradient for each of Y, M, and C.
It is recommended that Fujifilm's 'Quality Thermal Photo Paper' is used with the unit. The paper builds on the company's silver halide heritage and is manufactured using a proprietary coating technology process that requires virtually no polluting organic solvents so is ecologically friendly. The paper also has reduced static which improves consumer handling of prints and reduces sticking.

Peter Wigington, Marketing Manager for Fujifilm Photo Imaging Group said: “The IP10 printer was designed solely to print passport and ID photos and was very good at that, but the Quick Print Station can print these photos as successfully and provide a great in-store instant print service at the same time.

“It’s perfect for a high street retailer looking for an opportunity to diversify into new and profitable areas and because it has a really small footprint it means it can fit on to most shops’ counter top space without displacing anything.”

The Fujifilm Quick Print Station is currently available through Swains International plc and Calumet. Contact Swains on 01485 536200, Calumet on 08706 030303 or Fujifilm Photo Imaging on 012354 217724 or via email: photoimaging@fuji.co.uk

Fujifilm has announced that it will launch the Astalift skincare range into the UK and Europe, from February 2012. Since its introduction in Japan four years ago, the Astalift range has earned high user acclaim in this country among women eager to maintain youthful looking skin.

As part of its efforts to expand the healthcare business, Fujifilm has initiated the worldwide introduction of skincare products, in which the company applies proprietary technologies. After introducing these products in China, 2010, the European market expansion is planned to start in 2012.

Fujifilm has always diversified using its specialised technical abilities, enabling growth in emerging markets to support its core business and remain committed to these markets, such as photo imaging.

Fujifilm's Astalift range is a comprehensive anti-ageing skincare brand, developed using cutting edge core technologies accumulated over many years of research and development of photosensitised materials. These distinctive technologies include the findings of its own collagen research, anti-oxidization technology and nano-technology.

Containing the skin-replenishing collagen and astaxanthin, an increasingly-popular skin conditioning agent approximately 1,000 times more powerful than the coenzyme Q10*, the Astalift products are set to revolutionise the UK market for those women searching for youthful looking skin that 'reveals its inner light'.

Fujifilm Digital Imaging Service (FDIS) has announced the winner of its recent Las Vegas promotion.

The lucky customer is Sylvia Lerner who picked up her winning scratch-card from Catch the Moment (the FDIS store in Bristol). Coincidentally, Sylvia had called into the shop to collect some ID photographs for her newly approved American citizenship - those pictures will certainly come in handy now!

Sylvia will be jetting-off to Las Vegas shortly on an all-expenses-paid trip-of-a-lifetime. Her prize includes flights, hotel and $1,000 in spending money.

Each store in the FDIS group received a point of sale package together with 1,000 scratch-cards that staff presented to customers. The scratch-cards offered up to 250 instant prizes of free prints, plus all cards were entered into the draw for the major prize - the week-long trip to Las Vegas.

Peter Wigington, Marketing Manager for Fujifilm Photo Imaging Group explained more: "I wrote to Sylvia to give her the good news and she actually thought my letter to her was a wind-up. She was understandably delighted when I reassured her she really had won! Fariba Matheison (owner of Catch The Moment) and her team really got behind the promotion and I'm sure the win will attract lots of local publicity for their business."

The Las Vegas competition was one of the regular promotions provided to FDIS by the marketing team. If you would like to know more about FDIS, email fisdigital@fuji.co.uk or call 01234 572107.

To see David Constantine's stunning street portraiture online or in his recently published book is a pleasure, but to see them in a gallery setting, beautifully printed, mounted and lit is a privilege. The prints come alive with the vivid colours almost leaping from the walls.

Most of David's work is shot in developing countries or places striving to recover from recent (or current) conflict. When asked his preferred location, he replies in an instant - "Afghanistan." People are the main subject of David's photography and, as these people are so indelibly shaped and influenced by their surroundings, the location is a vital factor, even though the background may seem superfluous on first viewing. The situations of David's work lend a timeless quality to his photographs.

Each face tells its own, often harrowing story, and David has a unique knack of capturing the spirit of his subjects, he explains his technique: "I think it's vital to engage with a subject and be as courteous as possible so I always take time to ask permission to take a photograph. As my Afghan isn't all it could be I find a smile helps break the ice. I often attract quite a crowd and try and become the focal point of the situation by placing myself between the subject and the onlookers."

His shooting style is a simple one: "I normally use a fixed 90mm lens on a Rolleiflex 6008e and frame the shot carefully, once I'm happy with my view I click. I much prefer using natural light to flash, it helps me connect more. As I shoot on film, I'm quite conservative with the number of shots I take (it's not easy buying 120 film in Kabul). Zoom lenses and digital capture obviously work for some people but they'd make me a lazy photographer - I like the discipline that shooting on film gives me and enjoy working within the parameters set by the film."

He continued: "I look after my film before and after shooting, photographers must remember they can never, ever recreate what they've just taken. I enjoy that feeling of capturing a moment - it's like freezing time."

David's recent exhibition, which ran at the View Art Gallery in Bristol, was printed by London pro-lab Bayeux. As he says, a photographer needs a good relationship with their lab: "My scans are a few years old, some were made 10 years ago, so they needed to be cleaned up. I spent two full days with Rick Pollard from Bayeux retouching them - it's incredible what a good Photoshop person can bring to an image, it's an art-form in itself. The team at Bayeux produced Digital C-type prints on Fujifilm's Crystal Archive paper. It was a complete revelation when I saw the finished work, they did such a good job and they made a huge contribution to the exhibition."

There are currently plans to bring the exhibition to a London gallery, possibly as a fund-raising tool for David's charity Motivation. Motivation helps people with disabilities in low-income countries by providing them with low-cost, appropriately designed wheelchairs. For more information on their work go to www.motivation.org.uk

To see David's work, go to www.sittingimages.co.uk and for more information on Bayeux's services visit www.bayeux.co.uk

Paul Henry from Fujifilm has been awarded the 'Salesman of the Year' title in the 7th annual Pixel Trade Awards.

The Pixel Trade Awards are voted for by people within the imaging industry and Paul received his prize at the recent awards dinner. Paul joined Fujifilm in March 2010 following a successful career as Equipment Specialist with Tudor Photographic. Paul is a well-known face within the retail sector and has been dealing with many leading high street outlets for most of his career.

Paul's current role within Fujifilm sees him continuing to successfully roll-out the company's range of dry minilabs within the independent sector.

Paul can be contacted via phenry@fuji.co.uk

Fujifilm has announced it has now sold 26 miles of Wunderbars, its revolutionary framing system for canvas prints.

Since their launch in October 2009 Wunderbars have become a firm favourite with both retailers and photographers who appreciate the unique self tensioning corner blocks that ensure the canvas never sags and that the print always remains taught. This exclusive system also allows the frame to contract and expand according to a room's temperature and humidity.

These self tensioning canvas bars are available direct from Fujifilm via the company's on-line shop - www.fujifilm-inkjet.co.uk - and to celebrate the completion of their first marathon they are now available with a 10% reduction off list price. Simply enter the promotion code 'wunder26m' in the checkout. This code will allow two purchases per customer and is valid until 18 December 2011.

Wunderbars are even easier to construct than standard stretchers. They are precision machined so there is no need to measure or constantly hit the frame with a mallet during stretching; the frame will always remain square. There is no requirement for complicated or overpriced stretching systems, machinery or devices, the only tool necessary is a staple gun.

Wunderbars are available in a number of different sizes and finishes so for more information go to www.wunderbars.com

Fujifilm has announced a major re-launch of its Instax range of instant cameras and accompanying films.

There are four cameras in the range - the Instax Mini 7S, the Instax Mini 25, the Instax Mini 50 and the Instax 210. Each 'Mini' camera produces wallet-sized 62mm x 46mm prints while the larger 210 model prints at 62mm x 99mm. Each print has a deep border to write on a personal message if required.

All models feature built-in, automatic flash that makes them ideal for night clubs, concerts and parties. The Mini 50S comes with a motor driven, two-position lens that allows the user to shoot close-up images. This model also features a self-timer that allows for two images to be taken with a single click, ideal for group shots.

Gabriel Da Costa, product manager from Fujifilm explained the move: "The market for instant photography has grown considerably in recent years and we felt the time was right to re-launch and re-brand our Instax range. Our main target area for Instax is 15-25 year old females and we will be taking out advertisements in relevant magazines to promote the range. We've also launched www.instax.co.uk together with a Facebook page to really help push instant photography."

He continued: "Camera phones and digital compacts have brought photography to new areas but nothing can match the thrill of an instant print. There's a whole generation who missed out on the 'golden age' of instant photography and we're confident that the Instax range will prove to be a big hit with today's tech-savvy youth. Instax cameras are the ideal addition to parties, weddings and days out and provide a lasting reminder in an instant."

Instax Mini film (for use in all the Instax mini cameras) comes in a handy cartridge, giving stunning-quality instant images that fit into a purse, wallet or mini photoframe.

Instax Wide Film (for the Instax 210) also comes in an easy-load cartridge and delivers superb quality instant images in a new 'landscape' format that's a refreshing change from the square picture shape long associated with instants.

Go to www.instax.co.uk for further information.

Fujifilm Professional has announced the 2012 Fujifilm Student Photography Awards is now open and accepting entries.

The theme for 2012 is 'Extreme' with students being briefed to capture the meaning of that word in a single image. As in previous years, all images must be originated on Fujifilm film stock, then scanned and submitted via www.fujifilmstudentawards.co.uk - the Awards are open to all students aged 16 or over undertaking full or part-time professional photographic training, or full or part-time graphic design training of which photography is a major part at a UK based college or university.

The key sponsor for the 2012 Awards is Metroprint, the online arm of Metro, the long-standing London pro-lab. Metroprint will provide the overall winner with a professionally produced portfolio together with a 12 month course of mentoring. Other prizes include £200 worth of Fujifilm film, a Trophy and the title 'Fujifilm Student Photographer of the Year 2012'. Up to 30 Merit runner-up winners will each receive 10 rolls of Fujifilm film and the college that supplies the most entries will collect a certificate and £200 worth of Fujifilm film.

One purpose of the Awards is to promote the benefits of shooting on film with students being encouraged to experiment with different emulsions - traditional black and white, black & white CN (C41 process), colour negative and colour transparency - to achieve different results.

Entry is free and there is no limit to the number of entries a student can submit. The closing date for the competition is 29 February 2012.

Further information is available from www.fujifilmstudentawards.co.uk

Fujifilm donated the canvas media used by Metro to produce a series of 14 Giclee canvas prints for The Elephant Family.

Steve Macleod, Metro's Creative Director, has been involved in the art direction of the final composition of the canvases from images of the original designs for the Jungle City exhibition in Edinburgh.

Elephant Family is the world's leading Asian elephant conservation charity. For more information, please visit: www.elephantfamily.org & www.jungle-city.org

Fujifilm Motion Picture has launched Exposure Online (www.fujifilmexposureonline.com)

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