Japan's Crisis and the Photography Industry

As I'm sure everyone is aware, Japan a grappling with a domino series of crises of incalculable proportions due to the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant explosion.  Thankfully so far, though still in heartbreaking numbers, the loss of lives has been far less than feared which is of greatest importance in our concerns. It's a shallow relief however as a huge worry is when and where hundreds of thousands of displaced evacuees will be settled - all this while exhaustive searches are still underway for thousands of missing victims. 

foto source: Reuters via Int'l Business Times

And of course, the next set of concerns are the radiation levels still being assessed post the nuclear reactor explosion; and the economic strain and certain domino effect of that, to Japan's manufacturing industries - which will most certainly affect global industries, not least of which will be for consumer electronics, technology, and photography/film industries. 

Adorama - one of America's reliable and lauded  importers of consumer and pro photo, video, and printing equipment recently released a report that thankfully  includes some good news of most companies including Nikon, Sony, Canon, and others reporting no loss of employee lives and minimal injuries.  But quite a few have harrowing reports of extensive damage to factories and equipment, and an inability to resume operations due to frequent power outages. 

NB. Links for retailers and manufacturers above relay to new or relief effort pages on their respective sites. 
 

foto source: the Nikon Blog

*
- Sony, Japan's largest exporter of consumer electronics has stopped operations in 10 factories. 

- Canon has suspended operations in 8 plants

foto source: Digital Photography Review: Canon Japan Tour

- Nikon's Sendai factory where D3X, D3S, and other popular pro slrs are produced has had to close due to damaged equipment

foto source: Amateur Photographer

- Epson has had to close two factories located nearby the Fukushima nuclear plant

- Sigma has halted operations at two plants due to power outages.

foto source: Photo Rumors

- Apple has also reported a halt in operations due to temporary shut down of their suppliers Mitsubishi and Toshiba (also see Toshiba's LCD Plant news just released on REUTERS). **  



How will this affect shooters? Well at the outset this will create shortages in supply, as there were also damages to freight ships just about to depart with equipment due for markets around the world. Of course the other fear is a rise in costs in an already expensive industry. 





Hundreds of millions of relief dollars have been donated to the government, and victims of Japan's earthquake disaster by Nikon, Apple, Canon, Epson, Sony, Panasonic, Ricoh, and a growing number of other technology, freight, airline, and entertainment industries. 


* 
See the full article with a more comprehensive report here on the Adorama News page.

See the first Adorama crisis report on here: Japan Photo Industry Disrupted by quake


**
See latest Apple report here: Apple Supply Chain Temporarily Affected by Japan Earthquake. 

"From Harm to Hope"

Unbelievable that this time last year the fundraising focus was on helping Haiti recover from devastation caused by the same seismic disturbance.  And like that crisis (and countless others worldwide in similar and different disasters or crises) there are a great number of organisations collecting donations to help.  

As I've done before here on this blog - I will post a link to one that I've supported time and again.  The IRC is an non-governmental organisation whose sole purpose is to work in rescue and resettlement missions to aid displaced victims of natural or political disasters.  That's ALL they do people!  They are of course setting up operations in Japan.  Check 'em out in your charitable considerations.

Or donate directly to the IRC Japan Rescue, Relief, and Resettlemnt missions HERE


Additional Sources for this post and Adorama article:  Reuters, TIPA, Amateur Photographer , San Francisco Chronicle, Optics, International Rescue Committee, Canon News, Nikon Blog, Industry Pulse News, and statements from numerous technology consumer and pro equipment manufacturers.

NB - if the format is mangled on the Facebook version of this post - hit 'View Original Post' for the um...original post. 

BIG PICTURE Fun on the Rock

So I just made my photographic debut in Denver this last Friday with the opening of the BIG PICTURE show in celebration of the Month of Photography. It's a cool idea really - where photography meets street art on a global scale, with a clever use of geotagging so all can attend - all conceptualized by the directors of ILLITERATE Media Gallery. 

Though I'm clearly not in Denver to see my work up (I do have spies on the look out tho - heehee) - I was excited to get Jamaica on the BIG PICTURE google map by posting work by Colorado artist Brenda Biondo - sent on from the gallery. 

It was also a great opportunity to get Studio 174 involved! It's a great community art space located @ 174 Harbour Street in downtown Kingston, and founded by Rozi Chung, where the creative potential of inner-city kids is unearthed, nurtured, and fully expressed in Saturday morning art workshops.



Rozi and I have been in conversation about creating outdoor projects specifically aligned with global outreach programs for kids, most specifically with CITYarts in New York (more on that in another post). Anyway this came along and Rozi was the best person to run to! Luckily volunteer clinical psychologist, Dr. Tammy Haynes was on site as well; both women were so excited and  accommodating in letting me treck my zerox prints and yucky wheat paste down there for the kids to put up our work outside on the studio walls.

 

 

  

 

 

Rozi Chung - founder of Studio 174

 

Rozi and Jason, also a one of the DIGICEL Mural Artists (see YardEdge)

Crude as the finish appears, I think it's cool, and it was a really a fun and fulfilling Saturday morning with those kids.  With just two moderately sized 16x20 prints and everyone getting their hands in on fitting the pieces and sticking - a smooth finish was not the point - at least not in the end - ha!  Participating in the exchange and showing the work was, and ohhhh yes, I'll have more please! Can't wait to see it up on the map. Stay tuned!

 

*Workshop fotos by Me and Dr. Tammy Haynes

**Studio 174's Rozi Chung, Dr. Tammy Haynes, and photographer Max Earle have cofounded INSCAPE. It is a non-profit organisation which evolved from an earlier collaborative endeavor known as the Tivoli Resolution Project), which helped traumatized young victims of the Tivoli incident last May (2010), through visual and performing art therapies. The mission of INSCAPE is to provide the space and resources to continue such work in the inner-city communities in Jamaica - free of charge to those in need. Please follow the links to learn more about them and how you can help.



Big Picture Works on Live View in Kingston on Harbour Street:

Plant With Roots © Brenda Biondo

Behind The Hidden Gate © SeBiArt

Big Picture Works on Live View in Denver:

CrowDeD - Maki © SeBiArt

Dragon's Lair © SeBiArt




View the BIG PICTURE Worldwide MAP

The Lady Lunches, and Lunches, and Lunches...

To supplement a wretched week of reality bites, I've been breaking up the madness with some sweet foodie pauses around town this week with some buddies. Just when I get to the edge and think its time to fly outta here - Kingston gets sweeter.

 

First Stop - Cafe El Centro @ 8 Hillcrest Avenue

We had quite the yummy seafood gumbo, sandwiches, tea, and cookies,

all for the sum total of about $12!! Run there!

 

 

Next stop, just downstairs - the newly opened Uncorked.  A godsend really, since I'd been complaining endlessly about not finding anywhere to get my cheeses.  Well they have quite the selection of wine and a yummy cheese list that extends BEYOND smoked gouda, goat cheese logs, and gruyere.  

 
 For those of you who tweet - you can follow them here:
http://twitter.com/uncorked_ja

 

 
So not that anything's wrong with those selections, but I was happier than a pig in shit to sup on my purchases of Cantalet, Mahon, and Comte - along with smoked Marlin, and other pairing goodies. Yum! Such discoveries continue to endanger my commitment to board a return flight to New York...eek!

 

Met up with my darling Karin (YardEdge) at Suzie's Bakery - a sweet cafe with good coffee, sinful pastries, sandwiches, and Mediterranean fair. 

 

There are two locations: one in Orchid Patch Plaza at 20 Barbican Road, and the other in shops 1 & 2 Southdale Plaza on South Avenue.

 


Just had a super creative meeting with my BFF Steve Urchin (Brand New Machine Global) - looking a bit funny in this shot, and talented sound engineer/composer, Sawandi, at Bookophilia - a sweet bookshop with yummy cupcakes, cookies, and a great reading selection from local and international authors.

 
 Located at 92 Hope Road, Suite 1

 
 You can also look 'em up on their Facebook group page
and fan page

 

 

After such treats I'm REALLY excited about the weekend.  

Loving my Jamaica. 

Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel