Photographer

Press Release:

New from Hasselblad: the Stainless Steel H4D-40 – as beautiful as it is strong

Copenhagen, November 26th 2010: In response to photographer requests after seeing the solid steel body around which all H4Ds are built at photokina, Hasselblad is now producing a limited run of 100 H4D-40 Stainless Steel cameras.

Revealing the solid stainless steel body that’s at the core of all H4D-40′s generated excitement among photographers not only because it demonstrated the camera’s core strength but also because of its unique look and appealing aesthetic. Now, for a limited time, photographers who want their camera to look as striking as their pictures, can purchase the H4D-40 Stainless Steel for 13,990 Euros (body only +tax) or 14,990 Euros (with HC 2.8/80mm lens +tax).

The award-winning H4D-40 features Hasselblad’s groundbreaking True Focus and Absolute Position Lock technology as well as the latest in extended functionality, including an electronic spirit level, previews in tethered mode, and a new graphical information display. With these advanced features, Hasselblad continues to develop the ultimate camera system for discerning photographers.

Press Release:

Hasselblad Announces Pricing and Shipping Date for the H4D Ferrari Limited Edition Camera

Copenhagen, November 26th 2010: First announced at photokina, and received with great enthusiasm from Hasselblad and Ferrari fans, the exclusive H4D Ferrari Edition camera is now available to purchase for 21,499 Euros (+tax). This brand new model is dedicated to the new generation of photographers looking for the ultimate image quality, and will be produced in 499 units. A winning combination, the Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Limited Edition camera will have appeal to Ferrari and Hasselblad fans who appreciate the innovation, quality and design that symbolize both brands.

The H4D Ferrari Limited Edition is finished in Ferrari’s unique color “rosso fuoco”, and bears the legendary Racing Shield. The camera, which comes with an 80mm lens, is presented in an exclusively designed and engineered box with a glass top equally labeled with the distinctive Ferrari Racing Shield. Dual layers, one for the camera, with the lens and accessories housed in a separate lower level, are lined with a soft and rich material. This striking case is housed in a special handmade case and therefore is ideal for both storage and display.

For more than 6 decades Ferrari as well as Hasselblad are renowned for technological innovative solutions, passion for excellence and an extraordinary sense of style. Based upon that mutual and absorbing passion, Ferrari and Hasselblad partner in the launch of this new generation of H4D cameras

Press Release:

Hasselblad expands its H4D line with the new H4D-31

Septemeber 2010: The H4D-31 – the perfect digital medium format alternative for 35mm DSLR photographers and for V-customers who are ready to transition to digital

Following the enthusiasm with which the H4D-40 has been embraced, Hasselblad was inspired to offer photographers the H4D-31, bringing the ultimate in image quality to high end 35mm DSLR photographers who want to step up to medium format. At the same time, Hasselblad wanted to offer its V-System customers a digital alternative by bundling the H4D-31 with a CF-lens adapter for mounting V-System lenses.

The H4D-31 delivers the same superior image quality that is the hallmark of the Hasselblad name. Thanks, in part, to the combination of its low noise color filters, Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), with its single color profile, and exquisite performance of the HC/HCD line of lenses, the H4D-31 provides color accuracy, excellent detail and clarity – everything you’d expect from a Hasselblad camera and more.

Equipped with the same advanced technology as the H4D-40, the H4D-31, features Hasselblad’s True Focus, which provides focusing accuracy throughout the image field – even at close range with shallow depth-of-field. Hasselblad’s innovative use of yaw rate sensor technology solves the challenge of having to focus and recompose in order to acquire a focus point outside the center area of multi-point AF systems. True Focus ensures that photographers quickly and accurately achieve the desired focus at any point.

Currently shipping, the H4D-31 is available in two configurations, both with the latest version of Hasselblad’s Phocus 2.6 software. The first, designed for high end 35mm DSLR photographers comes bundled with an 80mm lens. The other offers a digital medium format solution for V-System users by bundling the H4D-31 with a CF-lens adapter. Both options are priced at 9,995 Euro (+tax).

Press Release:

Hasselblad Introduces New Digital Back for V-System Cameras

Septemeber 2010: V-System users now have an additional option for turning their cameras into a powerful digital capture device with the new 50 megapixel CFV-50.

Transitioning from film to digital imaging is easy for V-System users thanks to the introduction of the CFV-50 – a 50 megapixel back with a sensor that is twice the size of the best 35mm full-frame DSLRs on the market today. The CFV-50 marks the third digital solution for the V-System community, building
upon the successful releases of the CFV-16 and the CFV-39.

In order to ensure an almost seamless conversion to digital, the CFV-50 was custom built to match the design and functionality of the V-cameras. Compatible with virtually all existing V-cameras, including the 202FA/203FE/205FCC models, the CFV-50 offers cable-free operation and optimized integration between back, body and lens.

While easy to use, the CFV-50 offers a number of advanced features including Hasselblad’s DAC lens correction technology for most of the V-System Carl Zeiss lenses. DAC completely corrects for distortion, lateral chromatic aberration and vignetting in exactly the same way as it does for the H-System lenses. Additionally, the CFV-50 takes advantage of the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, which uses one generic profile and, therefore, delivers accurate colors straight out of the box. The digital back offers flexibility as well, with square and horizontal format options.

Optimum portability and image storage are critical for the professional photographer. The Hasselblad CFV-50 offers a choice of CF card storage or tethered operation. With these operating and storage options, the photographer is able to select a mode that suits the nature of the work at hand, whether in the studio or on location.

The CFV-50 is available for 11,990 Euro (+tax). For more information and the opportunity to see the back in action, please visit the Hasselblad booth in Hall 2.1, Aisle A, Booth 021.

Press Release:

Hasselblad announces new Phocus updates and exciting new Phocus standalone options

Septemeber 2010: With the introduction of Phocus version 2.6, Phocus Quick and Phocus Mobile, Hasselblad expands its powerful but easy-to-use software and offers applications to meet the various needs of photographers.

Software is critical to every workflow and, therefore, Hasselblad has developed new tools and applications to provide users with more easy and efficient workflow solutions. Hasselblad also realizes that the working conditions – and needs – of photographers fluctuate. Having a trio of Phocus products, each catering to a different need, offers photographers the flexibility of choice.

Phocus 2.6

The first of these is an update to its powerful, but easy-to-use, Phocus software. Version 2.6 offers improvements that expand the application’s capabilities and speed workflow. Available in the fourth quarter of 2010 for Mac and Windows platforms, Phocus 2.6 now offers the following features:

Dust Removal Tool:
The Dust Removal tool is designed to quickly remove pesky dust spots caused by dust particles on the sensor. This new tool can be utilized to clean up images individually or in combination with the Modify tool for batch processing, thereby saving time when retouching images.

Star Rating and Filtering:
Rating of images was previously only available via the IPTC core menu as numbers or via the camera integrated 3-color Instant Approval Level system. Now, in addition to the numerical and color-coded rating system, Phocus 2.6 allows users to rate, sort and filter images via star ratings from 0-5 stars.
The star rating system can be used in any view mode including Thumbnail mode, Viewer mode or when a group of images is selected. Once images are rated, they can be quickly sorted by star rating with the corresponding filter in the thumbnail bar.

Import/Export of Image Adjustments:
If you, like most photographers, have specific sets of image adjustments that you use over and over again, you can share those adjustments with other members of your team or, better yet, take them with you so you have them whether you’re on location or using rented equipment. With this photographer is also able to use his or her personal adjustments, keywords, layouts, etc. between different other Phocus workstations. This feature also keeps the latest version of Phocus in alignment with the MyPhocus concept that has previously brought options for importing and exporting keywords as well as user layouts to its many users.

Windows support of TIFF and JPEG files:
Like the Mac version, the Windows version of Phocus 2.6 now supports TIFF and JPEG files. With this additional file support, Phocus can take on a broader role in photographers’ workflows.

Windows Support of 3rd Party RAW Files:
In response to customer demands and to bring the Windows version of Phocus in line with the Mac version, Hasselblad is currently developing a solution for 3rd party RAW file support for Windows users.

Phocus 2.6 will be demonstrated at the Hasselblad booth during Photokina and will be available for free download from www.hasselblad.com during the fourth quarter of 2010.

 
Phocus Mobile:

In keeping with the latest technology, Hasselblad has developed a mobile version of Phocus. Available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Phocus Mobile offers the option of connecting wirelessly to a computer running Phocus 2.6 and allow users to remotely browse, zoom and rate images – perfect for working with clients in the studio since each person can view images on an electronic device rather than gathering around a single computer.

Phocus Mobile also allows users to remotely operate and trigger a tethered camera, providing control of exposure mode, f/stop, shutter speed, ISO, metering mode and other important capture information, all presented on a virtual camera display. Remote controlling the camera is particularly useful when the camera is located in a difficult-to-access position.

Phocus Mobile is expected to be available for free download at the Apple App store in the fourth quarter of 2010. Meanwhile, visit the Hasselblad booth for a live demonstration.

With these multiple iterations of Phocus, Hasselblad now has a software application to truly meet the various needs of photographers.

Additional images

Hasselblad 202FA with digital back CFV-50	Limited H4D Ferrari Edition with Racing Shield

The H4D-31 medium format camera ships in two configurations bundled either with the 80mm lens or CF-lens adapter to connect V-system lenses. Both are priced at €9,995.

11.05.2010: In addition to a range of new photographer-oriented features, Phocus 2.5 for Apple computers allows users to import RAW files from more than 150 DSLR cameras, and features support for most standard image file formats, making Phocus more flexible and powerful than ever before.

Hasselblad today announced the release of Phocus 2.5 for Mac, breaking new ground by adding RAW support for more than 150 third party digital cameras, including cameras from Canon, Nikon, Leica, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, and more, as well as support for the most common file formats such as TIFF, JPEG, DNG, and PNG. This added file support results in a single, comprehensive – and free – solution that will enable all Hasselblad photographers to streamline their work process by working with both Hasselblad images and those captured with their 35mm DSLRs in one and the same application. Phocus 2.5 also contains a number of new and exciting features that improve workflow and image quality, in addition to further enhancing Phocus’s open environment by enabling the photographer to share keywords from Aperture and Lightroom. Photographers who use Leaf digital backs also benefit from this upgrade, with the inclusion of RAW support for Leaf digital backs.

“This new version of the software is perfectly in line with our overall ambition of providing the most seamless, photographer oriented tools possible,” says Peter Stig, Product Director at Hasselblad. “Most high-end shooters work with a range of cameras, some Medium Format, some 35mm, depending on the challenges of the job at hand. Phocus 2.5 allows Mac users to stay in the same familiar and powerful Phocus environment, regardless of what type of camera the files come from. In addition,” he continues, ” the support for Leaf backs gives photographers the ability to accurately evaluate the benefits of moving towards an integrated Hasselblad product, such as one of our new medium format DSLRs H4D-40, H4D-50 or H4D-60.”

The key to Phocus 2.5′s file support capabilities is a clever use of Apple’s OS X, as Peter Stig explains: “The new Phocus 2.5 architecture has been tailored to use the imaging engine of Apple’s OS X operating system and takes full advantage of OS X’s support for a wide range of digital cameras, allowing us to support this range of non-Hasselblad files. Support for additional cameras will come with each new version of OS X. Tethered capture is not supported.”

“In addition,” says Peter Stig, “for 35mm DSLR shooters considering the move up to Medium Format, Phocus 2.5 for Mac provides a great opportunity to get acquainted with the Hasselblad world of Medium Format photography and image processing, including workflow options with browsing, adjusting and processing 35mm RAW image files.”

Maintaining the strengths of Phocus 2.0, the new release allows current Phocus users to seamlessly transition to version 2.5, with no learning curve. For those previously unfamiliar with Phocus, switching to the “lite” mode provides a user-friendly and streamlined interface that still provides access to the most important core features such as browsing, and the new full quality printing and slideshow creation options.

“With the launch of Phocus 2.5,” Peter Stig concludes, “Hasselblad continues to deliver upon its commitment to provide the world’s best camera systems to the world’s most demanding photographers.”

Copenhagen, February 2nd 2010: The announcement of Hasselblad’s H4D line of cameras and True Focus technology heralded the beginning of a new chapter in the history of medium format DSLRs. Now, with the launch of the H4D-40, Hasselblad is announcing its intent to bring the advantages of Medium Format DSLRs to high-end 35mm photographers.

The announcement of Hasselblad’s H4D line of cameras and True Focus technology heralded the beginning of a new chapter in the history of medium format DSLRs. Now, with the launch of the H4D-40, Hasselblad is announcing its intent to bring the advantages of Medium Format DSLRs to high-end 35mm photographers.

“Most high-end photographers understand the advantages that a Medium Format system has over smaller formats,” explains Hasselblad CEO Larry Hansen, “but many younger photographers have never been exposed to larger format photography. Most everyone in the photographic world is aware, for example, of the dramatic developments that have taken place in the 35mm in recent years,” he continues, “but there many of the younger generation of shooters are not aware of the fact that Medium Format DSLRs have evolved equally dramatically, maintaining – and even in some cases increasing – the quality gap that has historically existed between small format and larger format systems.”

“The fact that our large sensors have millions of pixels more than 35mm sensors is known, for instance,” Hansen continues, “but the superior image quality that results, in terms of color, detail, and clarity, is not as well known. Likewise, many photographers are not aware of the fact that the larger format of the H System cameras provides a considerably shallower depth of field range, making it much easier to utilize selective focus to creative effect.

When combined with True Focus, this opens enormous creative possibilities and technical accuracy. Add to this the modularity of the H4D-40 with its choice of bright image viewfinders and an extensive accessories program, and you get a feature set that makes a Hasselblad system, today, more than ever, a crucial component of any professional photographic toolbox.”

Features such as new low noise color filters of the H4D-40’s sensor and the high performance HC/HCD lens line, provide the basis for increased clarity and increased depth of field. The Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS) achieves consistent color reproduction using a single color profile, and Press Release Copenhagen, February 2nd 2010 Hasselblad brings Medium Format DSLR advantages to new generation of photographers with new H4D-40 camera. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE page 2/3 digital lens correction (DAC), perfects each image captured through the HC/HCD lenses, by removing any trace of distortion, vignetting, or chromatic aberrations.

The H4D also comes bundled with Hasselblad’s new Phocus 2.0 imaging software, featuring a dramatically reduced learning curve, enabling the average photographer to be up to speed in less than 30 minutes, and a feature set that matches the industry standards defined by Adobe and Apple.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce the introduction of the H4D-40,” continues Hansen, “and look forward to welcoming a new generation of 35mm photographers as they step up to a higher level of image quality and begin to explore the creative possibilities provided by a Hasselblad system. With the H4D-40, photographers get a camera that is as easy to use – or even easier – than a high-end 35mm DSLR, but that comes with the famed Hasselblad image quality – larger lenses and sensors, more advanced optics, increased resolution and clarity, and all the other benefits of Hasselblad’s Medium Format DSLRs.”

“For over half a century,” Hansen concludes, “Hasselblad cameras have been the choice of the most discerning professionals and the reason for that loyalty has not changed – at Hasselblad, image quality always comes first. We will continue to pursue image quality perfection and will continue to provide the ultimate imaging tools for any application where image quality is important. And in the upcoming months we will do our best to see that as many 35mm photographers as possible get the opportunity to try these amazing products for themselves.”

Hasselblad is launching the H4D-40 worldwide via a series of dealer demonstrations and events in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The H4D-40 starts at 13,995 Euro / 19.995 USD / 12.995 GBP for camera body, viewfinder, and 80mm lens, and is available for immediate shipping. For dates and times of regional or local launch events, or to learn more about the advantages of the Hasselblad system, log on to www.hasselblad.com

True Focus: Delivering accurate composing at close distance with shallow depth-of-field
True Focus helps solve one of the most lingering challenges in professional photography, true, accurate focusing throughout the image field when working with shallow depth-of-field at closer range. Without multi-point auto-focus a typical auto-focus camera can only correctly measure focus on a subject that is in the center of the image. When a photographer wants to focus on a subject outside the center area, they have to lock focus on the subject and then re-compose the image.

In short distances, this re-composing causes focus error, as the plane of focus sharpness follows the camera’s movement, perpendicular to the axis of the lens. The traditional solution for most DSLRs has been to equip the camera with a multi-point AF sensor. These sensors allow the photographer to fix an off-center focus point on an off-center subject, which is then focused correctly, but such multi-point AF solutions are often tedious and inflexible to work with and do not really solve the problem.

To overcome this problem, Hasselblad has used modern yaw rate sensor technology to measure angular velocity in an innovative way. The result is the new Absolute Position Lock (APL) processor, which forms the foundation of Hasselblad’s True Focus feature.

September, 2009: With the release of the new H4D-60, the first H4D camera and most recent addition to the Hasselblad H System, Hasselblad marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of medium format DSLRs. The H4D-60 will feature True Focus with APL (Absolute Position Lock), making auto-focus substantially easier and more accurate for photography professionals.

As part of the celebration honoring the first manned lunar landing and the first lunar photography, camera manufacturer Hasselblad is announcing another first, the launch of the H4D camera series. The first model in the new series is the H4D-60, featuring a 60 Megapixel medium format sensor.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce the introduction of the H4D,” says Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad. “This step represents the natural evolution of our H System and of our photographic strategy in general. As part of our efforts to inspire 35mm photographers to step up to the quality found in high-end DSLRs, the H4D series is built upon the successful H3D platform and features our revolutionary True Focus technology. The H4D also comes bundled with our new Phocus 2.0 imaging software.”

True Focus and Absolute Position Lock
“True Focus helps solve one of the most lingering challenges that faces serious photographers today,” he continues, “true, accurate focusing throughout the image field. Without multi-point auto-focus a typical auto-focus camera can only correctly measure focus on a subject that is in the center of the image. When a photographer wants to focus on a subject outside the center area, they have to lock focus on the subject and then re-compose the image. In short distances especially, this re-composing causes focus error, as the plane of focus sharpness follows the camera’s movement, perpendicular to the axis of the lens.”

The traditional solution for most DSLRs has been to equip the camera with a multi-point AF sensor. These sensors allow the photographer to fix an off-center focus point on an off-center subject, which is then focused correctly. Such multi-point AF solutions are often tedious and inflexible to work with, however, and do not really solve the problem, claims Poulsen.

“Photographers have grown accustomed to using auto-focus systems in their day to day work and we see increasingly higher numbers of focus points advertised in each new wave of AF products. The term ‘multi-point auto-focus’ is a bit misleading, however, for cameras with sensors larger than APS,” claims Poulsen. “Due to the physics of an SLR-camera, the off-center focus points that are offered are all clustered relatively close to the center of the image. To set focus outside of this center area, the photographer is still forced to focus first, and then shift the camera to reframe, with the resulting loss of focus as a result.

To overcome this problem, Hasselblad has used modern yaw rate sensor technology to measure angular velocity in an innovative way. The result is the new Absolute Position Lock (APL) processor, which forms the foundation of Hasselblad’s True Focus feature. The APL processor accurately logs camera movement during any re-composing, then uses these exact measurements to calculate the necessary focus adjustment, and issues the proper commands to the lens’s focus motor so it can compensate. The APL processor computes the advanced positional algorithms and carries out the required focus corrections at such rapid speed that no shutter lag occurs. The H4D’s firmware then further perfects the focus using the precise data retrieval system found on all HC/HCD lenses.

“This technology takes AF to an entirely new level, correcting for the vertical and horizontal focus-shift that results from the rotation of the camera around an axis close to camera,” says Poulsen, “In simple terms, True Focus allows the photographer to concentrate on their composition, to focus on their creativity, while True Focus takes care of the other, more mechanical focus.”

True Focus on the H4D can be set to work at a half press of the camera release button, or via any user button programmed to AF-drive when the camera is in manual focus mode. This, the first release of True Focus, only corrects the horizontal and vertical positioning of the camera, and does not correct for any focus-shift which results from larger lateral movements of the camera during recomposing. The True Focus technology and APL (both patent pending) mark a significant milestone for Hasselblad’s high-end DSLR strategy and represent the result of many years of development work.

Faster Software, Shorter Learning Curve
The new user interface in Phocus 2.0 drastically reduces the learning curve for high-end imaging. The average photographer will be up to speed in less than 15 minutes, claims Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen. Functionality has not been lowered, however, with Phocus 2.0 matching or bettering the speed, functions, and usability found in Lightroom, Aperture, and Capture One.

“We’ve increased speed, increased functionality, and dramatically increased the speed at which photographers can learn to use this advanced software,” says Poulsen. “In less than 5 minutes an amateur photographer can learn to work with our images. In less than 10 minutes, learn how to setup for production of high-res files for Photoshop. In less than 20 minutes learn how to shoot tethered as a professional studio photographer. The new version of Phocus is just another step in our efforts to make complex functionality simple to use, allowing photographers to focus on their shooting.”

This philosophy lies behind a range of the features found in the H4D, including Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), which achieves consistent color reproduction using a single color profile, and digital lens correction (DAC) which perfects each image captured through the HC/HCD lenses, by removing any trace of distortion, vignetting or chromatic aberrations. It was also the key motivation for what will surely be the most attractive feature in the new H4D, Hasselblad True Focus, explains Poulsen.

Press Release:

Hasselblad Debuts CFV-39 Digital Back

New Back Turns V System Cameras into Digital Workhorses

June 2009: The new Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back, custom built to match the design and functionality of Hasselblad V cameras, turns every V camera into an easy-to-use digital workhorse.

The 39-megapixel back, with a sensor twice the size of premier DSLRs, features two capture modes and a new digital lens correction technology for Carl Zeiss lenses, powered by Mac- and Windows-compatible Phocus image processing software.

“Quickly and easily, the Hasselblad CFV-39 can transform a V System film camera into a high-performance digital camera,” says product manager Peter Stig. “Just snap on a charged battery, insert a CF card, add the back, and you’re ready to shoot.”

Among the CFV-39’s features and capabilities:

• The Hasselblad Natural Color Solution offers a generic profile that delivers true colors right out of the box.
• All V System cameras operate cable-free. The 202 FA, 203 FE, and 205 FCC are fully supported. Other 200 and 2000 series models can be used with C-type lenses only.
• All F and FE lenses work seamlessly with the CFV-39 using 202FA, 203FE and 205TCC/FCC (camera requires slight modification).
• There are two selectable image formats: square (29 megapixel, 5412×5412) and rectangular (39 megapixel, 5412×7212 pixels).
• The sensor is 100 percent larger than a full-frame 35mm DSLR sensor.
• Image storage options include using a CF card for untethered operation or computer hard drive for tethered operation.
• A Hasselblad raw file format, 3F RAW (3FR), ensure that images captured with Hasselblad digital products are quickly, effectively, and safely stored on the available media.
• The 3FR files can be opened directly in Adobe Photoshop CS4, in Aperture on Mac OS-X, and converted directly into Adobe’s DNG (Digital NeGative).
• Hasselblad image files carry a full set of metadata, including capture conditions, keywords and copyright, facilitating image asset management solutions.
• Fits traditional view cameras: with the V camera interface plate for mechanical attachment and the flash sync connection to trigger digital capture.
• Capture rate of 1.4 sec per capture with 39 captures per minute.
• ISO speeds range from 50 to 800.
• H camera owners can gain full access to V lens DAC correction by using the CF lens adapter.

“The Hasselblad CFV-39 brings an ultra-high level of integration, flexibility, and image quality to the professional photographer who needs the best for mobile and studio shooting,” says Peter Stig.

Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back specifications

Hasselblad Launches the H3D-31, the high-end DSLR camera system of choice for the professional mobile photographer

Hasselblad today extends the appeal of its outstanding H3D DSLR camera system to a new professional photographic audience with the launch of the Hasselblad H3D-31, the 31 megapixel version of the H3D-39, the world’s first 48mm full-frame DSLR camera system. Featuring near full-frame capture, the H3D-31 uses a 44×33mm sensor enhanced with micro-lenses to boost ISO rating one stop to a new maximum of ISO 800. The system’s new high-speed capture architecture, which is common to all H3D models and enables the fastest possible operation, also gives the H3D-31 an impressive capture rate of 1.2 seconds per image in either mobile or tethered mode. These features give the H3D-31 the highest burst rate of the H3D family and make it the camera of choice for the professional mobile photographer.

Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad comments: “To date, we’ve introduced the H3D-39 and H3D-22 and, in doing so, have set new standards in image quality and lens performance for digital SLR cameras. Offering a full-frame, 48x36mm sensor and unique features, such as Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution, Digital Auto Correction and Instant Approval Architecture, the H3D-39 and H3D-22 deliver unsurpassed image quality, including moiré-free color rendering, and have become the cameras that professional commercial photographers aspire to.

With the introduction of the H3D-31, we’re now looking to address the needs of professional mobile photographers, whose work may encompass shooting a variety of subjects on location, but who still want the image quality that high-end 35mm DSLRs don’t offer. We’re confident that the H3D-31’s additional photographic flexibility, including its faster ISO rating and faster capture rate, will make it a very attractive proposition for the professional mobile photographer.”
Developed around a brand new digital camera engine, the H3D takes lens performance and image sharpness to new levels. By focusing solely on digital camera architecture, Hasselblad is able to offer photographers the full benefits of professional medium-format digital cameras as well as the ease of use of the best 35mm DSLRs. When compared with high-end 35mm DSLRs, the H3D delivers unmatched pixel resolution, better colors and detail rendering and a new choice of viewfinders for creative image composition. The H3D-22 and its nearly double-resolution H3D-39 counterpart are both full frame 48mm DSLR’s using the sensor format 36×48mm. These cameras operate up to ISO400 with a capture speed of up to 1.4 seconds per capture. The H3D-22 and H3D-39 are the preferred choice of professional commercial photographers.

The H3D design has also made possible the launch of a completely new 28mm lens, designed and optimized solely for digital image capture. Image quality is lifted to a level, yet unseen in digital photography, including digital correction for color aberration and distortion (see the image quality at www.hasselblad.com/products/hasselblad-star-quality ). The result is flexibility for the professional photographer, including the freedom to choose between eye-level and waist-level viewfinders, digitally APO corrected lenses, and on-the-fly classification of images. The H3D offers photographers the freedom to work with film to allow shooting under extreme conditions, and Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution delivers out-of-the-box image quality only achievable in a true digital camera system.

With a new, fully digital strategy, Hasselblad sets new benchmark in high-end DSLR camera systems for professional photographers.

Hasselblad is today firmly positioning itself as the pre-eminent provider of high-end digital cameras with the launch of the Hasselblad H3D, the world’s first 48mm full-frame DSLR camera system.  The H3D is the result of Hasselblad’s strategy of taking photographic flexibility and image quality to new levels, as yet unseen in any competing product.  When compared with high-end 35mm DSLRs, the H3D delivers unmatched pixel resolution, better colors and detail rendering and a new choice of viewfinders for creative image composition.  In comparison with digital backs, the H3D delivers image quality with a higher level of detail and true sharpness thanks to Hasselblad’s Digital APO Correction (DAC) and the advances of its new Ultra-Focus functionality.  The H3D’s full-frame concept offers unique control of image composition and with its new 28mm lens, the H3D allows photographers for the first time ever to take wide angle shots on a 36 x 48mm sensor.

Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad comments: “The digital revolution prompted many professional photographers to adopt high-end 35mm DSLRs as their back-up or even their main camera.  But as the most demanding photographers have become acquainted with the technology, the feedback we’ve had indicates that high-end 35mm often doesn’t offer the required image quality.  Many photographers also miss the high-end camera system’s additional photographic flexibility that is beyond the physical parameters of the high-end 35mm DSLR, which was originally designed for ultra-fast shooting environments.  Hasselblad has been deluged by requests from traditional camera back buyers for true wide angle photography and extended image quality.  We’re confident that in the H3D, a logical evolution of the H1D and H2D, professional photographers will find the complete photographic solution for these needs.  What Victor Hasselblad managed to develop with the classic V camera system, the H3D now extends into the digital age.”

Size matters

The H3D is currently available in two models, the Hasselblad H3D-22 and the Hasselblad H3D-39, offering image capture with a resolution of either 22 or an unsurpassed 39 megapixels on the largest image sensor currently available in digital photography – more than twice the size of a high-end 35mm camera sensor.  The system’s viewfinders and extra large and bright lenses enable extremely precise compositions and easy operation in dim lighting.

Ultra-Focus and Digital APO Correction boost lens performance

The H3D is built around a brand new digital camera engine, providing a new standard of image sharpness, ‘Ultra-Focus’.  In the H3D camera, information about lens and exact capture conditions are fed into the digital camera engine for ultra-fine-tuning of the auto-focus mechanism, taking into account the design of the lens and the optical specification of the sensor.  By then adding Digital APO Correction (DAC) – digital, APO-chromatic correction of the color aberration and distortion in the images – Hasselblad raises the performance of the full HC lens range to a new level of sharpness and resolution and, with perfect pixel definition, optimizes the basis for image rendering.

World’s first 28mm wide angle lens for 48mm DSLR camera systems

Hasselblad has designed a new 28mm wide angle lens especially for the H3D.  To achieve the necessary optical performance, the Hasselblad lens designers have taken full advantage of the Ultra-Focus and DAC functionality to ensure that outstanding images are produced by this extraordinary lens.  Photographers who work with the H3D and the HCD 28mm lens will be amazed by the full-frame composition and unmatched wide angle image quality.

New waist-level viewfinder

Taking the V System’s lead, Hasselblad is launching an interchangeable, waist-level viewfinder for the H system cameras.  The new waist-level viewfinder is a superb composition tool that allows the photographer to maintain direct eye contact with the model throughout the shoot, particularly important for fashion and people shoots.  The H3D thus offers a choice of viewfinders – eye- or waist-level – an important flexibility for the professional photographer.

Hasselblad Star Quality

To define the core parameters of optimal image quality, Hasselblad is introducing its Hasselblad Star Quality standard. Traditionally, resolution or the number of pixels on the sensor has been perceived as the most important quality factor in digital photography, but in fact other parameters have similar or even greater impact – sharpness, the definition of small details, color and low noise.  Hasselblad has spent the last two years developing the underlying technology to optimize these parameters:

Resolution:    – State of the art 39 megapixels
Sharpness:    – Ultra-Focus and DAC
Small details: – Single shot interpolation
Color:           – Hasselblad Natural Color Solution
Low noise:     – Digital noise reduction
With the introduction of the H3D, Hasselblad has produced a camera system that can deliver the highest image quality to date.

Photographic Flexibility

To allow the photographer to shoot the most creative and best composed images, the H3D has also been developed for maximum flexibility:

Viewfinder flexibility:          – The system offers a choice of viewfinders for image composition and is compatible with Hasselblad’s standard H System lenses and the new 28mm digital HCD lens.
Tilt and Shift flexibility:       – The digital capture unit can be used on a view camera with tilt and shift functionality.
Storage flexibility:             – The H3D also gives the professional photographer three options for image storage: on a CF card, to a Hasselblad Image Bank (a 100GB drive with a write speed of up to 60MB/sec) via FireWire, or the tethered operation with extended, special capture controls.
Film flexibility:                  – In exceptional circumstances, such as extreme heat or cold or extremely long or short exposure times, it is also possible to switch to film.

With these operating and storage options, the photographer is able to select a mode to suit their work, whatever the nature and whether in the studio or on location. 

Christian Poulsen concludes: “It has been a major achievement for Hasselblad to have implemented its new, fully digital strategy.  We are confident that the H3D, the first product resulting from the new strategy, will set new standards for digital photography, even when compared with the best 35mm DSLR cameras and digital backs.  In pursuance of our objectives, we will continue to focus on bringing to market digital products that offer flexibility and the best possible image quality, and on working with existing and new Hasselblad users to help them take full advantage of the potential that digital technology holds for them, both creatively and commercially.”

The new H3D is available immediately worldwide through Hasselblad’s national subsidiaries and channel partners at retail prices to be announced at Photokina.

The promotion, geared toward children ages 2-12 and their caregivers, will take place throughout October and will be directed toward World Animal Day on Sunday, Oct. 4. Three of the five zoo events will lead off with a hands-on workshop with National Geographic photographers, who will introduce the children to photography and send them “on assignment” to observe animals at the zoo. All five zoo events will include enrichment activities with the zoo animals and their keepers. Kids will be encouraged to visit the craft zone to make masks and other take-home projects, sit in on book readings and watch special screenings of “Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies” and “Toot & Puddle.” The events will conclude with a parade and cupcake ceremony celebrating all of the zoo animal friends.

“We’re excited to be back in the zoos this fall to celebrate our second annual World Animal Day promotion,” said Darren Metzger, director, franchise marketing, NGKE. “It’s the perfect partnership, as it fulfills our goal at National Geographic to excite kids to explore their world, while zoos can take advantage of the great National Geographic Kids Entertainment properties to promote their education and conservation efforts to their local communities. It’s entertaining and educational and it encourages children to take a proactive role in caring for their world.”

The scheduled events are:
-Oct. 3: Roger Williams Park Zoo (Providence, R.I.), with photographer Darlyne Murawski
-Oct. 3: Valley Zoo (Edmonton, Alberta), with photographer Ian Nichols
-Oct. 3-4: Calgary Zoo
-Oct 4 Toronto Zoo, with photographer Ian Nichols
-Oct. 25-26: Phoenix Zoo

“Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies” currently airs in the United States on PBS Kids! and in Canada on TVO, TFO and Knowledge Network. “Toot & Puddle” airs in the United States on Nick Jr. (formerly Noggin) and in Canada on TVO and TFO.
“Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies” stars Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”) as the voice of Mama Mirabelle. The weekly half-hour show introduces preschoolers to the animal kingdom through stunning wildlife footage from the National Geographic archive and helps kids learn about themselves and the world around them. Visit www.mamamirabelle.com for interactive games, videos, coloring pages and postcards. Episodes from season one are now available on DVD at stores where videos are sold and on iTunes. Series companion books are available online and at area bookstores. A new line of plush, figurines and puzzles are now available for the holiday season and available at www.shop.nationalgeographic.com.

“Toot & Puddle” encourages exploration and adventure, both at home and afar, by piquing kids’ natural curiosity about the world around them. Based on the best-selling book series by author Holly Hobbie, “Toot & Puddle” is the heart-warming story of two best friends from Pocket Hollow, who find adventure wherever they go. Series companion books are available online and at area bookstores. For more about “Toot & Puddle,” visit www.tootandpuddle.com.

English-language-edition readers in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom are eligible to enter up to a total of six photographs across three categories: People, Places and Nature. Entries should be submitted electronically to www.ngphotocontest.com. The contest began Wednesday, Aug. 5, and ends Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). Photos can be black-and-white or color, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film, and must be submitted digitally. Each entry consists of an entry form, a single image and an entry fee. The entry fee is U.S. $12 per photo for entries received before 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2009, and $22 per photo for entries received between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31. For details and official contest rules, visit www.ngphotocontest.com. Void where prohibited.

English-language-edition entries will be judged at National Geographic headquarters by a panel of three judges: National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen; design editor of the international editions of National Geographic magazine Darren Smith; and White House photo editor Jenn Poggi. First-place category winners of the English-language-edition competition will win a digital camera kit.

The participating international local-language editions will submit their winning entries in each category to National Geographic headquarters to be judged alongside the winning English-language entries by Thiessen, Smith and Poggi. The judges will announce three international grand-prize winners in December 2009.

“We are thrilled to continue our annual photography contest,” said David Griffin, National Geographic’s director of photography. “The work we have been seeing in recent years is truly astounding and speaks to the truth that photography is a worldwide, universal language — one that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.”

The promotion, geared toward young children and their caregivers, will take place in late September and early to mid-October, directed toward World Animal Day on Saturday, Oct. 4. Each zoo event will lead off with “Photo Safari Camp,” a hands-on workshop with award-winning National Geographic photographers, which will introduce young children to photography and send them “on assignment” with a Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera to observe Mama Mirabelle’s animal friends at the zoo. The photo camp will be followed by premiere screenings of “Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies”; a 30-minute movement program presented by My Gym, with animal themes and music rhythms from around the world; art projects; and a birthday celebration hosted by Hefty Zoo Pals, with a birthday cake and sing-along.

“At National Geographic, we’re always looking for fun, interesting ways to connect to new audiences and like-minded partners. The Mama Mirabelle World Animal Day promotion is a great way to get kids outdoors, exploring their natural world, an idea that’s central to the ‘Mama Mirabelle’ program,” said Darren Metzger, director, franchise marketing, for National Geographic Kids Entertainment.

Scheduled events include:

• Sept. 27: Bronx Zoo (Bronx, N.Y.), with photographer Mark Moffett
  
• Sept. 28: Brookfield Zoo (Chicago), with photographer Annie Griffiths Belt
  
• Oct. 4: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Tacoma, Wash.), with photographer Kevin Horan
  
• Oct. 4: Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, Fla.), with photographer Annie Griffiths Belt
  
• Oct. 11: San Francisco Zoo, with photographer Jim Sugar
  
• Oct. 11: Dallas Zoo, with photographer Darlyne Murawski

The World Animal Day promotions will serve as a launching pad for “Mama Mirabelle’s My Favorite Animal” photo contest, set to go live on the Mama Mirabelle Web site Saturday, Sept. 27. Families are encouraged to take photos of their favorite animals and upload them to www.mamamirabelle.com for a chance to win prize packs from National Geographic and Fisher-Price.

Additional sponsors offering financial and in-kind support include Hefty® Zoo Pals®; My Gym Enterprises Inc.; PNY Technologies; Ritz Camera Centers Inc.; Parenting Magazine, a publication of Bonnier Corporation; KIWI Magazine, a May Media publication; and the Costa Rica Tourism Board.

“Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies” stars Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”) as the voice of Mama Mirabelle and airs on PBS Kids! (check local listings for airdates and times). The weekly half-hour show helps preschoolers learn about themselves and the world around them through the help of Mama and the young animals in her charge on the African savanna. Visit www.mamamirabelle.com for interactive games, videos, coloring pages and postcards. Episodes from season one are now available on DVD at stores where videos are sold, and two softcover books, “Anybody Home?” and “Hide and Seek,” are available online and at area bookstores.

National Geographic Kids Entertainment is an independent production and U.S. distribution entity of National Geographic Ventures. Established in 2003, NGKE brings the renowned National Geographic brand to children’s entertainment through the development, production and distribution of quality animated and live-action, entertainment-driven programming that excites kids to explore their world. NGKE will work with all major broadcast outlets in the United States and abroad. For more information about National Geographic, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

New this year, All Roads will curate an online film festival, rolling out 20 short-subject films on www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads beginning Monday, Sept. 24. This latest initiative seeks to further connect audiences to indigenous film through partnerships with such popular venues as iTunes, YouTube and Second Life.

Some of this year’s stand-out films include “Super Amigos,” a feature documentary by Arturo Pérez Torres that combines live-action with comic-book-style animation to depict a group of Lucha Libre wrestlers who have taken their fight to the streets of Mexico City, and “Miss Navajo,” a feature documentary by All Roads seed grantee Billy Luther (Navajo/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo), that follows the contestants of the Miss Navajo Nation competition.

Exclusive to Washington, D.C., the heralded films “Enemies of Happiness,” by filmmakers Eva Mulvad and Anja Al-Erhayem, and “Cocalero,” by director Alejandro Landes, will show the political process from two separate perspectives, as an Iraqi woman and an indigenous Aymara coca farmer endure racist and sexist insults, and sometimes death threats, in a quest to attain public office.

“The theme for this year’s festival, ‘New Voices, First Stories,’ exemplifies our mission to identify and promote the work of up-and-coming filmmakers, photographers and musicians who have fascinating stories to tell about their cultures and communities,” said Francene Blythe, director of the All Roads Film Project. “To overlook these stories is to ignore a vital part of our history as a global community, and thus All Roads will always seek out these films and make them accessible to a broader audience.”

This year’s festival will present four programming strands: “Women Hold Up Half the Sky,” a spotlight on women filmmakers; “Ancestors, Elders and Land,” highlighting the connection between native people and their land; “Under the Same Sun,” a look at the struggle that people endure as they confront dual cultural identities; and “Shorts from Around the World,” a showcase of short-subject films depicting a wide array of global cultures. Films represent a diverse range of countries and cultures, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Finland, India, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Mexico, New Zealand, Tonga (South Pacific Islands), Turkey and the United States.

All Roads will feature the world premiere of “A Shout Into the Wind,” by seed grantee Katja Gauriloff (Skolt Sámi). U.S. debuts include “Waban-Aki,” by First Nation filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin; “Crocodile Dreaming,” by Aboriginal director Darlene Johnson (seed grantee); “Daf,” by Kurdish filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi; “Hush,” by Aboriginal director Dena Curtis; “Land & Airwaves,” by First Nations filmmakers Patrick Boivin and Alland Flamand; “My Brother Vinnie,” by Aboriginal director Steven McGregor; “Nana,” by Aboriginal filmmaker Warwick Thornton; “Taua,” by Maori director Tearepa Kahi (seed grantee); and “Tavake,” by South Pacific Islander Paul Stoll.

Premiering in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., are features “Dol,” by Kurdish director Hiner Saleem, and “Four Sheets to the Wind,” by Native American director and seed grantee Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Creek). Shorts “Menged,” by Ethiopian director Daniel Taye Workou, and “133 Skyway,” by Native American filmmaker Randy Redroad, will also make their debuts.

This year’s photography program, sponsored by Manfrotto, highlights the works of Kashmir photographer Altaf Qadri, whose photo essay “Kashmir: Paradise in Pain” depicts the toll the Indian occupation of Kashmir has taken upon its people; Israeli photographer Oded Balilty, whose photo essay “Along the Lines” explores how Israel’s construction of its protective fence contributes to the further separation and removal of the Israeli and Palestinian people; Nigerian photographer Akitunde Akinleye, whose photo essay “The Troubles of a Blessed Country” documents the resulting chaos from a fire at a petroleum pipeline ruptured by local scavengers; and Chinese/Inner Mongolian photographer A Yin, whose photo essay “Highland Mongolian Life” beautifully captures the traditional way of life of the people of the Mongolian highlands. The awardees’ work will be exhibited in the courtyards of the Egyptian Theatre and National Geographic Society.

Balkan Beat Box will headline the Friday night music concert in both cities, marking its West Coast debut. The group will be performing songs from its just-released second album “Nu Med.” Made up of Israeli, Palestinian, Bulgarian, Moroccan and Spanish musicians now based in New York, Balkan Beat Box melds beats from all over the Mediterranean, giving its music an eclectic sound that combines dancehall grooves with hip hop beats, infused with Jewish, Balkan, Arabic, Syrian, European, Moroccan and American influences. TimeOut New York has compared Balkan Beat Box’s live show to an “electronic gypsy circus,” and Entertainment Weekly has described the music as “grooves… fueled by Manischewitz wine and a big dose of punk ‘tude.”

The All Roads Film Festival is part of the All Roads Film Project, a National Geographic initiative to provide a global platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture storytellers around the world to showcase their talents and teach a broader audience about their cultures. In addition to providing a venue for their films, All Roads offers its filmmakers and photographers a series of networking opportunities with leaders of the film and photographic community. The All Roads Film Project awards a minimum of 10 seed grants a year to support the development and production of film and video projects by or about the indigenous and under-represented minority-culture film community. Seed grant recipients are considered for inclusion in the All Roads Film Festival and other National Geographic-affiliated broadcast outlets. The All Roads Photography Program provides photographers with seed money, cameras and photography equipment to assist with their fieldwork.
For more information on All Roads, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads.

Richards will be working on a project called “War Is Personal.” A series of photo and textual essays, it will focus on people whose lives have been profoundly affected by the conflict in Iraq — soldiers on active duty and those who have returned from war, soldiers’ families, an injured veteran, a military contractor, refugees from Iraq, soldiers who have refused to be deployed and a young person recently recruited. Richards’ goal is to further the dialogue on the Iraq war and its consequences.

“I am extremely pleased that our judges chose such a deserving and respected photojournalist as Eugene Richards. Having Eugene, an award-winning photographer, as our first recipient of the National Geographic Magazine Grant for Photography launches this new grant on a solid course. We are honored to be supporting Eugene and the photography he plans on this socially important documentation of the intimate lives of those directly affected by the war in Iraq,” said National Geographic’s Director of Photography David Griffin.

The 145 entries for the grant were received from around the world. Judges were Michele Stephenson, former director of photography at TIME magazine; Michel du Cille, Washington Post staff photographer and associate editor; and Jodi Cobb, National Geographic staff photographer.

Fourteen tractor trailers will be loaded with almost everything that National Geographic has offered for sale in the past five years. Many of the items seen in National Geographic gift catalogs as well as 300 book titles will be available. Prices will be discounted up to 90 percent.

“This year’s sale is one of the largest ever. We have more than 600 different products — that’s 250,000 of the best-quality books, maps, toys, puzzles, travel accessories and gifts from around the world,” said National Geographic’s Bill O’Donnell, director of operations.

New to the sale this year will be a display of framed prints of some of National Geographic’s best photographs, which are also available at www.printsNGS.com.

“Our warehouse sales attract both devoted fans of National Geographic and serious bargain hunters. They are a perfect opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping. There is something for everybody on your list, be they professional or amateur traveler, adventurer, scientist, gardener, history buff, photographer, animal lover, student or teacher. Our books alone will be 20 percent to 90 percent off list price. People shopping for schools often buy lots of materials. At our last sale, the showroom was virtually emptied of merchandise,” O’Donnell said.

The sale is being promoted through mailings, newspaper ads and radio spots. National Geographic members and teachers have received postcards that they can bring to the sale to exchange for a free calendar.

National Geographic warehouse sales also will be held in San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center from Friday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 30, and in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Convention Center from Friday, Dec. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 14. Sale hours are the same as for the Washington event.

Fourteen tractor trailers will be loaded with almost everything that National Geographic has offered for sale in the past five years. Many of the items seen in National Geographic gift catalogs as well as 300 book titles will be available. Prices will be discounted up to 90 percent.

“This year’s sale is one of the largest ever. We have more than 600 different products — that’s 200,000 of the best-quality books, maps, DVDs, toys, travel accessories and gifts from around the world,” said Bill O’Donnell, director of sales, publishing.

New to the sale this year will be a display of rolled and framed prints of some of National Geographic’s most iconic photographs, which are also available at www.printsNGS.com.

“Our warehouse sales attract both devoted fans of National Geographic and serious bargain hunters. They are a perfect opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping. There is something for everybody on your list, be they professional or amateur traveler, adventurer, scientist, gardener, history buff, photographer, animal lover, student or teacher. Our books alone will be 20 percent to 90 percent off list price. People shopping for schools often buy lots of materials. At our last sale, the showroom was virtually emptied of merchandise,” O’Donnell said.

The sale is being promoted through mailings, newspaper ads and radio spots. National Geographic members and teachers have received postcards that they can bring to the sale to exchange for a free calendar.

A National Geographic warehouse sale also will be held in Houston from Friday, Dec. 4, to Sunday, Dec. 6. Sale hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The book “National Geographic Image Collection” (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0503-3; $50; hardcover) will publish on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The 500-page book includes never-before-published images from the world’s greatest photographers, drawn from the National Geographic archive, one of the world’s finest and most extensive graphic resources. The book will allow readers for the first time to plumb the depths of this immense and ever-growing archive, from the earliest photographs collected in the 19th century to the cutting-edge work of today.

Among the exhibit’s 90-plus photographs will be works from some of National Geographic’s most celebrated photographers, including Jodi Cobb, Michael Yamashita, Luis Marden, James P. Blair, James L. Stanfield, William Albert Allard, Maynard Owen Williams and Michael Nichols, whose image graces the cover of the “National Geographic Image Collection” book. The photographs span more than 12 decades and a wide variety of subjects, including wildlife, world cultures, exploration and science.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in a lecture presented by National Geographic Live and Kodak at National Geographic headquarters, Chris Johns, National Geographic magazine Editor in Chief and award-winning wildlife photographer, and Image Collection’s vice president Maura Mulvihill will be joined by photographers Michael Yamashita, Maria Stenzel and David Doubilet as well as Kodak digital camera inventor Steve Sasson for an inside look at this remarkable photography trove. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

Nicklen, who regards himself as an ambassador for polar life, grew up in a small Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. From an early age he learned how to survive in the frozen terrain and developed a passion for the wildlife around him. Today his expeditions take him to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of rare, close-up photographs of polar species, their intriguing ways and their environs. Constantly honing his understanding of wildlife behavior in order to approach the animals in their most intimate natural settings, he uses photography to dispel myths, reveal rarely seen behaviors and intensify the world’s interest in the entire polar ecosystem.

The exhibit is drawn from Nicklen’s new book “Polar Obsession” (ISBN: 978-1-4262-0511-8; $50; hardcover), which will be released by National Geographic Books’ Focal Point imprint on Nov. 10. Nicklen will present a National Geographic Live lecture on Nov. 11 (visit www.nglive.org for more information).

“Polar Obsession” will include 57 of the 150 images included in the book, which features Nicklen’s most spectacular images from the polar reaches. From huge elephant seals, leopard seals, whales, walruses, narwhals and polar bears to penguins, albatrosses, petrels, arctic cod and tiny krill, Nicklen, an underwater photography specialist, captures the beauty of a wide variety of polar animals, large and small, and the icy paradise in which they live. Each scene is bathed in polar light, surreal and breathtakingly beautiful.

“The polar regions are disappearing quickly, and I want my photo essays to stand as a reminder of what is at stake. It is my mission to bring the rare, remote and threatened to caring people who can enjoy and help protect these lands and creatures,” he writes in his book introduction.

SEPTEMBER

REDWOODS TRANSECT
SEPT. 21, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18

In the fall of 2007, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence MIKE FAY set off on an 11-month walking journey across California’s redwood forest to determine the condition of this legendary range of trees — and to see whether there is hope for a new kind of forestry that benefits the planet as well as increasing timber production. As reported in the October issue of National Geographic magazine, and in a new National Geographic Channel film airing Sept. 29, Fay’s expedition uncovered evidence of the big trees’ resilience and found a hopeful new spirit of cooperation among environmentalists, loggers and others whose livelihoods depend on the forest. Following the screening, Fay will be joined by photographer MICHAEL NICHOLS and writer JOEL BOURNE to discuss conservation and resource management.

AN EVENING WITH AMY TAN
SEPT. 23, 7:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M.: Reception co-sponsored by Michelob Brewing Co.
MEMBERS: $20 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $25
PART OF TRAVELER’S JOURNEYS 2-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $35 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $44

Born in the United States to immigrant parents from China, AMY TAN rejected her mother’s expectations that she become a doctor and concert pianist and chose to write fiction instead. Her acclaimed novels include “The Joy Luck Club,” “The Kitchen God’s Wife” and “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” and she has adapted her work for film, television and opera. In a wide-ranging conversation, Tan will discuss, with National Geographic Traveler magazine editor DON GEORGE, the life-changing challenges of living in two cultures, the importance of fate and family in her life and work and the places that have most moved and inspired her.

OCTOBER

ALL ROADS FILM SHOWCASE
OCT. 2 & 3
MEMBERS: $8 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $10 (prices are per film)

Enjoy films that promote a greater understanding of cultures around the world at these National Geographic All Roads Film Project presentations.

OCT. 2, 7 P.M.
EL REGALO DE LA PACHAMAMA (Bolivia, Japan, U.S. / 2008 / 102 min / Quechua with English subtitles / Dir: Toshifumi Matsushita) At Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni (Salt Lake), where many families work with salt, 13-year-old Kunturi lives a traditional Quechua life with his family. Life changes when his grandmother dies, his father takes him on his first llama caravan trip and he meets his first love. A discussion with the director will follow the film. Washington, D.C., premiere.

OCT. 3, 2 P.M.
THE FALL OF WOMENLAND (Canada, China / 2009 / 46 min / Mosuo, Mandarin, French with English subtitles / Dir: Xiaodan He) Until recently, the Musuo people from southwest China lived in isolation. In this matriarchal culture, a rare, 2,000-year-old tradition known as zouhun, or “walking marriage,” calls for men to visit their lovers’ homes at night and leave in the morning. While Mosuo individuals continue to practice ancient traditions of relationships and matriarchy, their numbers are declining in the wake of outside influences. A discussion with the director will follow the film. World premiere, All Roads grant recipient, and a Women Hold Up Half the Sky* presentation.

OCT. 3, 4:30 P.M.
BEFORE TOMORROW (Canada / 2008 / 92 min / Inuktitut with English subtitles / Co-Dir: Marie- Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Ivalu) In this dramatic tale, shot in remote territory near the community of Puvirnituq, Nunavik (northern Quebec), an Inuit woman demonstrates that human dignity is at the core of life as she and her grandson face the ultimate challenge of survival. A discussion with the filmmakers will follow. A Women Hold Up Half the Sky* presentation.

OCT. 3, 7 P.M.
BARKING WATER (U.S. / 2008 / 85 min / English / Dir: Sterlin Harjo) Frankie is dying, Irene hasn’t forgiven him, and both are racing against time across Oklahoma to get home. This poignant story shows that great love can mend the heart. A discussion with the cast and director will follow the film. All Roads grant recipient.
*Women Hold Up Half the Sky features notable films by women filmmakers.

DARWIN’S DARKEST HOUR
OCT. 5, 7 P.M.
MEMBERS: $8 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $10

“Darwin’s Darkest Hour,” National Geographic Television’s first scripted film, portrays a crisis in Charles Darwin’s life, bringing to life the powerful human story of one of science’s icons. The premiere screening of this two-hour drama will be followed by a discussion with director JOHN BRADSHAW, scriptwriter JOHN GOLDSMITH and executive producer JOHN BREDAR, moderated by PAULA APSELL, senior executive producer of this NOVA program. This program airs on PBS Tuesday, Oct. 6.

OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
OCT. 6, 7 P.M.
ALL TICKETS: $10

This special event co-presented with Frito-Lay offers an inspiring and insightful look at changes being made in communities across the country that are helping to move us along the path to a sustainable future. Inspired by the recent “Green Effect” contest sponsored by Frito-Lay and hosted by nationalgeographic.com, this event coincides with the Solar Decathlon on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Hosted by National Geographic journalist BOYD MATSON and featuring an illustrated talk by National Geographic magazine executive editor TIM APPENZELLER, “Our Sustainable Future” includes a panel discussion with environmental and business leaders such as JAYNI CHASE, founder, Center for Environmental Education; PHAEDRA ELLIS-LAMKINS, CEO, Green For All; and DAVE HAFT, Group VP, Sustainability and Productivity, Frito-Lay Inc. The event concludes with a screening of videos of the “Green Effect” contest winners.

AN EVENING WITH SIMON WINCHESTER
OCT. 15, 7:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M.: Reception co-sponsored by Michelob Brewing Co.
MEMBERS: $20 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $25
PART OF TRAVELER’S JOURNEYS 2-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $35 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $44

SIMON WINCHESTER is the author of numerous bestsellers, including “The Professor and the Madman,” “Krakatoa,” and his most recent, “The Man Who Loved China,” and he served as editor for “The Best American Travel Writing, 2009.” An intrepid journalist, author and broadcaster, Winchester will be joined by National Geographic Traveler magazine’s DON GEORGE to share adventures and misadventures from decades on the road.

ROWING THE ATLANTIC
OCT. 19, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF QUEST FOR ADVENTURE 3-PART SERIES: MEMBERS $39 / GENERAL PUBLIC $45

After 11 years as a management consultant, ROZ SAVAGE dropped everything and entered the Atlantic Rowing Race as a solo rower — the only solo woman ever to compete in that race. After 103 days of storms, solitude and soul-searching, she arrived in Antigua. Savage is currently attempting to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific. Her book “Rowing the Atlantic” (Simon & Schuster) will be available for sale/signing.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION: AN INSIDER’S LOOK
OCT. 20, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 4-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $60

Behind National Geographic’s reputation as a powerhouse of photography lies a unique and invaluable resource: the National Geographic Image Collection. This immense archive includes both iconic and never-before-seen images from around the world, including rare and delicate autochromes. In this special event marking the release of a new National Geographic book celebrating the collection, brought to you courtesy of Kodak, editor LEAH BENDAVID-VAL and Image Collection director MAURA MULVIHILL will be joined by photographers DAVID DOUBILET, MARIA STENZEL, CHRIS JOHNS, MICHAEL YAMASHITA and STEVE SASSON, the Kodak technologist who invented the digital camera, for an inside look at one of the world’s greatest treasure troves of photography.

EXPLORING SCOTLAND’S WHISKY TRAIL
OCT. 22, 7 P.M.
MEMBERS: $75 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $80

Join National Geographic photographer JIM RICHARDSON, celebrated for his work in the Celtic regions, and whisky expert DAVE BROOM, a contributing editor to Whisky Magazine, for a guided tasting of some of Scotland’s finest single-malt whiskies, matched with evocative images of the landscapes, distilleries and people that come together to produce them. Light refreshments will be served; must be 21 or older. Co-sponsored by BRICKSKELLER with assistance from Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP).

JUSTIN ROBERTS
OCT. 24, NOON & 3 P.M.
KIDS (12 AND UNDER): $12 / ADULTS: $18

Don’t miss JUSTIN ROBERTS AND THE NOT READY FOR NAPTIME PLAYERS at this concert featuring their crowd-pleasing “alt-kid” sound. Roberts has been compared to Buddy Holly and Nick Lowe. Millions have seen him on “The Today Show,” and one of his songs was featured on a World Series broadcast. Find out firsthand why he’s known as the “hardest-working man in children’s show business.”

KIDS EURO FESTIVAL
OCT. 25, 1 & 3 P.M.
FREE

Presented by European Union Members and local arts organizations, the Kids Euro Festival celebrates imagination, joy and friendship with free performances across the city between Oct. 15 and Nov. 10.
1 P.M.: THE FOX AND THE CHILD (France / 2007 / 92 min / Dir: Luc Jaquet) From the director of “March of the Penguins,” with narration by Kate Winslet, this is a story of friendship between a fox and a young girl.
3 P.M.: MIA AND THE MIGOO (France / 2008 / 92 min/ Dir: Jacques-Rémy Girerd / Animated / French with English subtitles) On a quest to find her father, Mia befriends the mysterious Migoo and together they save Earth from ecological disaster.

AN AMERICAN FAMILY
OCT. 28, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 4-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $60

More than 30 years ago, PAM SPAULDING, a photojournalist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, began documenting events in the life of the McGarveys, a family from Louisville, Ky. The result is National Geographic’s “An American Family: Three Decades with the McGarveys,” a unique album comprising 250 discerning black-and-white images. Join her and the McGarveys for a remarkable look at one family’s life.

EXPLORATION: THE NEXT GENERATION
OCT. 29, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF QUEST FOR ADVENTURE 3-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $39 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $45

Meet four individuals who represent the next generation of research and exploration. National Geographic’s Young Explorers Grants enable promising explorers between the ages of 18 and 25 to pursue their projects and gain field experience. KATHERINE AMATO studies primates in Mexico’s tropical forest. Journalist PATRICK WALTERS investigates the havoc wreaked by Asian carp on the Illinois River. ROSS McDERMOTT‘s American Festival Project explores small-town festivals — from the National Hobo Convention in Iowa to the Middle of Nowhere celebration in Nebraska. TRIP JENNINGS caves and paddles in unexplored regions of Papua New Guinea to promote conservation. At this program moderated by HANNAH BLOCH, an editor for National Geographic magazine, you’ll meet these exciting young explorers firsthand.

NOVEMBER

UNCONQUERED: ALLAN HOUSER AND THE LEGACY OF ONE APACHE FAMILY
NOV. 4, 7 P.M.
MEMBERS: $8 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $10

This screening, marking Native American Heritage Month, tells the story of one of the 20th century’s most important artists. Directed by Bryan Beasley, this film traces the Houser family from the 1860s through today, exploring the oral traditions of the Apache people and the works of several generations of artists. Houser’s lasting legacy is carried on by his artist sons. A discussion will follow the film.

THE MUSIC LESSON
NOV. 6, 7 P.M.
MEMBERS: $8 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $10

This critically acclaimed film, winner of several awards, tells the story of two groups of young people from different backgrounds, using the power of music to discover each other’s worlds. Ten classically trained students from Boston traveled across the world for a life-changing cultural exchange with a group of students from Laikipia, Kenya, who have their own centuries-old tradition of music. A question-and-answer period with filmmaker VIRGINIA GALLOWAY follows the screening.

WARSAW VILLAGE BAND
NOV. 7, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $10 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $12

“Powerful is the default setting” for the Warsaw Village Band, says the influential online journal Pop.m.atters. Defying easy categorization, the sound of this acclaimed group has deep roots in the richness of Polish tradition, with elements of reggae, blues, African music and dance club flavor to get your heart racing and your feet in motion. After winning Best Newcomer category at the BBC’s Radio 3 Awards for World Music in 2003, the group has thrilled audiences on four continents with their captivating sound.

POLAR OBSESSION
NOV. 11, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 4-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $60

Since 2003, PAUL NICKLEN has published nine feature stories in National Geographic magazine, making a name for himself as one of the world’s leading wildlife photographers. His affinity for polar regions goes back to his childhood in an Inuit community, where he first learned to track wildlife. This committed naturalist shares images from his new book, “Polar Obsession,” showcasing the beauty of the Arctic and Antarctic and capturing the impact of climate change.

THE BEST OF MOUNTAINFILM
NOV. 14, 7 P.M.
MEMBERS: $16 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $20

This year the Mountainfilm in Telluride Festival celebrated 31 years of presenting films “about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring, environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining.” Here is a showcase of top short films from this year’s festival.

• LOOK TO THE GROUND (Canada/2009/6 min) A mountain biker overcomes blindness in pursuit of his sport.
  
• THE RED HELMET (U.S./2008/6 min) A red helmet transforms a fearful child’s life.
  
• HISTORY MAKING FARMING AUTHOR ON THE MOVE (U.S./2009/7 min) Inspiring story of Vern Switzer, sustainable farmer and children’s author.
  
• DRIFT: BAHAMAS (U.S./2008/15 min) A profile of a legendary fishing guide.
  
• DEEP/SHINSETSU (Japan/2008/4 min) A visual ode to powder.
  
• A FILM FROM MY PARISH – 6 FARMS (Ireland/2008/8 min) Small farms in Ireland find that traditional is sustainable.
  
• HOME (U.K./2008/3 min) A picture poem on the true meaning of home.
  
• REVOLUTION ONE (U.S./2009/10 min) Extreme unicycling with Kris Holm.
  
• HUNGU (Canada/2008/10 min) Animated tale about an ancient African instrument.
  
• SOIL IN GOOD HEART (U.S./2008/15 min) Soil as seen through the eyes of two organic farmers.
  
• SAMSARA (U.S./2009/19 min) Can you climb to the center of the universe?
  
• THE HIDDEN LIFE OF THE BURROWING OWL (U.S./2008/6 min) A timid bird’s revenge.

THE EMPEROR AND HIS TERRA COTTA ARMY
NOV. 21, 2 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18

To celebrate the arrival of the exhibition “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor,” historian ALBERT DIEN will review the tumultuous era of Chinese history that saw the construction of the terra cotta army. Discover the critical historical importance of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, how he unified China and why he ordered this extraordinary army of statues placed in his tomb. All exhibition tickets are sold out for Nov. 21.

THE EXHIBITION: “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor” will be on display in the National Geographic Museum from Nov. 19, 2009, to March 31, 2010. Nearly 2,000 years ago, thousands of life-size clay figures were buried to accompany the Qin emperor into the afterlife. Now, you can stand face-to-face with them. The exhibition features 15 life-size figures, weapons, armor, coins and more — the largest collection of significant artifacts from China to travel to the United States. Tickets are required and may be obtained by visiting www.warriorsdc.org or calling 202-857-7700.

ROWED TRIP
NOV. 24, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF QUEST FOR ADVENTURE 3-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $39 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $45

Last year, Canadian couple COLIN AND JULIE ANGUS set out from Scotland on a 7,000-km (4,350-mile) journey to Syria. Named 2006 Adventurers of the Year by National Geographic Adventure magazine for their human-powered, global circumnavigation, this intrepid pair once again tested the limits of human-powered travel in a journey that was also a personal odyssey. Hear the story as told in their new book “Rowed Trip: From Scotland to Syria by Oar.”

DECEMBER

LUCY’S LEGACY
DEC. 2, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18

One of the most accomplished scholars of human origins, DONALD JOHANSON has produced some of the field’s most groundbreaking discoveries, including the most widely known fossil of the 20th century, the 3.2-million-year-old skeleton called Lucy, marking an important step on the path to Homo sapiens. Johanson’s new book, “Lucy’s Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins,” tells her story. At this presentation he will show how her discovery and others have transformed our understanding of evolution.

AMONG THE HADZA
DEC. 3, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $15 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $18
PART OF MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 4-PART SERIES: MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $60

For the December 2009 National Geographic, MARTIN SCHOELLER traveled to Tanzania to document the Hadza, hunter-gatherers believed to be heirs to one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. Schoeller, a former assistant to Annie Leibovitz and a contributing photographer to The New Yorker, is famous for his portraits capturing well-known personalities stripped of artifice. He will share compelling images of individuals whose way of life could soon disappear.

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA
DEC. 4, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $25 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $30

The traditional Irish band TÉADA brings magic to National Geographic for the fifth consecutive December. Thrill to the musical artistry and lively banter of band members OISÍN MAC DIARMADA, DAMIEN STENSON, SEAN MCELWAIN and TRISTAN ROSENSTOCK, joined by guest performers SEAMUS BEGLEY, the legendary accordionist and singer; BRIAN CUNNINGHAM, sean-nós dancer; GRÁINNE HAMBLY, harp virtuoso; and TOMMY MARTIN on uillean pipes. Don’t miss this energetic, heartwarming celebration of the season.

FORRO IN THE DARK
DEC. 5, 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS: $10 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $12

Forro In The Dark brings a traditional Brazilian dance style into a new era with electronic instruments and influences from American and international popular music. Their unique, irresistibly danceable style has been described by Global Rhythm magazine as “a multicultural swinging to and fro that never forgets the past, but always keeps heading into the future.” Hear Forro In The Dark’s “Light A Candle,” out Sept. 29, on the new Nat Geo Music record label.

FLORA MIRABILIS
DEC. 10, 2 P.M.
FREE

A collaboration between National Geographic and the Missouri Botanical Garden, the new National Geographic book “Flora Mirabilis: An Illustrated Time Line of Botanical Exploration, Discovery & Delight” offers a fascinating look at how plant explorations and botanical passions have shaped human history and culture. Our guide for this botanical journey will be PETER H. RAVEN, president of the Missouri Botanical Garden and chairman of the Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration. He will be introduced by the book’s author, CATHERINE HERBERT HOWELL.

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