PMDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF VISIONARY AWARD: GRAHAM NASH AND MAC HOLBERT
Graham Nash from Rock Group Crosby, Stills, & Nash and Partner Mac Holbert Win Award for Inventing Digital Fine Art Printing
NY, NY, January 23, 2006 -- The PhotoImaging Manufacturers & Distributors Association (PMDA) http://www.pmda.com announced today that Graham Nash, award-winning photographer and legendary member of the rock group Crosby, Stills, & Nash and his partner, master printmaker Mac Holbert of Nash Editions, are winners of the prestigious PMDA "Visionary Award" for inventing digital fine art printing. The prestigious Visionary Award will be presented during the annual PMDA Awards Dinner, held the night before PMA on Saturday, February 25, 2006 at the Caribe Royal Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Co-founded in 1989 by Mac Holbert and Graham Nash, Nash Editions is widely regarded as starting a photographic revolution with their invention of digital fine art printing. Today Nash Editions is considered one of the leading fine art photographic printmaking studios in the world.
While best known as a founding member of the super rock group Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Nash (in conjunction with Holbert), also developed a parallel career as a photographer, photography collector, and digital imaging pioneer. Although Nash and Holbert were excited with the potential of digital photography, these digital printmaking pioneers were disappointed with the limitations of existing digital output technologies. To combat this, Nash and Holbert co-developed unique methods of outputting Nash’s black & white photos by experimenting with scanning and manipulating photographic images on a computer using an Iris 3047 printer. Over the years, they worked diligently to refine both their equipment and techniques using advanced Epson printing technology.
The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution has recently acquired the original Nash Editions Iris 3047 printer that started the fine art digital printmaking revolution. Nash Editions has donated this printer along with imaging equipment to the National Museum for inclusion in their History of American Photography Collection.
"It’s been exciting and fulfilling to be part of the development of this incredible new technology. This recognition by PMDA is a wonderful acknowledgement of how the mainstream photographic community has embraced the digital photographic revolution," said Mac Holbert and Graham Nash. "We look forward to the awards ceremony and the opportunity to thank the award’s sponsors in person and meet the industry leaders who will be in attendance."
About Nash
Inspired by his father, Nash began taking pictures at the age of 11. Spanning 1953 to the present, Nash’s photos include revealing portraits of family and friends, images of life on the road, still-lifes, landscapes, street photos, and a unique series of self-portraits in which Nash is often reflected in windows and mirrors.
About Holbert
Prior to Nash Editions, Holbert was the Tour Manager for such music groups as Crosby, Stills & Nash; Peter, Paul & Mary; and Carole King. Holbert has lectured extensively and conducted workshops on digital output, digital imaging, scanning and fine art printmaking. Holbert has printed several seminal digital fine art exhibits, which have been exhibited internationally. For more information about Nash Editions, see the site: www.nasheditions.com.
Other PMDA Award Winners
The PMDA Awards Dinner will be co-sponsored by National Geographic Magazine, who will debut a brand new audio-visual program to be seen for the first time by PMDA’s Awards Dinner audience. Other PMDA Award winners include Hank Hayashi, Fuji Photo Film USA; Patrick D. King, Eastman Kodak Company; Grant Pill, CVS; and Joe Lisuzzo/Sharon Whibben from Wal-Mart, who will accept the award for "Person of the Year" for the Photo Kiosk; the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) who will win the "Photographer Award"; Naoki Tomino, Nikon Corporation, who will be awarded for "Technical Achievement"; and Rudy Maschke and Ed Wagner, who will be honored with the "Norman C. Lipton Lifetime Achievement" Award.
The PMDA Awards dinner and presentation will be held at the Caribe Royal Hotel, 8101 World Center Drive, Orlando, Florida on Saturday, February 25, 2006 the night before PMA. The reception starts at 6:00 PM. The cost for the dinner is $175 per person. For reservations, call 732-679-3460 or email: gchristopmda@aol.com. For more information, see www.pmda.com.
About PMDA
Founded in 1939, the PhotoImaging Manufacturers & Distributors Association (PMDA) has promoted the photo and digital-imaging industry for over 66 years with the emphasis on photo imaging manufacturers and distributors. PMDA provides an open forum for its members to exchange ideas and learn new technologies and business trends, in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public. The member companies of PMDA have a box seat on the changing product and business developments of the photo industry and a unique opportunity to network with other industry principals and managers in the receptions preceding each meeting and special event.
PMDA has also teamed up with PMA International to create the Photographic Information Council (PIC) to promote photography to the general public. PIC’s website (www.takegreatpictures.com ) provides great photo tips and techniques, celebrity photographers, contests, new product releases and projects. See PMDA’s site www.pmda.com for info.