Digital Railroad is offering significant discounts to all AOP members

The Association of Photographers has been working to bring professional photographers together, protect their rights and promote photography since 1968.

As well as campaigning for photographer’s rights the AOP now provide information services, education programmes, exhibitions and publications to assist our membership which represents all levels within the industry from students to photographic agents. Forums have also been implemented so that photographers can discuss and exchange information about changes in the industry and the impact of new technologies.

Every year the AOP celebrates the best in photography at our annual Awards show, which has become the most prestigious accolade in the photographic industry.

As image-makers respond to globalization, the AOP is building an effective network of communications with photographers and organizations from around the world.

AOP members will have access to Digital Railroad's unique service whereby photographers take control of their creative business. Manage, market and sell their valuable image assets from a personally branded web archive and have access to distribute their images globally through the Digital Railroad Marketplace.

Members of the Association of Photographers can sign-up for an archive or take a 30 day free trial here

©Richard Schoenberg/drr.net

Photographer Richard Schoenberg gives an insider's view of what it is like being a new recruit in the Marine Corps in his book "The Warrior Class: Making Marines," available through www.blurb.com.

"During the shooting, I had 100% support from the Marine Corps, from the Pentagon on down to the newest recruits, and they let me do as I pleased, never restricted my access, or edited the work," says Schoenberg.

In 2004, Schoenberg published a similar book called "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday: Making Navy Seals," about the training of the United States Navy SEALs.

A Digitalrailroad.net archive owner, Schoenberg says "I like the ease of putting up images and the clean look of my archive. It is functional and I no longer have to pay a programmer to maintain my site. I like the ability to change the "home" page as frequently as I want."

Schoenberg's memorable images of Marine Corps recruits can be viewed in Marketplace.

Last week members of our Marketplace Sales team met 1000+ buyers in attendance at Picturehouse New York. Buyers included top publishers, magazines, and corporations.

DRR Members Andrew Kaufman (l) and Dan Milnor (r) flank Marketplace Vice-President, Mark Ippolito and Marketplace Key Account Sales Manager, Stephanie Levine at the Digital Railroad Marketplace booth at Picturehouse New York.

In addition to the Marketplace exhibit table we were also pleased to host four of our members- Andrew Kaufman, Dan Milnor, Jeff Pflueger and Candidate Photos.com -- who also had an opportunity to meet directly with buyers to promote images from their archive as well as those in Marketplace.

DigitalRailroad member Paul Fitzgerald of Candidate Photos.com demos his DRR archive to buyers at Picturehouse New York.

We were especially delighted to connect with so many freelance buyers who purchase on behalf of many buyers we work with but due to their far flung locations we rarely get a chance to meet face to face.

Digital Railroad Marketplace Key Account Sales Managers, Tara Villanueva and Stephanie Levine get ready for the onslaught of buyer meetings at Picturehouse.

Last week members of our Marketplace Sales team met 1000+ buyers in attendance at Picturehouse New York. Buyers included top publishers, magazines, and corporations.

DRR Members Andrew Kaufman (l) and Dan Milnor (r) flank Marketplace Vice-President, Mark Ippolito and Marketplace Key Account Sales Manager, Stephanie Levine at the Digital Railroad Marketplace booth at Picturehouse New York.

In addition to the Marketplace exhibit table we were also pleased to host four of our members- Andrew Kaufman, Dan Milnor, Jeff Pflueger and Candidate Photos.com -- who also had an opportunity to meet directly with buyers to promote images from their archive as well as those in Marketplace.

DigitalRailroad member Paul Fitzgerald of Candidate Photos.com demos his DRR archive to buyers at Picturehouse New York.

We were especially delighted to connect with so many freelance buyers who purchase on behalf of many buyers we work with but due to their far flung locations we rarely get a chance to meet face to face.

Digital Railroad Marketplace Key Account Sales Managers, Tara Villanueva and Stephanie Levine get ready for the onslaught of buyer meetings at Picturehouse.

©Frits Meyst/Adventure4ever.com/drr.net
A team from the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service lands by helicopter on a glacier during a training mission to rescue a victim from a crevasse.

©Frits Meyst/Adventure4ever.com/drr.net

Photographer Frits Meyst and writer Jillian Macdonald are owners of the Digitalrailroad.net archive Adventure4ever.com, specializing in outdoor adventure and travel photography features.

They recently joined the Austrian Mountain Rescue for a glacier crevasse rescue training exercise. “Their innovative techniques are being taught to rescue teams all over Europe and North America,” says Meyst. “The setting and action are spectacular and the 'tactical' landings with the rescue helicopter made for some really spectacular footage.”

Since creating the company in 2003, the team of Meyst and Macdonald has produced 80 full feature stories from 23 countries, complete with photos, text, travel information and maps. Adventure4ever.com images can be viewed in Digitalrailroad.net's Marketplace.

Led by its co-chairmen, Frank Evers (VII) and Daniel Power (pH), the New York Photo Festival has partnered with DUMBO developers and philanthropists, Two Trees Management, David and Jane Walentas, and Jed Walentas. The group has already started the process of locking in exhibition spaces, major sponsors, event partners, the advisory board, and the festival jury. The festival jury will operate independently and will be made up of the best curatorial talent available within the world of fine art, publishing and photography.

This joint commitment to contemporary photography promises to deliver a dynamic, high-quality event in what is arguably the photographic capital of the world. The festival will celebrate both contemporary photography and the raw, indomitable, creative, and inspirational talents of those who produce this work. Photography, one of the most important media of our lives, is surprisingly uncelebrated, particularly in the United States.

To celebrate the publication of his new book, IRAQ: The Space Between, Digital Railroad member Christoph Bangert will be exhibiting a selection of his images providing an uncensored look at the impact of war on the daily lives of Iraqi's and the communities they live in.

Exhibition Opening and Book Launch will be held November 15, 2007 6:30 - 8:30PM at the Redux Gallery: 116 East 16th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

© Cristoph Bangert

From Christoph's website: "During the America-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Christoph Bangert was still attending photography school. Only later in the spring of 2005, when Iraqi insurgency and sectarian violence reached its first peak, Westerners were kidnapped and beheaded, and most foreign journalists had left the country, did this intrepid photographer start to work in Iraq on assignment for the New York Times. The overtly hostile environment in Iraq for foreigners, without regard of the individual’s intention or affiliation, restricts the freedom of journalists, particularly photographers, who (unlike writers) must be physically present to get the story.

Despite these conditions, Bangert remained in Iraq as one of the few Western photographers committed to cover the war throughout 2006 and early 2007. He has worked largely independently from the military, using Iraqi guards, drivers, and translators, but was occasionally embedded with American, British and Iraqi forces. Iraq: The Space Between records the distance he traveled as a civilian between worlds committed to destruction in the name of freedom."

You can see more of Christoph's powerful work on his DRR archive.

To celebrate the publication of his new book, IRAQ: The Space Between, Digital Railroad member Christoph Bangert will be exhibiting a selection of his images providing an uncensored look at the impact of war on the daily lives of Iraqi's and the communities they live in.

Exhibition Opening and Book Launch will be held November 15, 2007 6:30 - 8:30PM at the Redux Gallery 116 East 16th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

© Cristoph Bangert

From Christoph's website: "During the America-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Christoph Bangert was still attending photography school. Only later in the spring of 2005, when Iraqi insurgency and sectarian violence reached its first peak, Westerners were kidnapped and beheaded, and most foreign journalists had left the country, did this intrepid photographer start to work in Iraq on assignment for the New York Times. The overtly hostile environment in Iraq for foreigners, without regard of the individual’s intention or affiliation, restricts the freedom of journalists, particularly photographers, who (unlike writers) must be physically present to get the story.

Despite these conditions, Bangert remained in Iraq as one of the few Western photographers committed to cover the war throughout 2006 and early 2007. He has worked largely independently from the military, using Iraqi guards, drivers, and translators, but was occasionally embedded with American, British and Iraqi forces. Iraq: The Space Between records the distance he traveled as a civilian between worlds committed to destruction in the name of freedom."

You can see more of Christoph's powerful work on his DRR archive.

©Erin Siegal/drr.net
An oil soaked bird is carefully washed with dishwashing soap and warm water at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Cordelia, California.

Photographers Rob Badger and Erin Siegal are two of the Digitalrailroad.net archive owners who have been covering the aftermath of an oil spill caused by a container ship that smashed into the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The ship leaked 58,000 gallons of fuel into the San Francisco Bay, threatening birds and wildlife and contaminating beaches along the coastline.

To view more images by Siegal, Badger and other Digital Railroad members, click here. For a comprehensive report on the disaster, check out the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle.

©Rob Badger/Lighthawk/drr.net
Sunset light is reflected on an oil slick as boats try to recover some of the 58,000 gallons of oil spilled on November 7, 2007.

©Erin Siegal/drr.net
An oil soaked bird is carefully washed with dishwashing soap and warm water at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Cordelia, California.

Photographers Rob Badger and Erin Siegal are two of the Digitalrailroad.net archive owners who have been covering the aftermath of an oil spill caused by a container ship that smashed into the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The ship leaked 58,000 gallons of fuel into the San Francisco Bay, threatening birds and wildlife and contaminating beaches along the coastline.

To view more images by Siegal, Badger and other Digital Railroad members, click here. For a comprehensive report on the disaster, check out the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle.

©Rob Badger/drr.net
Sunset light is reflected on an oil slick as boats try to recover some of the 58,000 gallons of oil spilled on November 7, 2007.

Images by Los Angeles-based photographer Dorit Thies were published on the covers of USA Weekend and Luxury Spafinder in June 2007. Dorit says both editors found the photographs on her Digitalrailroad.net archive home page, where the images were featured.

Dorit specializes in beauty, health and fitness shoots. Her work has graced the covers of numerous magazines including Men's Health, Healthy Living, Fitness magazine and Foam. For a lightbox of her fitness images, click here.

©Mauro Bottaro / drr.net

Photomonth Festival in London proudly presents "Mainliners" a study of heroin and crack addicts by Italian Digital Railroad member Mauro Bottaro. The beautifully shot hard hitting feature is available to view at Indo Bar gallery at 133 Whitechapel Road, London until November 25, 2007.

To view the powerful color images in Bottaro's archive, click here.

Evan Nisselson addressing attendees at the VII Conference, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, Nov 3, 2007
© Robert Leslie

Today, the Digital Railroad Marketplace and the opportunities it offers as part of the larger DRR platform for photographers and agencies to take control of their business is a powerful alternative to the legacy agency model of image distribution. As the innovator and leader of this new wave of business opportunity, we at Digitalrailroad.net are very focused on bringing our industry back into the hands of the creative community - not just the photographers and agencies, but also those creatives who license and use photography to inform, educate, persuade and entertain. We remain the only new offering built from the ground up by the community and for the community.

Today we are entering a new chapter and I am honored to move all business and operational responsibilities to Charles Mauzy

Charles and I had envisioned when he started two years ago that at some point he would take the leadership baton. Our combined vision to build a great team to help improve the photo industry for photographers, agencies and buyers worldwide was in sync – and is still in sync.

I will become the Chairman of the Board with responsibilities focused on building strategic business alliances, partnerships and continuing to publicly represent the company at key industry events & conferences.

Successful businesses are in constant evolution and refinement as they go through chapters of growth toward becoming a mature company. Digitalrailroad.net is no different. We have and will always strive for greatness from the inception of the initial idea for our company in 1996 to the starting of our company in 2003 and continuing through our building a phenomenally experienced, passionate and determined team who continue to become more inspired by our supportive members around the world. Charles Mauzy will continue to lead DRR as an industry veteran and technologist of unquestioned integrity.

There are similar services to ours popping up and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and validation of the opportunity we've identified. Digitalrailroad.net began a revolution and will continue providing more opportunity and greater access to globally unique professional photography. Digital Railroad is the quality professional community today that represents a true global presence with creators and buyers from around the world choosing to participate in Marketplace to buy and sell imagery that they previously never had access to.

Our aim is to make the photographer and photo buyer the true heroes in the creative process. Our commitment to the community is to continue to innovate and provide the tools you need to do your job successfully. Our mission is to help photographers and buyers focus less on technology and have more time to focus on the things you do best-- being creative.

I look forward to the entire team stepping up to the plate as I know we will to deliver our shared vision. We have come a long way together and we are going to continue onward together to greatness!

Keep up the great work - Rock and Roll team!

Ciao,
e

Dear Evan:

Great to read this very positive news, specially with my dear friend Charles Mauzy. In our long time friendship I have always admired his professionalism and his deep believe that all we create should have great meaning for humanity. I congratulate both of you for such a significant way of sharing the responsibilities.

Warmest regard
Reza

©Rick Doyle/drr.net

Digitalrailroad.net archive owner Rick Doyle is based in Hawaii and makes his living as a still photographer, 16mm motion picture producer, editor, cinematographer and digital videographer. "Digital Railroad is a great tool for photographers to get their work in front of buyers and clients," says Doyle.

He is currently covering the Triple Crown of Surfing - three big wave surfing events on the North Shore of Oahu through December, ending with the Pipeline Masters. Doyle's surfing images can be viewed in Marketplace.

©Velibor Bozovic/drr.net

Digitalrailroad.net archiver owner Velibor Bozovic recently returned from a trip to Havana, Cuba where his work was part of an exhibit titled "Habitat," organized by Fototeca. While in Havana, Velibor took the opportunity to get to the know the city and the locals and came back with a collection of beautifully crafted photographs that can be viewed in Marketplace.

"I grew up in a socialist country, the former Yugoslavia and suddenly, after many years, the iconography and scenery of my childhood was right back in front of my eyes," says Velibor. "The very few shops they have in Havana look exactly the same as in Yugoslavia, back in the 70's. The offices and public buildings are organized and decorated in the same fashion, the streets are flooded with unobserved children."

"Now, I am not a photojournalist and I do not consider myself an artist either, I am simply a photographer and as such I am not afraid to admit any weakness I have," continues Velibor. "This series of pictures is not a photojournalistic account of Cuba or Havana, it is not a comment on Cuban society or political climate, it is not here to teach anybody anything about Havana. It is not much more than a personal journal."

Currently based in Montreal, Canada, Velibor prefers to work on long-term documentary photography projects, with an emphasis on social, environmental and humanitarian issues. His photographs will appear in a book by writer Aleksandar Hemon called "The Lazarus Project," scheduled to be published by Penquin Books in Spring 2008.

©Velibor Bozovic/drr.net

Long-time Digital Railroad member Graham Harrison has launched a new website called PHOTO HISTORIES. According to Harrison, the site’s purpose is to showcase entertaining and thought-provoking stories about photography.

“So much has changed in photography in the last few years that many of the original influences on our own photography have been lost in an ever-increasing blur of images," says Graham.

He hopes that PHOTO HISTORIES can re-identify important photographic influences, in part by offering interviews with the world’s great photographers who will talk about their own work and what they envision for the future of the medium.

"The site will become a kind of marker identifying where the medium is today while building a valuable archive for the future," says Graham. “The hope is also to entertain with some great photographers’ stories and stories about the history of photography from working photographers."

PHOTO HISTORIES begins with an interview with legendary photojournalist Philp Jones Griffiths.

Long-time Digital Railroad member Graham Harrison has launched a new website called PHOTO HISTORIES. According to Harrison, the site’s purpose is to showcase entertaining and thought-provoking stories about photography.

“So much has changed in photography in the last few years that many of the original influences on our own photography have been lost in an ever-increasing blur of images," says Graham.

He hopes that PHOTO HISTORIES can re-identify important photographic influences, in part by offering interviews with the world’s great photographers who will talk about their own work and what they envision for the future of the medium.

"The site will become a kind of marker identifying where the medium is today while building a valuable archive for the future." continues Graham. “The hope is also to entertain with some great photographers’ stories and stories about the history of photography from working photographers."

PHOTO HISTORIES begins with an interview with legendary photojournalist Philp Jones Griffiths.