Visual media news and updates from Visual Connections

Blend Images Repositions Brand, Launches New Campaign

Blend Images, the world’s leading multiethnic stock photography agency, announced today the launch of its new marketing campaign and corporate identity. The campaign and design were developed by New York agency Spil Creative, an integrated design firm with expertise in visual branding. The new campaign and brand repositioning will encompass all aspects of Blend Images, from www.blendimages.com to outbound marketing, including print and online advertising, and to Blend Images’ global distribution channel.

ARS named official representative for William Wegman

Artists Rights Society (ARS) is pleased to announce that it has been appointed the official representative for the image rights of William Wegman. The artist joins a roster of more than 50,000 artist members worldwide whose intellectual property rights, including copyrights, are represented by ARS. William Wegman is best know for his photographic series in which he poses Weimaraners in a variety of scenes, situations and costumes that evoke multiple and shifting identities. A pioneer in conception art and photography, Wegman’s work also includes videos and paintings characterized by the artist’s dead-pan humor and word play.

ARS named exclusive U.S. representative for Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera

Artists Rights Society (ARS) is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by the Bank of Mexico as the exclusive U.S. representative for the image rights of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The artists join a roster of more than 50,000 artist members worldwide whose intellectual property rights, including copyrights, are represented by ARS. The folkloric style of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo earned her recognition among the Surrealists, but her intriguing persona and unmistakable originality propelled her beyond the confines of a specific movement to become a leading figure in modern art. Considered the greatest Mexican painter of the twentieth century, Diego Rivera had a profound effect on the international art world. Among his many contributions, Rivera is credited with the reintroduction of mural painting into modern art and architecture.

Map Resources updates international maps for 2009

The Premier International map collection is now updated with the most
current information available. All maps now show current international
boundaries, including Kosovo, de facto independent states, and
prominent international disputes. In addition, over 1,000 new city locations are added, as well as new world maps extending as far south as Antarctica.

Lonely Planet Images celebrates 10 years and a new Commercial Manager

Samantha, former International Sales Director of Images at the Press Association, will be responsible for the global sales and marketing strategy, accountable for the Lonely Planet Images website,and involved in the global image strategy. Lonely Planet Images is also celebrating our 10 year anniversary with a number of new developments throughout the year. Keep your eyes peeled for new product offerings, special promotions and high quality additions to it's unique and extensive image collection.

“History in Motion”

“History in Motion” is the North Wind Picture Archives theme at Picturehouse Chicago on April 16. Featuring samples of their new motion products, North Wind will be asking picture buyers about their potential use of footage. On view will be a wide array of animation and video clips to illustrate the same historic topics covered by North Wind’s traditional images.

Map Resources releases updated, detailed digital maps of London

Now, designers can now get extremely detailed vector maps of London. Accurate and up-to-date, these royalty free maps can be used for print, web and broadcast applications. This release includes a series of London maps - downtown, metro, and the greater London area - with map dimensions up to 18 x 16 in (46 x 41 cm).
The London maps are layered vector format maps, with over 30 feature layers including highways, streets and landmarks. Users can open the map in Adobe Illustrator, then choose precisely the features they want to show. Maps can be rescaled to any size.

Alamy Opens US Office

The company, which opened a sales office in Brooklyn, New York in February, is entering an exciting new phase of growth. It has now exceeded the 15 million image mark and is aiming to increase its US sales with a team of dedicated national sales representatives who can offer a more personal and tailored service to customers.

Bridgeman Art Library announces its purchase of the Boltin Picture Library

The Bridgeman Art Library, the world’s leading source of fine art, cultural and historical images, recently acquired The Boltin Picture Library (BPL), a collection of over 30,000 images. Lee Boltin was well known for his photographs of artifacts, notably the contents of King Tutankhamen's tomb for the book "Tutankhamen: The Tomb and Its Treasures" in 1977 and the Nelson A. Rockefeller collection, the subject of "Masterpieces of Primitive Art," published in 1978. BPL has a comprehensive collection of primitive art and artifacts including pre-Columbian, Asian and Celtic.

picturemaxx AG establishes South-Eastern Europe headquarters in Vienna

Munich-based picturemaxx AG, operator of Europe’s leading network for media purchasing and marketing, is characterised by growth – even in times of global economic turbulence. March 31st 2009 will see the German technology provider open up its headquarters for Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Europe in Vienna - picturemaxx CEE GmbH. In future, Vienna is to be the base from where all existing publishing and picture agency customers, such as those in Scandinavia, Austria and neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe, are to be serviced on an even more demand-oriented basis and from where new market potential is to be developed.