fotocommunity At photokina Showcases A True Community For Photo-philes In the Information Age

Members Of Europe's Largest Online Photographic Meeting Place Converge In Cologne To Learn, Shoot, Share And Play - Starting in Hall 9

COLOGNE, GERMANY - September 12, 2008 -
fotocommunity, the worlds largest online meeting place (www.fotocommunity.com) for photographic enthusiasts and pros to share ideas and inspiration, showcases its many features and benefits (and gathers thousands of its world-wide members)  - in Hall 9 Stand B054/D055 at photokina 2008, from September 23 - 28, 2008 in Cologne, Germany.

Photokina is the only event in the world that offers a comprehensive presentation of all the digital imaging media, technologies and markets available today, for professionals as well as for consumers. As such, it is the ideal place to experience the fotocommunity phenomenon. More than a website, fotocommunity serves as a true community for those passionate about photography in today's global information age. The 750,000 + fotocommunity members include a growing North American following. For more information about fotocommunity, click here: (http://www.fotocommunity.net/en/press//details/article/33/63.html)

"fotocommunity is more than a website; it's a living community, one that looks beyond the virtual horizon,"  says Andreas Meyer, founder and Managing Director of the fotocommunity. "Photography isn't about the internet. Photography is about experiences. And people like to share experiences, whch is what fotocommunity is all about. There are over 200 user meetings registered every month on our site, and the number is growing. The need to share is a key reason fotocommunity regularly organizes festivals that are very well attended," says Meyer.

fotocommunity brings this considerable global presence to Photokina 2008, (www.fotocommunity.com/info/Photokina2008) from its own expansive stand B054/D055 in Hall 9 complete with a built-in stage, lounge, Internet Café and business center, to leadership and paticipation in various programs and events throughout the fair. With the help of the fair organizers Koelnmesse, fotocommunity offers something for every discerning photographer - professional vendors who traditionally come to learn and share the latest imaging technologies to the photo enthusiasts and prosumers who flock to the photokina to learn about the latest trends, techniques, and products.

A True Community For Photo-philes Comes To The photokina
Just as hundreds of social networking sites have achieved soaring popularity among targeted groups of teens to professionals, fotocommunity members use the site to exchange photos, news, and detailed information about their photographic likes and dislikes. Visitors who stop by Stand B054/D055 in Hall 9, can experience first-hand the many benefits provided to fotocommunity's members. Comments, photo postcards, chats, text forums, linked pictures and profiles all help the site foster a true community feeling, one developed and maintained for today's global information age.

Some of the latest site enhancements on display at this year's photokina, include:
Public buddies - an all-new feature that allows you to make your buddies public to all of your friends on fotocommunity;
Public favorites - From now on you make some or all of your favorite photos form other photographers public and so show others which photos you think are best at fotocommunity;
My news - a complement to "My Photos," this new features allows us to show which of your friends uploaded a new photo, wrote or received a comment, changed a file and so on. You provide the filter for all this news and select which activities of your friends will be highlighted.

Registration on fotoocmmunity is free, although the number of photos each free visitor may post on the site is limited. A varying fee structure gives three levels of members increasingly advanced benefits, including the ability to post more phots in a shorter time period. For more information, visit: http://www.fotocommunity.com/pc/pay.php

The Stage Is Set For Photography
(http://www.fotocommunity.com/info/Photokina2008_stand_design)

The fotocommunity stage - offers exceptional daily forums and lectures from photographic experts on a variety of topics in English and in German every day of the fair from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Whether photomontage, Photoshop techniques, fashion -  portrait or nude photography, color management, photo rights or live photo shootings on stage -  everyone has the opportunity to expand their knowledge of photography and capture unique images. Click here to view the daily schedule of events at stand B054/D055 in Hall A.

Some of the worlds leading experts participating in the daily forums at the stand include: Karsten Franke, Carina Meyer-Broicher, Lars Ihring, Andy Pomplun, Alexander Heinrichs, George Banek, Dana Schütte, Heinz-Jürgen Groß, Martin Zurmühle, Michael Papendieck, Thomas Nagel. In additon industry leaders Bogen Imaging, Apple Aperture and Hachette Publishing's  Popular Photography Magazine's editor-in-chief share some tips and tricks as well as http://make.tv/maketvmakeTV explains how to pruduce your own photo show. (www.fotocommunity.com/info/Photokina2008_program).

The 7,535 square foot fotocommunity stand also has been built for rest, relaxation and networking. The photokina attendees can get acquainted with fotocommunity in the complimentary internet café - browse fotocommunity in all five languages, update their member profiles or upload their most recent photos - take advantage of the fotocommunity lounge, have refreshments, register for daily raffles with wonderful prizes, compliments of fotocommunity and their participating sponsors.

Winning Photography Exhibition at The photokina Fair Boulevard
Photokina attendees will have the chance to view the winners of fotocommunity's photokina photo contests. Winners will be disyplayed along the Fair Boulevard. The extensive fotocommunity photographic exhibit will include a large-format print of the winning image as well as four additional photos from the winner in each category along with brief biographies and motivation for their winning pictures. Click here for the contest Channel on fotocommunity (www.fotocommunity.com/pc/pc/channel/57)

A World of Wisdom
The last day of the fair offers the first-ever fotocommunity-led day at the WorldConvention, (www.fotocommunity.com/info/Photokina2008_WoCo)

Housed in the Congress Centre North at the Koelnmesse exhitbition grounds on Saturday, September 27th, an all-day convention offers a special program of four exclusive two-and-a-half-hour workshops that comprise in-depth quality program featuring worldwide renowned experts Doc Baumann, Robin Preston, Michael Claushallmann und David Mecey to demonstrate expertise and share valuable tips.

The same evening fotocommunity plays host to the hottest party in town, with special presentations, awards, and dancing the night away to favorit hits played by a great cover band; as well as complimentary food &  beverage provided by fotocommunity and select sponsors.

Fotocommunity Offers Special Price for The photokina
Reduced-price every-day tickets for the photokina (9€ instead of 28€) and tickets for the fotocommunity WorldConvention Day, which includes the hottest party at photokina, are avaible at www.fotocommunity.com/photokina

"As the Koelnmesse' vision for Photokina has expanded to embrace photography enthusiasts and prosumers, so has our presence at this year's fair. We invite anyone who is interested in photography to stop by our stand, the Boulevard, or join us at the WorldConvention Day to see what a true fotocommunity of like-minded people, all passionate about photography, can achieve. We welcome all of our members and attendees to experience this year's  photokina with us, " states Andreas Meyer, founder and Managing Director of the fotocommunity.