Welcome
to


Welcome to FocalPoint f/8, an experimental design and production group for new digital and democratic journalism on the World Wide Web.

Our goal is to develop and present a new kind of interactive photojournalism, utilizing the newest in digital and communications technologies and some of the best photographic and journalistic talent around. Antonin Kratochvil, Miguel Luis Fairbanks, Ed Kashi, Bobby Neel Adams, Darcy Padilla, Stella Johnson, Gary Matoso, and Ann Summa are just a few of the names you'll be seeing here at FocalPoint f/8 in the months ahead.

Even more importantly, we at FocalPoint f/8 hope to present stories which will allow you, our friends and site users, to communicate and dialogue directly with the photographers, journalists, and subjects in the field.

The Russian Chronicles

The Russian Chronicles, our first experiment in realtime, online, interactive photojournalism began September 11th, 1995 in Vladivostok, Russia, when Contact Press Images' photographer Gary Matoso and writer Lisa Dickey embarked upon a 5,000 mile, two month journey across the Russian heartland. They are traveling with a high resolution Kodak 420 DCS digital camera and two laptop computers, recording their digital stories as they go and relaying them back to FocalPoint f/8 in San Francisco via SprintMail's international email network every two to three days, where they are being posted here at FocalPoint f/8 in The Russian Chronicles. You can follow along with them on their journey there, and even communicate with them directly via the MailBox section, too.

This "first of its kind" project, a photo-based and totally digital Trans-Cyberian journey, is being co-produced by FocalPoint f/8 along with World Media Network in Paris, France.


Announcements of Upcoming Photographic Events


What you'll find at FocalPoint f/8 in the months ahead:

Documentary Projects
In addition to developing "realtime" stories at FocalPoint f/8 like The Russian Chronicles, we also hope to provide an outlet for unpublished or underpublished works of exceptional value from a wide variety of photographers and photojournalists. You'll soon be able to view the first of these, noted photojournalist Ed Kashi's SAIGON ON WHEELS, here in the weeks ahead.
Resources
Need an E-6 lab that will do an overnight run in Vladivostok? Or a safe and secure place to store your equipment in Morgodishu? This is the place for working photographers to share tips based on their real life experiences. You can email your tips to "resources@f8.com".
Forum
This is where issues confronting the photographic community can be discussed and aired, such as the growing debate about electronic and intellectual property rights in cyberspace. This area will be opening soon.
Portfolios
A showcase for the portfolios of selected photographers and photojournalists. And our own "Best Promo or Mailer of the Week Page." Email your latest to "promo@f8.com" or mail to "FocalPoint f/8, PO Box 192244, San Francisco CA 94119-2244."

W e're anxious to hear from you, so be sure to visit the Forum soon and let us know what you think. We are particularly interested in developing and ongoing projects in photojournalism, photo-narrative, or just plain ol' good photography, and of course, suggestions on how to make this site better. We're also glad to support other experimental photo and journalistic sites on the Web by cross-linking between our respective sites. If you're interested in submitting work or a portfolio, please contact us at "focalpt@f8.com". This is a non-commercial site created for the benefit of its users. Help make it a success.
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