World’s best photographers to showcase Tasmania

Seventeen of the world’s best photographers have arrived in Tasmania for a nine-day project, capturing images that will showcase Tasmania internationally.

“Tasmania was selected from a pool of contenders from around the world as the destination for the second Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Adventure by organisers who were struck by Tasmania’s stunning scenery, unique quality of light and ‘edge of the world’ appeal,” said Felicia Mariani, CEO of Tourism Tasmania.

‘Focusing’ primarily on the Bicheno, Hobart and Cradle Mountain regions, the resulting work will be compiled in a glossy handbook, published later this year by respected digital media company, O’Reilly.

Millions of people are also expected to visit O’Reilly’s website (digitalmedia.oreilly.com/adventure/) to follow the adventure which includes daily blogs and images from each photographer. The website also features a competition to win roundtrip airfares and two nights’ accommodation for two people to create their own adventure in Tasmania.

“This project was secured as a result of negotiations held between Tourism Tasmania executives and Adobe during G’DAY USA 2008 and highlights the innovative ways in which we are aiming to promote the State,” commented Ms Mariani.

The photographers were hand-picked from around the world as representing the best in diverse photographic fields, ranging from wilderness landscapes to industrial, agricultural to portraiture and fashion photography. It is expected they will capture a unique snapshot of a ‘week in the life of Tasmania’.

The first Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Adventure was held in Iceland in 2006 to trial the pilot version of the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software package.

Lightroom is a part of the Photoshop family and is the professional photographer's essential toolbox, providing one application for managing, adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs. The Photoshop family, including Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Elements and the free, online Photoshop Express Beta, offers image editing software for all types of users.

From April 5 to 13, the photographers will capture the best Tasmania has to offer from cities such as Hobart and Launceston to the natural beauty of Maria Island, Freycinet National Park Cradle Mountain. They will return each evening to designated bases to edit their work using Adobe’s digital image manipulation software.

“The international credentials of these photographers mean their Tasmanian work will continue to appear in a wide range of outlets and publications, taking the destination of Tasmania to the world,” said Ms Mariani.