PHOTOGRAPHERS ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS (PAGE 18)

A NUMBER of technicians drawn from Accra and Kumasi have been trained in how to replace analogue units with digital mini-laboratories in the field of photography.
A Germany-based technical company , with assistance from a Ghanaian photographic company, is investing in the venture.
The Manager of Marado Company, importers of TURA photo papers in the country and the local agent of the Ow Consult of Germany , Mr Robet Adomako, told the Daily Graphic during one of the training sessions that the use of the mini laboratories was a new technology in printing pictures, which is on the increase worldwide.
He said Ow Consult had taken it upon itself to train the technicians and also supply the products because the new technology speeded up the printing process, but it was delicate, and called for expertise.
Mr Adomako said the training of the technicians would be of immense benefit to the photography professionals, especially those who had been in the field for more then 30 years.
The technicians are taken through three separate instruction courses in the servicing of digital machines.
The Chief Executive of OW Consult, organisers of the training programme, Mr Klaus Leppkes, said he had his first contact with the country in 2000. He said representatives of the company would regularise their visits every three months to expand the scope of the use of the digital mini laboratories. Mr Leppkes said the company was investing in sophisticated technical services for all digital Noritsu mini laboratories which the company supplied along with spare parts for completely reconditioned second-hand equipment or new machines.
He expressed optimism that the introduction of the new technology would improve the practice of photography while the analogue unit would become outmoded.
The participants expressed satisfaction with the course but called on the organisers to intensify their efforts to involve as many photographers as possible.
They also appealed to the suppliers to make the equipment available to facilitate the printing of photographs.