Epson Named Official Printer/Paper Partner for Nature’s Best Photography Awards

LONG BEACH, CA—March 15, 2012—Epson America has been named the official inkjet printer and paper partner of the 2012 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards Exhibition. Displayed on the second floor of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., this is an exhibition of award-winners from one of the world’s most prestigious nature photography competitions. As an innovator in professional printing technologies, Epson’s partnership allows visitors to see the world’s most stunning nature photography in its purest form as a photographic print.

The exhibition-quality prints were created with Epson’s award-winning 44-inch wide EPSON Stylus Pro 9900. With the precision of its EPSON MicroPiezo TFP print head and the performance of EPSON UltraChrome HDR ink, the printer delivers the highest quality prints with an extremely wide color gamut and incredible sharpness. This advanced printing technology is married with Epson Professional Papers for the richest blacks and smooth tonal transitions.

“With the help of Epson, and the incredible image-makers in the field, we are able to display an extraordinary photographic journey from the wild to the walls of the Smithsonian,” said Steve Freligh, Windland Awards Director. “Using Epson’s latest exhibition-quality printing technology, the images of wildlife and habitats are brought to life, allowing visitors to experience an up-close and personal connection to nature through large-format prints.”

The Smithsonian exhibit, opening March 30, 2012 and running through Jan. 6, 2013, features winners chosen from more than 20,000 entries from photographers in 47 countries to the annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards program. The 48-print exhibition includes the Grand Prize, the Conservation Photographer of the Year and the Youth Photographer of the Year, as well as finalists selected in 15 separate categories. Portraits of animals, plant life, oceans, and landscapes are displayed as dramatic, large-format prints ranging in size from 2’ x 3’ to nearly 4’ x 6’.

“Epson is delighted to partner with Nature’s Best Photography, where our advanced printing technology is employed to create an inspiring exhibition that showcases amazing images in support of science and conservation,” said Rick Day, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “With Epson’s industry-leading printing technology we are able to depict the true color, intensity and disposition of each of the photos so visitors feel as if they can fall right into the scenes—whether looking at an endangered animal, the vivid underwater realm, or dramatic landscapes.”

The exhibition will be viewed by millions of visitors during its stay at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and is open daily free to the public. The annual photo competition is open to the public and encourages submissions from photographers at all levels of expertise—pros, amateurs and youth. For more information, visit www.NaturesBestPhotography.org.

About Epson
Epson is a global imaging and innovation leader dedicated to exceeding the vision of customers worldwide through its compact, energy-saving, high-precision technologies, with a product line-up ranging from printers and 3LCD projectors for enterprise and the home, to sensors and other microdevices. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 78,000 employees in 99 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. To learn more about Epson, please visit: http://global.epson.com.

You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EpsonAmerica), Twitter (www.twitter.com/EpsonAmerica and www.twitter.com/EpsonEducation) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/EpsonTV).