Hello From Phase One

[Kevin Raber]

Hi..My name is Kevin Raber and I am with Phase One.  I am happy to announce that I will be taking an active roll on this forum to help with questions and discussions on and about Phase One.

A little about me first.  Like you I am very passionate about photography.  I have been involved in photography since I was a young kid.  I started my first studio in 1973 while in college.  My studios were very successful and were located in the Philadelphia area.  I did commercial and portrait work.  My business grew rapidly and before long I had a number of employees, a color lab and a number of Fortune 500 clients.  It was a different and grand time to be a photographer.  I continued to grow my business and when the Apple-MAC came out in 1985 I started in addition to the studio a software company and wrote some of the first software for MAC focused on photo studio management.  Through a stroke of luck and opportunity I sold my studio and software company in 1990.  Soon afterward I worked with Burrell Colour one of the largest color labs in the US doing sales and business development.  In addition, in 1997 we started making a push to a digital workflow in the lab.   We installed some great technology and as a result I learned about Phase One.  One day we were making prints from customer files on a LightJet 5000.  A customer had us make a 50 inch print of his file.  It was spectacular.  I learned it was from a Phase One - LightPhase  a 6 megapixel digital back for the Hasselblad.  Well one thing lead to another and within a few months I joined the Phase One.  I haven’t ever looked back.  I am a firm believer in image quality and that is what Phase One is all about.  Over the years we have developed some amazing products and we aren’t done yet.  

My adventure with Phase One has been amazing.  It is a strong and fun company to work for.  We have an energetic and dynamic CEO who has assembled a terrific and talented team of individuals who are passionate about the company and photography.  Phase One is not sitting still and our R&D guys are always working on new and great products.  Our present line up of products is second to none.  I have been VP for sometime now and worked the sales side of things mostly over the years.  This year I have begun to focus on other areas, more on the marketing side.  I am also responsible and the host for the PODAS workshops.  This a new direction for Phase One as we are holding workshops around the world.  These workshops are unique as they are all inclusive and provide attendees with a Phase One P65+ camera to use while they are attending.  Our goal is to provide the best educational experience you can have and allow you the chance to see your images in the highest resolution possible.  Check out our PODAS workshop pages and blog.  

I am proud to say that I know Michael Reichmann and over the years we have become friends and I have had the privilege to shoot in many areas around the world with him.  His dedication to the photographic community is truly exceptional.  Taking pictures is what it is all about.  For me it is therapy after a long week.  It is spiritual when I see and can record nature at its finest moments.  It is my passion.  I will contribute where I can on this forum and when I can.  If there is something I can’t answer I will do my best to get the answer.  My contact information is on this post and others that I will make.  Contact me directly if needed.  

It’s a great time to be part of photography and the revolution underway.  Never before have we had the tools as photographers to exercise our creativity as we do today.  I grew up in darkrooms, with chemicals and a great stereo system.  Now I have my trusty MAC and iTunes.  I still enjoy the time I work on my images but now I am not breathing in bad fumes or rotting my fingers off in chemicals.  I hope all of you enjoy the picture taking process as much as I do.  I am all about the picture and more than anything else the fun of taking the shot.  I look forward to being an active part of this forum.

Kevin Raber

[wolfnowl]

Hi Kevin, and welcome to the list!

Mike.

[michele]

Wellcome Kevin

[fredjeang]

Bienvenue Kevin!

[siba]

Hi Kevin. Nice to know you're around.

I'm not a frequent poster, but, primarily thanks to Luminous landscape I entered MFD with the P45, when it was introduced over 3 years ago now. It was here that I was able to get the most comprehensive information.

This forum has been extremely useful to me in terms of technical questions, as well as tips on equipment. As a professional photographer, the one thing I miss somewhat is hanging out with the other photographers at the lab and sharing views and stories. I feel like the LL forum goes some way towards replacing that.

I certainly value being able to talk to you through this forum, or have the opportunity to contact you directly.

Cheers

Stefan