EPSON is a Japanese electronics company and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of computer printers and imaging related equipment. The company has numerous subsidiaries worldwide and manufactures inkjet, dot matrix and laser printers, scanners, desktop computers, business, multimedia and home theatre projectors, large home theatre televisions, robots and industrial automation equipment, point of sale docket printers and cash registers, laptops, integrated circuits, LCD components and other associated electronic components. It is one of three core companies of the Seiko Group, a name traditionally known for manufacturing Seiko timepieces since its founding.

Epson was kind enough to offer their Perfection V750 Pro scanner as the first prize in the Equinox competition. This printer is suitable for wet plate use due to its large scan surface, but is also extremely useful for film photographers.

(read more: Epson Perfection V750 Pro product page)

WETPLATEWAGON is a brand that was created with the intention to assist photographers who wish to delve into the world of early photographic practices, in order to include those skills to the development of their creative projects. Thanks to the experience of working with these techniques, and with the support of professionals who specialize in this sector, Wetplatewagon offers services in the field of old photographic equipment restoration and in the production of new products designed specially for the old photographic arts. Wetplatewagon is committed to promote the exercise of 19^th century techniques providing the tools necessary to adapt it to the 21^st century.

One of their products is the WETPLATEWAGON DARKROOM PM1, a mobile darkroom solution designed in particular for wet plate photography. In just 4 minutes it unfolds from a 30 x 40 x 91 cm suitcase into a two meter high darkroom used for photographic development, especially suitable for the collodion process.

(read more: http://www.wetplatewagon.com/)

FOJO is a start-up from Croatia devoted to bridging the gap between the digital and analogue photography. To that end, this creative team started developing products such as the Enfojer, an innovative smartphone-driven photographic enlarger used for developing traditional analogue photos from the screen of a smartphone (but it works with film negatives too!). Requiring no electricity other than the smartphone battery, and with support for industry standard M39 lenses, this light, portable and affordable device enables the enthusiast photographer to explore analogue processes with minimal hassle, without the need for a dedicated and permanent darkroom.

To enhance the snappy photo development process, the team also developed their own Fojo iOS camera app, soon available on Android and Windows Mobile too, that enhances the Enfojer usage experience, but also features Photoshop-level editing capabilities on the smartphone platform.

(read more: http://www.fojo.me/)

ONDU is a design and fabrication studio located in Velenje, Slovenia. They merge high level craftsmanship with functional and durable products that aim to bring the notion of intergenerational exchange of objects back into our lives. All products are hand-made in their studio with care and attention to detail. ONDU was founded by Elvis Halilović, an industrial designer, photographer and carpenter. He is currently finishing his studying at the Academy of fine arts and design in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He also spent two years in Krakow, Poland, where he extended his knowledge of industrial design and practically taught himself how to work with wood.

ONDU also designs self-sufficient geodesic domes intended for multiple practical uses (demonstrated with “The Floating City” project, which incorporated several domes on a floating platform on the Velenje lake in Slovenia. ONDU also designs a series of ceramic products which pay hommage to a distinctive nostalgic design of the Yugoslav era.

(read more: http://www.ondu.si/)

FOTOINVENTS is a small Spanish manufacture held by Pep Mayugo, devoted to the production of analogue photography accessories and the restauration of old analogue cameras. Fotoinvents manufactures equipment that is especially useful for wet plate photography, such as the plate drying rack that holds up to 12 aluminum or glass plates (up to 3 mm thickness per plate, up to 13 x 18 cm in surface area). The rack is foldable for easy storage and weighs around 100 gram. At the Equinox competition, we’re giving away a total of 8 of these useful accessories for wet plate photographers.

We’re also giving away glass clamps used for wet plate rinsing and cleaning. It’s very practical for cleaning small format glass (e.g. 6 x 6 cm or 9 x 12 cm), but also accepts plates up to 20 x 25 cm. Both accessories are hand-made from high-quality wood and stainless steel.

(read more: http://www.fotoinvents.com/)