Alan Smith and TopFoto honoured for their outstanding contribution to the industry
London, UK, Oct. 22, 2007. The 2007 BAPLA award for outstanding contribution to the image licensing industry has been awarded to Alan Smith and TopFoto. Presenting the award and a bottle of single malt whisky to TopFoto’s founder and Managing Partner Alan Smith at the BAPLA AGM on Wednesday 17 October, Chairman Catherine Draycott said:
"Acquiring collection after collection over the years and amassing over 6 million pictures, Alan Smith has become a major custodian of the UK’s cultural photographic heritage. He never seemed to be phased by the huge job of taking on more collections and more to the point, of making them accessible."
TopFoto plays a key role in the picture industry world-wide and has had a long association with BAPLA and EU organisation CEPIC.
Alan Smith was induced by Paul Brown to take over the Presidency of CEPIC where he is now in his 10th year as President.
He has been at the centre of the organisation in year upon year of fantastic networking and development opportunities, with the CEPIC annual Congress meetings held in locations that continue to attract delegates from Europe and far beyond making it the best meeting point for the industry worldwide.
Alan Smith said: "We were early users of computers and today have 2 million pictures on our own servers. This been a 30 year collective effort by my family, hundreds of staff, service providers such as LTT, CPL, Fotoware, Rose Deakin, Bikini lists, and suppliers and agents worldwide."
"Membership of BAPLA has helped a lot and there has always been somebody to talk to and share with. Membership of CEPIC recognises the importance of international trading in images. My thanks to them all."
About Topfoto
TopFoto is an international editorial distributor, representing over 40 leading suppliers. As the collection grows more comprehensive with the new, the unusual and the hard to come by, TopFoto is an invaluable resource for all professional picture users.
TopFoto is respected throughout the publishing industry for providing a fast, personal, friendly and efficient service to deliver high-resolution images by email, FTP, light box download or on CD.
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