Manfrotto Introduces the New and Improved NeoTec Monopod

Bassano del Grappa, Italia (PRWEB) August 23, 2005 -

? Manfrotto, the world?s leading manufacturer of photographic support products, is introducing the new and improved 685B NeoTec Deluxe Monopod with four new features including a safety lever, foot pedal, leg warmer and suction cup foot. From the NeoTec line of Pro Photo Supports, the 685B is built around an innovative self-regulating mechanism inside the leg that delivers unmatched speed, stability and ease-of-use.

This revolutionary new mechanism allows the user to quickly and easily extend each leg to the desired height by simply pulling downwards. There are no locks, knobs or levers of any kind to contend with. Once the leg is extended into position, NeoTec?s patented internal mechanism automatically locks it there by pushing outwards on the tubing, exerting more locking power and further stabilizing the tripod as additional weight is added.

The 685B system features a new safety lever that prevents accidental deployment of the locking release mechanism. To close the monopod, the safety lever must be activated, which then allows the grip action handle to be depressed. The lever is simple to operate while still maintaining the one-handed closing operation.

The updated monopod also features a lightweight rubber foot pedal to make opening or closing the 685B simple, and a protective leg warmer on the bottom leg section to provide protection against the elements and a comfortable grip. Also, the 685B includes a suction cup foot for extra ground support and increased grip.

All these features add up to Manfrotto?s most advanced monopod, while maintaining the extremely powerful NeoTec locking system to withhold a wide range of camera systems, making it the ideal tool for everyone from the extreme sports photographer to the advanced amateur.

Featuring the same opening and closing mechanism of the other tripods in the NeoTec line, the 685B monopod is designed for support with unprecedented speed. The 685B can fully extend to 166 cm / 65 inches and collapse to 71 cm / 28 inches. It has the capability of supporting payloads up to 8 kg / 18 pounds and features the same ?upside down? leg construction, further ensuring its durability and reliability in all environments.

Manfrotto products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at info@bogenimaging.com or 565 East Crescent Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506.

About Manfrotto

Gruppo Manfrotto are world leaders in the manufacture of professional camera and lighting supports for photography, video, broadcast and entertainment. For 35 years, Manfrotto has been building the world?s widest range of tripods, heads and dedicated accessories to support professional and semi-professional still cameras, from the traditional small, medium and large format to the latest digital camera. Every product in the Manfrotto range is designed to provide a perfect combination of important features such as: load capacity, size, stability, transportability, interchangeability and construction quality ? guaranteeing unique inimitable reliability and longevity.

About Bogen Imaging:

Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.

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New Improved Shine On Brightly Website for Hand-Crafted Cremation Urns and Memorials is Launched

Asheville, NC (PRWEB) January 28, 2012

If you've attended a funeral recently, you may have noticed the changing trends in end-of-life rituals, especially among babyboomers. As they plan funerals for their parents, friends, spouses, and sometimes themselves, they?re changing the way we memorialize life. Online funeral-related companies are appearing on the scene everyday, selling caskets, obituaries, urns, and more. Shine On Brightly is a unique company that features hand-crafted cremation urns, memorial glass, cremation and memorial jewelry, memorial portraits, hand-bound guest register books, and pet urns. The recently expanded collection features the works of more than 30 artists, and is now available at its newly updated, convenient e-commerce site.

The company grew from a lifelong passion for art, and a true love for people and their stories. Fifteen months after the company was launched, Owner and Founder Adrienne Crowther lost her husband of 29 years. Ten months later, she lost his sister, who had been a lifelong friend. Crowther?s venture immediately became her vocation. According to Crowther, ?the opportunity to help people during this difficult time is indeed a privilege and an honor. When someone finds a cremation urn or memorial that reflects the personality of a loved one, it really helps with their healing process.?

Most of the memorial products in today?s market are out-sourced and mass-produced. However, today?s consumer seeks uniqueness and superior quality when making an important purchase such as a cremation urn or memorial. Shine On Brightly fills this niche by providing affordable, hand-crafted products that are made in the US. Outstanding customer service is paramount to the mission of this company. Shine On Brightly offers a much more personal shopping experience than the mega-urn websites. Having experienced major losses in life, the company's owner handles each customer with compassion.

Every product is carefully selected, and is made with care and fine craftsmanship.Cremation urns are available in ceramic, wood, glass, metal, and biodegradable materials. The collection offers a variety in styles and sizes.

The Shine On Brightly collection includes memorials for anyone, regardless of whether the person has been buried or cremated. ?This is not just a cremation-oriented website,? adds Crowther. ? We believe that art has the power to heal many of life?s difficult passages, and we didn?t want to narrow our offerings. For that reason, we offer memorial portraits, guest register books, and memorial jewelry. Our customers seek out our products because they offer an alternative to the mass-produced memorials that seem to appear on every other site."

The company is based in Asheville, NC, which is renowned for its community of fine crafts-workers. Since its inception, Shine On Brightly has added artists from many other parts of the country, including Washington, Oregon, Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio. The artist lineup will continue to expand with the company.

Commissioned pieces are available as well as those featured on the website. Ms. Crowther enjoys matching her clients with artists to provide a safe and comfortable working rapport between artist and client to create custom tributes. According to a recent client, ?Shine on Brightly took the painful task of facing a permanent loss and substituted it for an enriching experience of actively replacing sadness with happiness through art.?

Shine On Brightly?s unique collection is now available. Orders can be placed online, or by calling 828-348-0455 or toll free at 866-844-4469. Friendly, compassionate customer service responds to all inquiries and sales requests Monday ? Friday, 9am-5pm EST. Voicemail is checked regularly during weekends for time-sensitive inquiries and orders.

Crowther's long strings of artistic successes are not limited to her company. She has played a leadership role in one of the country's oldest arts councils, the Asheville Area Arts Council. The Asheville Area Arts Council is dedicated to enriching the community by educating people in the Asheville area about the arts, advocating integration of the arts in all aspects of community life and supporting artists and art organizations. In her former role with the Asheville Area Arts Council, Crowther founded the Arts-in-Education program and served as that program's director for six years of her tenure with the Council.

As the amount of cremations among citizens dramatically rises, Crowther found a business opportunity, merging together individual artists to commemorate the lives of loved ones, in a unique, innovative way. As a citizen who finds herself well-versed in the concept of the arts as an economic engine, Crowther merged together pathways between individual artists and a wonderful business opportunity.

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