O2 Stories is a collaborative photography-based storytelling project and photo competition. O2 has commissioned Alexis Kennedy of Failbetter Games to write two stories, inspired by photos taken by the public. One story is a journey in sunlight, a happy tale of a far off land, while the other is a dark and hard-boiled thriller, set in shadows. Each tale begins with a single picture and from there, it’s up to the audience how the stories twist and turn over the next eleven chapters. To become part of the story, all you have to do is read what has been written so far, take a photo that you think could tell the next part, and then tweet it via twitpic, yfrog, plixi, or twitgoo with the hashtag for the story (either #o2sunlight or #o2shadows). Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, the author will choose a photo that inspires him to write the next chapter for each story. If your picture is chosen, you will win a printed book of the complete story, featuring your photograph.

Website: O2 Stories

Intel is running a photo-video contest on Facebook as part of its Visual Life campaign. The orgainsers are looking for submissions of original photographs and movie clips in six categories including Things, Moments, Northern Lights, Remastered, Places and People. Facebook members can either upload a file from their hard drive or select a photo from their Facebook albums. Please note that this competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or above only. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.

Website: Intel Visual Life Photo-Video Contest on Facebook

PhotoHide.com provides a free service to anyone who would like to blur the face of the subject in personal photos. “In a time where privacy becomes increasingly important PhotoHide obscures your face or the faces of people who do not want to appear in photos,” the creators say. Although this is pretty easy to accomplish in any decent photo editor, the service can still be of interest to those who do not use such programs. You can upload a photo of 3MB or less, draw a selection around the part of the face you would like to blur, click ‘Hide’, and download the modified photo to your computer. The PhotoHide team are saying they do not store any of the originals, which are automatically deleted at the end of your session.

Website: PhotoHide

The Rolleimarin UW2 is a universal underwater camera housing for compact cameras. According to the distributor the Rolleimarin UW2 is compatible with hundreds of digital compact cameras ranging from approximately 8.2x4.6x1.3cm to 10x6.4x3cm in size. Dustproof, shockproof up to a height of one metre and waterproof down to a depth of 40m, this underwater case weighs 380 grams and is available in yellow, black and red for €199.

The Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is a shock- and waterproof digital camera with a 64mm equivalent f/2.8 lens and a tiny 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. Able to survive a drop from a height of up to one metre, the Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is also waterproof down to a depth of 3m. Apart from capturing five-megapixel stills, the camera can also record 720p high-definition movies at a frame rate of 30fps. Powered by two AAA batteries and compatible with microSD memory cards, the Rollei Sportsline 60 Camouflage is hitting the shops today at an RRP of €79.95.

The new Rollei ActionCam 100 is a small and lightweight HD video camera featuring a fast ultra-wideangle lens. Easy to attach to a biker’s helmet or a bicycle’s handlebars, the Rollei ActionCam 100 has a 2.5mm f/2 lens with an angle-of-view of 120 degrees. With a waterproof housing that is depth rated to 30 metres, the camera can even be used underwater. High-definition videos with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps (as well as 5-megapixel stills) are recorded on a microSD card (not included). The Rollei ActionCam 100 will be available at retail from 1st June for a recommended price of €99.95.

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM is a new compact L-series telezoom lens. It offers the usual high build quality of Canon's luxury lenses, optical image stabilisation, a ring-type ultrasonic motor for fast auto-focusing, and an eight-blade circular diaprhragm which promises excellent bokeh. That distinctive white coating doesn't come cheap, though, so read our Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Review to find out if it's worth the investment.

iPhoto ‘11: The Missing Manual by David Pogue and Lesa Snider is a new title from O’Reilly Media. From this book, you can learn how to organise your collection, use iPhoto’s editing options including its Photoshop-like adjustments panel, publish your photos to Flickr, Facebook, and MobileMe, and create slideshows, gift books, calendars, and cards. The 384-page book is available in print format for $34.99 and in electronic format for $27.99.

Website: O’Reilly Media

Photo Iconic, in conjunction with Strabo Photo Tours, is leading two photographic holidays in Ireland this July. The first one, Ireland - Landscape, People & the Craic (21-25 July 2011, $1545), includes a “special treat” - a specially arranged Irish music session to photograph, at which the course participants will experience the ‘craic’, an enchanting mix of fun, entertainment, and conversation. The second, longer trip, Ireland - A Different View, Landscapes & Panoramas (25-31 July 2011, $2345), promises to be a more intensive photographic experience. It concentrates on the stunning Irish landscape of County Mayo and County Galway, and will include workshops on panoramic photography. The prices quoted include all tuition, transfers from Ireland West Airport Knock, plus accommodation and breakfast and dinner at Hillcrest House near Westport, County Mayo.

Sort Shots is an iPad app that enables users to quickly and and easily locate and assign tags to one or more photographs. The application imports the keywords assigned to photographs via iTunes Folders or FTP using popular photographic software including Adobe Lightroom, Bridge, Elements, Apple Aperture and iPhoto, Nik Software Capture NX and Microsoft Expression Media and Photo Gallery. The latest version, v2.4, incorporates a variety of new features, including wireless printing, metadata display in full-screen view, enhanced gesture support, and more. Sort Shots - iPad Edition 2.4 is $5.99 and available worldwide exclusively through the iTunes App Store.

Leica has issued an appeal to photographers around the world to make a donation for earthquake-stricken Japan. The German company has set up an appeal fund at its head office in Solms and in its representative offices around the world, and is now inviting its fans to make a personal contribution by visiting the website below.

Sigma UK has announced the suggested retail price (SRP) of the Sigma DP2x large-sensor digital compact camera. The successor to Sigma’s DP2 and DP2s cameras will be available for purchase towards the end of April for £619.99. (The US pricing was revealed two days ago.)

Neovoyage has announced its 2011 photography tours. This summer, participants will embark on a fascinating journey across the Andes of Ecuador to explore one of the most diverse places on Earth. The 14-day Ecuador photography tour follows a path lined with volcanic peaks, Inca ruins and cloud-forest reserves between two UNESCO world heritage sites. In the fall,  photographers will visit the remnants of mysterious cultures like the Chimu and the Nasca along the Peruvian coast. The 11-day Peru photography tour takes photographers to places where Peru shows its more authentic side as colonial towns coexist with ruins still being excavated. For more information, visit the website below.

The 38th issue of the free PhotographyBB Online Magazine is now available for download. This edition features several articles on photographing animals, including dogs, birds in flight, lions, leopards and elephants. Guest contributor Mario Fazekas has a richly illustrated 10-page article on photographing South Africa’s Super Seven on a budget, while photographer Heather Bashow shares her secrets of shooting birds in flight. In addition, staff writer Mike Frye takes a look at networking in the world of photojournalism, while PhotographyBB’s editor and publisher Dave Seeram explores ways to achieve the popular pop-art effect in Photoshop CS5. The 38th edition is available now on the PhotographyBB website.

Website: PhotographyBB

Capture: Digital Photography Essentials is a new title from Rocky Nook. This book concentrates on photography from a digital-capture-workflow point of view. The text addresses both the opportunities and limitations of digital photography, and teaches readers how to make the most of the opportunities and to work around the limitations. The 264-page volume sells for $39.95, and is available for pre-order at the website below.

Canon have released a new firmware update for the EOS 60D DSLR camera. Version 1.0.9 incorporates the following fixes and changes:

1. Changes the name of the feature called “Art Filters” to “Creative Filters” (which is used in markets other than Japan) in the Japanese version to make the terms consistent. (This change only applies to the Japanese version and does not apply to other language versions.)
2. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera may operate abnormally when it is set to Quick Mode AF during Live View shooting immediately after capturing an image with the C.Fn II-1 Long exposure noise reduction setting set to [2: On] and a shutter speed setting of 5 seconds or more.
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera may operate abnormally when after Live View shooting, the remote switch on the EOS Utility screen is pressed to immediately start movie-shooting. This phenomenon only occurs when the camera is connected to a compatible personal computer and the Remote Live View function of EOS Utility software is being used.

Website: Canon EOS 60D Firmware Update 1.0.9

Not everyone wants to carry a camera on their shoulder, something that Panasonic, Canon, and now Nikon have recognised with the release of the Coolpix P300. All three manufacturers offer a pocket compact with full manual controls, pro-level features and good image quality, with the Nikon P300 also adding full 1080p HD video, fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, high-resolution screen and 7fps burst shooting. Are these features enough to elevate the P300 above its main rivals? Read our Nikon Coolpix P300 Review to find out...

Professional photographer Mark Schacter takes a very personal look at his home country of Canada in his latest book, "Roads", with all 160 images processed with DxO Optics Pro.

Epson America is expanding its Stylus Pro line of printing solutions with a wider selection of Designer Edition bundles that combine Epson Stylus Pro printers with the EFI eXpress for Epson Software RIP. Specifically, the Epson Stylus Pro 4900 Designer Edition is now joined by the Epson Stylus Pro 3880, 7890 and 9890 Designer Editions. All four Epson Stylus Pro Designer Edition bundles are now available through authorised Epson Professional Graphics resellers at prices ranging from $1,195 to $5,495. Additionally, Epson is currently offering customers mail-in rebates of up to $750 on these bundles. Note that the products must be purchased from an Epson Authorised Professional Imaging Reseller before 31 May 2011, and claims must be postmarked within 30 days from the purchase date..

Bibble 5.2.2 provides broader raw file support, improved stability, and resolves minor issues found in previous releases of Bibble 5. Bibble 5.2.2 also improves interaction with plugins that change the size of your photo, like zFrame and zShadow. Bibble Labs customers who purchased Bibble 4 since September, 2006 are eligible for a free upgrade to Bibble 5, and Bibble 5.2.2 is a free upgrade for all current Bibble 5 customers. The update is available immediately for Windows, Mac, and Linux.