Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Elliott Landy, official photographer for the original Woodstock Music Festival, has just released a new, 224-page, hardcover edition of Woodstock Vision-The Spirit Of A Generation featuring 300 of his classic rock images from the late sixties. This new collection of his work features famous photographs of Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline), The Band (Music From Big Pink) and Van Morrison (Moondance) as well as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and many other greats. It also includes photo-journalistic images of sixties peace demonstrations and a series of offbeat, humorous celebrity photographs. The new book, as well as signed, Fine Art Prints of Elliott’s classic images, can be ordered online at the website below. His Archival Pigment Prints are made on Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Baryta inkjet paper.

Website: Ladyvision

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Following an extensive period of negotiations with HSBC, Jessops plc has agreed a solvent restructuring of Jessops Group Limited, its principal trading company, which will “place that business on a sound financial footing for the future”. The restructuring proposal, achieved with the support of HSBC, will enable Jessops to continue with business as usual. Importantly, the restructuring will protect 2,000 jobs directly, as well as others in the supply chain, the company says. Under the restructuring, Jessops main operating company is being sold to a newly formed company, Snap Equity Limited, which will be 47 per cent owned by HSBC. In exchange, HSBC will forgive £34m of debt owed by Jessops plc.

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Ohanaware announced the immediate availability of their new HDR Photography software “HDRtist” for the Macintosh platform.  HDRtist is easy to use HDR software that creates HDR photos and tone maps them in a single step. An intuitive design makes it simple to choose from our 4 different tone mapping techniques.  To celebrate the launch of HDRtist, Ohanaware is offering 20% off its Mac OS X photo editing software “Funtastic Photos”. HDRtist is available today as freeware, requiring only a Power Macintosh G5 or Intel based Macintosh computer, running Mac OS X v 10.4 or later. The Funtastic Photos promotion is available from today, throughout the month of October 2009. 20% off reduces the price of a single user licence from $34.99 down to $27.99.

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Acronis released today their first backup and recovery software optimised for netbooks’ screen size and unique hardware configuration. Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition delivers the patented disk-imaging technology and bare metal restore technologies of the Acronis True Image family combined with an option for online backup. From its intuitive graphical interface, users can back up their entire disk locally and to any attached device. One-Click Protection and powerful scheduler allows users to simply create and automate regular backups. Acronis® True Image Home Netbook Edition supports Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP Home and XP Professional operating systems and requires a minimum screen resolution of 1024x600. The new software supports netbooks that use Intel’s Atom 230, 330, N270, N280, Z500, Z510, Z520, Z530, and Z540 chips or the VIA C7-M chip. Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition, priced at £23.95, can be downloaded at the website below.

Website: Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition

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Topaz Labs have announced the release of Topaz ReMask, a fast and highly efficient Photoshop plug-in for masking and cutting out digital images. Masking and cutting out image elements are very common tasks among photographers and graphic designers, but the process is generally repetitive and slow, especially when it comes to intricate details like hair and fur. Topaz ReMask’s advanced technology operates by using a tri-map, or user-generated mask-map, made up of three tones: white, black and gray. Users are able to quickly define the elements in their image that they want to keep using white; elements they want to get rid of using black; and elements that they want ReMask to figure out using gray. Topaz ReMask is available for a 30-day free trial, with the full version being priced at $69.99.

Website: Topaz ReMask

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Samsung Digital Imaging is launching a £2m multi-discipline advertising campaign this week, featuring a heavyweight TV campaign to support Samsung’s new 2View products. The campaign, comprising TV, print and online activity, will focus on the recently launched ST500 and ST550 cameras, which feature the world’s first front and back LCD screens. The dual LCD screens offer photography enthusiasts a unique opportunity to perfect their self-portraits and this feature will be central to the advertising campaign.

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Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh GR Digital III digital camera. Version 1.21 fixes a number of playback- and MF-related bugs, plus an issue with the GW-2 wide conversion lens. Click through / read on for the details.

Website: Ricoh GRD III Firmware 1.21

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O’Reilly has just released Photoshop Elements 8 for Windows: The Missing Manual, a new book by Barbara Brundage From this book, you’ll learn not only what each tool does, but also when it makes the most sense to use it and why. You get easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for everything from importing photos to organising, editing, sharing, and storing your images. Photoshop Elements 8 for Windows: The Missing Manual is available for $44.99 / £32.99.

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Minox GmbH has announced the “rebirth” of the classic Minox Pocket Tripod. Originally developed by Walter Zapp, inventor of the legendary Minox 8x11 miniature camera, this solid accessory is now available in a new edition. Featuring a uniquely designed ball-head, the Minox Pocket Tripod is not only designed for MINOX cameras, it is also compatible with the tripod thread of several cameras of other manufacturers. The Minox Pocket Tripod is available now from specialist dealers.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Fujifilm has released the Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 black-and-white instant film in the USA. The availability of this particular instant film type provides a practical proofing and testing solution for large-format photographers to check light, depth and overall composition when shooting. The Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 instant film is a positive, “peel-apart” panchromatic material designed for camera back-incorporated photographic equipment and cameras that accept instant film packs. It develops in 30 seconds and produces glossy finished photos with an image area of 3.5” x 4.5”. Available in 10 sheets per pack for $42.40, the Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 can be purchased wherever Fujifilm professional films are sold.

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