Deadly Instinct by Melissa Farris is a new photography book from National Geographic. “[The book] brings readers the ultimate in shocking predatory behaviour through vivid and candid pictures of animals in the wild fighting for survival,” says Carrie Engel, National Geographic Society. Priced at $26, Deadly Instinct features interviews with world-renowned National Geographic photographers such as Chris Johns, Joel Sartore and Brian Skerry who discuss their adventures photographing animals in their natural habitat and the dangers they face to get the best shot. The 192-page hardback is available for pre-order now, and will start shipping on 1st June.

Rocky Nook’s newest title, Painting with Light: Light Art Performance Photography, is now available in the UK. Released last month in the USA, Painting with Light introduces readers to the art of LAPP, or Light Art Performance Photography. Unlike other types of light painting, LAPP doesn’t just involve illuminating existing objects; it also requires the photographer to create and capture new subjects constructed entirely of light. Real-world surroundings are combined with transient, light-based elements to produce spectacular effects. This book describes the evolution of LAPP, while the middle section goes on to present a gallery of images. The final section offers some basic steps and tips to give you a starting point for creating your own artworks. The 224-page book is available now for £27.50.

Blurb today launched its ProLine range of premium print offerings for photobook aficionados. The new ProLine comprises a selection of two fine, new linen hardcovers in Oatmeal and Charcoal, plus a choice of five heavyweight end sheets in charcoal grey, dove grey, warm grey, black and white, plus the aforementioned new Mohawk papers. Each of the ProLine options is offered a la carte to allow the greatest number of combinations, resulting in a truly personalised book, the company says. The new ProLine books will be publicly available to view at HOST Gallery from 20th May 2011.

Bokeh by Arqball is an interactive e-book for the Apple iPad, designed to teach beginners about zooming, focusing, depth of field and exposure. Each lesson simulates the photographic process on a real scene as you interactively adjust a camera setting. “This book will appeal to enthusiasts who want to learn more of the science behind photography and how modern digital SLR cameras function,” the publisher says. Bokeh for iPad is available on iTunes for $1.99.

Photography for Kids is a new title from Rocky Nook. This fun guidebook introduces children between the ages of 8 and 14 to the world of digital photography. Readers will learn how to choose interesting subjects, compose strong, creative images, operate a digital camera, transfer image files to a computer and print their favourite photos. The 160-page hardback is available now for pre-order, priced at $24.95. There is an electronic version too, which is available now as a PDF download, for $11.95.

Jane Hilton’s book, “Dead Eagle Trail”, which contains a collection of her portraits of 21st-century American cowboys, will be launched in the US at Nailya Alexander Gallery on 25th May. The book launch coincides with the opening of her solo show at the Gallery, which will run until 8th July. The title of her book and exhibition refers to her discovery of a dead Golden Eagle in the middle of the road in Nevada. The experience inspired her to document and explore one of the most iconic, romantic archetypes of American culture and history, the cowboy and his way of life. However, unlike previous expositions of the American West, Hilton’s subjects are photographed within their own personal environments, surrounded by their collections of artifacts and memorabilia. Nailya Alexander Gallery is located at 41E 57th Street, Suite 704, New York. The exhibition opens on 25th May, with a book signing taking place from 6.30 – 9.00 p.m. the next day.

The Panasonic GH2 Guidebook is a new camera training course created by Apple Certified Pro instructor Noah Kadner. Available as a digital download, the Panasonic GH2 Guidebook features original content broken down into learning modules with interactive demonstrations and easy to understand, real-world examples. The course focuses on the use of this DSLR-like compact system camera as a filmmaking tool. It can be purchased directly from the publisher for $34.99 through the website below.

Painting with Light: Light Art Performance Photography is a new title from Rocky Nook. Light Art Performance Photography is a unique form of art that was invented and developed by the authors of Painting with Light, Joerg Miedza and JanLeonardo Woellert. Unlike other types of light painting, Light Art Performance Photography doesn’t just involve illuminating existing objects; it also requires the photographer to create and capture new subjects constructed entirely of light. Real-world surroundings are combined with transient, light-based elements to produce spectacular effects. This bookdescribes the evolution of Light Art Performance Photography as told by its originators, while the middle section goes on to present a gallery of images. The final section offers some basic steps and tips to give you a starting point for creating your own artworks. The 224-page book is available now for £27.50 / $39.95 through the website below.

Renowned photojournalist Jack Watson documents the Cuban countryside, cities, and citizens in a new book called Hidden Cuba. According to Watson, “This is an unauthorized journal of photographs taken during my visit. While I certainly share similar and compassionate thoughts about humanitarian aid toward people in need, I felt a greater calling in compiling the images in this book.” Hidden Cuba is available now for $39.95.

Remote Exposure: A Guide to Hiking and Climbing Photography by Alexandre Buisse is a new title from Rocky Nook. This book will guide you through the various options for equipment - the requirement for lightweight gear that is able to withstand cold, adverse weather conditions presents unique challenges -, and gives readers the tools needed to create images that are not only of good technical quality but that are compelling as well. Throughout the book you will find advice on where to point your camera and how to compose a strong image. The 168-page hardback is illustrated with 100 photographs captured by the author, and is available for pre-order through the website below for $29.95.

White Knight Press has announced a new guidebook with the title, “Photographer’s Guide to the Canon PowerShot S95”. It explains all operations, features, menus, and controls of the camera in clear language, providing guidance not only about how to accomplish things with the camera, but when and why to use certain features.The book’s more than 170 colour photographs provide illustrations of the camera’s controls and menus, and also include examples of the various types of photographs that can be taken using the many creative settings available. Available now as a PDF e-book for $9.95, the “Photographer’s Guide to the Canon PowerShot S95” will also be sold as a 256-page paperback for $24.95.

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

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.

PhotoShelter has just published its first free electronic guidebook for 2011, titled “How to Sell Prints”. This PDF guide gives valuable insight on everything from print sales marketing to colour calibration and features contributions from print experts Mark Joste (Spectrum Photographic), Richard Jackson (Hance Partners/Image Craft), and Ingrid Spangler (AdoramaPix). Available for immediate download, “How to Sell Prints” fits into PhotoShelter’s series of free special reports that have been around since 2009.

Website: PhotoShelter

Profitable Wedding Photography is a new book by Elizabeth Etienne. The 224-page paperback covers every aspect of running a wedding photography business in a lively, easy-to-understand way. Drawing from her twenty-three years of experience in the wedding photography industry, author Elizabeth Etienne teaches her readers how to protect their businesses with contracts and model releases, create a business website optimised to attract clients, deal effectively with challenges such as bad weather and difficult clients, and much more. Going on sale in April, Profitable Wedding Photography is priced at $24.95.

Money Shots: The Insider’s Guide to Nude & Erotic Photography is a new e-book by photographer Michael Charles. Drawing from more than a decade’s worth of experience in erotic photography, the book is written in an easy-to-read style and is filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes. In addition to the book, the “Money Shots” package includes a Quick Start Guide, a 20-minute instructional video titled “Pics That Click”, a set of ten audio lessons and a printable model release form. The 165-page e-book is available now for $29 from the webiste below.

Self-Portrait Photography: The Ultimate in Personal Expression is a new book authored by Natalie Dybisz, also known as “Miss Aniela”. Published by Pixiq, this 176-page book offers valuable tips and advice for aspiring photographers on how to go about photographing themselves, detailed tutorials that answer the technical and practical challenges of self-portrait photography, advice on how to choose the proper equipment and different processing techniques to help create different looks. Available next month, the book sells for $29.95 in the USA and $35.95 in Canada.

Blurb has announced its association with Anne Geddes in the creation of My First Five Years, the first personalised print?on-demand version of her popular keepsake journal to record a baby’s journey during its early years. The 80?page book features photos from Anne Geddes’ latest book Beginnings, and offers many journal pages for parents to document the precious moments of their baby’s first five years.  The book can be personalised with a baby’s name on the cover and the gift?giver’s name and message to mum or baby on an internal page. Available exclusively on the Anne Geddes website, My First Five years sells for £27.54.

Serial Photography: Using Themed Images to Improve Your Photographic Skills is a new title from Rocky Nook. Written by Professor Harald Mante, this 160-page book explains how to focus your photographic work on themes, objects, shapes, colours, and moods. After putting Mante’s methods into practice, “you will soon notice that you are able to train yourself to look at things in new and exciting ways, rather than randomly searching for that one great shot,” the publisher says. “And by continuously adding new images to your collections, you will improve the quality of your photographic work.” The book is available now in the United States and Canada, priced at $39.95 and $45.95, respectively.

The Art and Business of Photography is a new title from Allworth Press. Written by seasoned professional photographer Susan Carr, the 256-page paperback offers both a detailed history of the photography business and of-the-moment advice about the profession today. Illustrated with 30 black-and-white photographs, this comprehensive guide provides “essential information about the photographer’s legal and business concerns, and explains the difficult balance between maintaining a successful business and pursuing creative, non-commercial photography work”. The book is available for pre-order at $19.95 via the website below.