MindGems Inc. is giving away 10 licenses of Visual Similarity Duplicate Image Finder PRO (VSDIF) exclusively to our readers.

The lucky winners are Hong Ho, reza rezaie golghand, Ales Veluscek, Inga Andersen, mark trnavsky, Kenneth Baillie, Slavko Todorov, Philip Greenwood, Keith Wolstenholme and
Kieran Symons. Congratulations!

VSDIF is rated the best duplicate image finder on major photography and software magazines and technology web sites.

What is so special about Visual Similarity Duplicate Image Finder?
As the name already suggests this tool can find duplicate and similar images based on content analysis regardless of the image format, size, dimensions, colors and other image attributes. What this means is that even if you have copies of the same image with modifications applied like color correction, crop, retouching, change of file format or watermarks it will still be identified as a duplicate of its original image. This is a task that a standard duplicate file finders cano not handle. The tool supports more than 100 common image formats including Photoshop PSD, plus over 300 RAW camera formats.

The main three benefits from using this tool are:

- Organize your image collection
- Save valuable disk space by removing duplicate images
- Search for similar images inside your image collection by loading a sample image

Processing large image collections is extremely fast using the new cache system. The tool will analyze the image data and collect it in a cache that will be reused in consequential scans. The cache system checks the images for modifications. This means that if a photo is edited it will be re-processed automatically and the updated version will be used for the comparison. The “Image Search” functionality can find images similar to a sample photo. Combining the Image Search with the cache system VSDIF can scan 10 000 images in seconds. A FREE demo is available for download at the company’s web site.

MindGems Inc. provides also a Duplicate MP3 Finder tool that works in a similar way for audio files and the popular FREE Duplicate File Finder and Folder Size tools that will help with the disk cleanup process.

The lucky winner of a Case Logic SLR Camera Sling Backpack is Steve Forster. Congratulations!

This 5 star rated SLR Camera backpack is a great way to carry your camera with ease whilst keeping it safe from drops and bumps. The sling case from Case logic uses a patent pending hammock system which suspends your SLR above the bottom of case, providing superior impact protection. This backpack not only provides storage for your camera but also additional accessories. A large zippered compartment in the sling stores an additional lens or flash and the 3 zippered pockets allow you to store memory cards, cords, light meters, chargers and additional accessories.

This backpack is not only a great way to carry your all your SLR equipment safely but the unique design allows quick and easy access for those all-important easy to miss shots, as this SLR camera bag is worn like a backpack but can simply be swung around to your front and you’re ready to shoot. The list of handy features goes on as the fully adjustable shoulder strap with waist strap prevents the sling from jostling around during activity and the memory foam on the interior helps protect your camera and accessories. This is a must to protect your camera delicate LCD screen, sensor and lens.

We’ve teamed up with Arcsoft to give away 5 copies of Low Light NR.

The 5 lucky winners are: caroline scott, Jo Young, Carl Berger, DAVID HAIG and Piero Orzalesi. Congratulations!

ArcSoft Low Light NR is an innovative image noise reduction application based on the latest Multiple Frame NR technology (MFNR). Using sophisticated algorithms, Low Light NR combines multiple frames to produce one high-resolution image, acquiring more graphic information than it is available from any single photograph. Therefore, it greatly reduces the visible noise while improving the image quality efficiently by processing sets of photographs taken in burst mode.

ArcSoft Low Light NR is featured in its easy use, fast processing and decent results. With 3 simple clicks, noise can be reduced in seconds with high quality, even further improvement could be achieved for cameras with good noise reduction function like the Canon 5D Mark III/Nikon D600/Nikon D3S etc.

Arcsoft are also offering our readers a 20% discount on all of their products.
Coupon code: photographyblogall, get 20% off for all ArcSoft products.

Photo Canvas are giving away a free printed canvas, up to 50x50cm, which can be printed with any image you want.

The lucky winner is Andrew Chapman. Congratulations!

Photo-canvas.com print your digital photos onto heavy weight woven canvas (500gsm) using dye sublimation techniques, stretch it over an anti warping sustainable forest pine frame, then despatch in with same day despatch if you order before 2pm. This means that the end result is durable, has great colour reproduction, and won’t crack, warp or go shiny over time - in fact, they do all a lifetime guarantee against it.

The Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers (SINWP) have announced the winners of the ‘Springtime competition’ 2013. The winner was chosen from just under 300 entries and a panel of esteemed judges chose the winner for its beautiful, tranquil moment of serenity depicting a fleeting moment captured with elegance. Andrzej Bochenski from Poland has won 12 months membership to The Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers and The Society of International Travel and Tourism Photographers, plus a Trektech Optera 230 Gorilla Pod.

The Association of Photographers (AOP) has revealed the line-up of judges for its 30th Awards programme. Each judging panel is made up of five industry professionals and includes a Chair, who will also present the Awards on the presentation evening. In addition, the AOP exhibition will be open to the public for four days. Both the Photographers' Awards and the Open Awards will be displayed at the exciting Truman Brewery venue, Loading Bay & B3, within the heart of London’s East End.  The Photographers Awards presentation evening and party will take place on Thursday 17 October and the Open Awards presentation will be on Friday 18 October.  Both exhibitions will be open Friday 18 – Monday 21 October, 10am – 6pm. Click through / scroll down for the complete list of judges.

Bowens International is fifty years old and the company has just launched a celebratory competition for photographers. Photographers have until the end of May to submit a photograph to Bowens using the theme ‘50’. The Bowens Litebook team will shortlist its favourite images which will then appear on the Bowens Facebook page. The public at large will then choose a winner who will pick up £600 worth of Bowens lighting equipment.

The Red Bull Illume Image Quest, which is billed as the world’s greatest photography contest for action and adventure sports, is closing for entries on 30th April. Photographers can submit images to 10 categories: lifestyle, playground, energy, spirit, close up, wings, sequence, new creativity, experimental and illumination. The overall winner will receive the new Leica S camera, while category winners will each receive a Leica X2. Other prizes will include broncolor’s new Move, their portable flash, and the latest strap system from Sun-Sniper. Photographers can enter their images online at the website below.

Canon U.S.A. has announced the 2013 “Project Imaginat10n” Film Contest, which will provide the public with a unique opportunity to showcase their cinematography skills. Helmed by Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard, filmmakers of all skill levels will each have the chance to embark on the same creative exercise as five celebrity directors – Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Biz Stone, Georgina Chapman and James Murphy – all of whom are directing short films inspired from ten Project Imaginat10n winning photographs. Selecting from the same pool of 91 winning photos, the challenge is to create a short film inspired by ten crowdsourced photos and based on ten storytelling themes: Character, Mood, Goal, Backstory, Setting, Obstacle, Relationship, The Unknown, Time and Discovery. Submissions will begin on 4th June at the website below.

This contest has now closed. The lucky winners are:

Mike Gimblett has won a Sony NEX-3N compact system camera and a place at the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Workshops

Olexander Demchenko, chris mockel, Nick Berry, Trygve Lydersen, Ilian Stamenov, Florin Cristea, Tom Bekiaris, GJ de Koning, and Napoleon Stratogiannakis have each won a place at the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Workshops.

With the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards taking place this month we’ve teamed up with headline sponsors Sony to give 10 lucky readers the chance to win a place at a series of workshops taking place at Somerset House, London from 26th April – 28th April 2013.

One winner will also receive a NEX-3N compact system camera to test out their new skills. Featuring the same image sensor that you’d expect from a DSLR camera, the NEX allows you to take professional standard pictures, even if you’re an amateur, providing the best results and picture quality on the market. With a selection of 15 e-mount lenses available you’ll discover the ideal lens to bring your vision to life.

The workshops will cover a variety of topics suitable for camera enthusiasts from beginners to budding professionals and will coincide with the opening of the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition on 26th April. 

There are three separate workshops covering a range of topics. From showing beginners how to improve picture quality, providing an understanding of commercial photography and turning a hobby into a career, or looking at the developments in full-frame photograph over time, there will be something for any photography enthusiast.

Speakers will include Michael Wayne Plant who specialises in work around identities and social landscape and Magdi Fernandes who works across fashion, music and sports. All attendees will be entered into a prize draw each day for one lucky winner to receive an NEX.

With Sony’s ongoing development of its camera portfolio, from point and shoot Cyber-shot cameras to entry-level interchangeable lens NEX and Digital SLT Alpha models, Sony is serious about photography and proud to sponsor the World Photography Awards.

For further information about the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Workshops or to book your place on one of the sessions, visit http://worldphoto.org/worldphotolondon/sony-workshops

This contest has now closed. The lucky winners are:

Beth Leek, ADEINNE TONNER, Eric William Sandiego, Roger Phillips, kerry day, Inga Andersen, Mark Gould, Julie Picton, L Francois regis Harvengt and KRZYSIA BIALESKA have each won a pair of tickets to the Sony World Photography Awards’ exhibition.

With the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards taking place next month we’ve teamed up with headline sponsors Sony to give 10 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the awards’ exhibition, which will take place at Somerset House, London from 26th April – 12th May 2013.

Curated by Candlestar Director Michael Benson, this year’s exhibition offers a snapshot of the world in 2012 as seen by the winning and shortlisted photographers of the Sony World Photography Awards.  It will reveal the very best international contemporary photography across 25 categories, including fashion, travel, wildlife, landscape, portraiture and current affairs.

With this year’s awards receiving a staggering 122,000 entries from 170 countries, its evident just how popular photography continues to be, around the world.

Sony is committed to providing a camera solution for everyone and every budget, empowering people to take professional quality pictures, whether an amateur or an expert.

With Sony’s ongoing development of its camera portfolio, from point and shoot Cyber-shot cameras to entry-level interchangeable lens NEX and Digital SLT Alpha models, Sony aims to make photography more accessible to all and educate people in the art of taking pictures.

For further information about the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House visit http://www.worldphoto.org/2013exhibition

The first Children's Eyes On Earth International Youth Photography Festival & Exhibition will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 12-14 May 2103. This event, which aims to raise awareness of environmental issues through the eyes of young people and their photographs, will be a chance to view the best 100 images from the inaugural Children’s Eyes On Earth International Youth Photography Contest, which took place last summer. With the themes “I Love Nature” and “I Fear Pollution”, the Contest drew thousands of entries from young people in over 90 countries around the world.

CyberLink is reminding interested photographers that the deadline for its "Goodbye Plain Shots" photo challenge is 7 May 2013. Intended to be a fun contest that will “bring out the creative side of photography enthusiasts worldwide,” the “Goodbye Plain Shots” photo challenge invites photo enthusiasts to submit a photo for others to edit, edit a photo submitted by another contestant, or simply “Like” their favourite edited photos. The company is providing a free trial download of its award-winning PhotoDirector 4 software for contest participants to use as a part of the contest. Do note that photos edited using other software will be excluded from the contest. Up for grabs are the latest professional grade dSLR and compact system cameras and the full version of CyberLink’s PhotoDirector 4 software. For more details or to enter the competition, visit the website below.

The 2013 international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards are now open for entries. The overall winner of TPOTY will receive the Cutty Sark Award; £5,000 plus a complete set of Cutty Sark’s award-winning range of blended whiskies - Cutty Sark Blend, Storm, Prohibition, 12 years old, 18 years old and the highly collectable Limited Edition Tam o’Shanter. In addition, they’ll receive a true one-off - a bespoke, personalised Cutty Sark surfboard. The Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2013 wins the new Fujifilm X20 plus £250 and a personalised Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio book or iFolio. Entries close on October 1st, with full details at the website below.

Peak Design has set up a so-called Pro Team comprising a number of top-notch professional photographers including some of the most recognizable names in mountaineering, surfing, snow sports, motorsports, wedding and portrait photography. In addition to using Peak Design’s Capture, Leash (pictured) and Cuff products in the field, these professionals will be aiding Peak Design in future product development through their feedback and testing of prototypes. “We want folks from all backgrounds of photography – from beginners and hobbyists all the way up to pros – to know that our products are designed to hold up to any environment and any kind of physical activity,” says Peter Dering, Peak Design founder and head engineer. “We couldn’t be more excited to have this incredible group of photographers on our team, ensuring that we continue to make even better gear.” To mark the “birth” of its Pro Team, Peak Design has launched a giveaway offering members of the public a chance to win high-resolution poster-size prints of original photos taken by the Peak Design Pro Team, as well as the company’s latest products.

The Society of International Travel and Tourism Photographers (SITTP) has announced the winners of its street photography competition. The successful competition had entries from all corners of the globe from India to Australia, highlighting some of the best street photographers work. The winner is Agnieszka Furtak, with Alveraz Ricardez coming in at second place and Julie Wall being third.

The theme for this month’s Life Framer photo contest, judged by Olivia Bee, is “An instant.” A hugely talented, self-trained photographer, Olivia is a contributor to the New York Times, Zeit, Le Monde and Time Magazine. Open to all amateur and professional photographers aged 18 or older, the Life Framer competition is a platform designed to source creative work and showcase outstanding photography. The monthly winner will receive a cash prize of $400 and the honour of having their winning image printed, framed and displayed in an end-of-year exhibition held in a gallery space in central London. Entrants to the competition retain full copyright of their photographs. For more information and to enter online visit the website below.

Tamron USA has launched its third My Photo Exhibit annual photo contest. Offered exclusively to Tamron USA lens users, the My Photo Exhibit competition gives one lucky winner the opportunity to win one of seven Tamron lenses (among them the Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, pictured). Entrants will create a 3D virtual exhibit showcasing 8-14 of their best images in a travel theme on Tamron’s unique photo sharing exhibit site, MyPhotoExhibits.com. The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2013.

The International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) 2013 competition 7 is now underway. Each year, the organisers run three ‘Photo project’ seasonal contests alongside the main competition - focussed on photography ideas, techniques and creativity in connection with garden and plant images. These ‘Photo project’ categories have earlier deadlines than the main competiton. The first of the categories is’ Monochrome’ - it’s all about black and white photography but can include any single-colour photograph. The deadline for this contest is 30 April 2013.

The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation has unveiled the shortlisted entries for its annual photo book awards. Established in 1985, the KKF Book Awards are the UK’s leading prizes for books published in the fields of photography and the moving image and the two winners share a £10,000 prize.  “The judges have shortlisted books ranging from heavy tomes to small paperbacks, each with outstanding pictorial and literary content and exceptional production,” the foundation said in a statement. The shortlisted books include Everything Was Moving: Photography from the 60s and 70s by Kate Bush, Billy Monk by Billy Monk and War / Photography: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath by Anne Wilkes Tucker, Will Michels and Natalie Zest. The Best Moving Image Book Award winner will be chose from the following entries: 39 Steps to the Genius of Hitchcock by James Bell, First Films of the Holocaust: Soviet Cinema and the Genocide of the Jews, 1938-46 by Jeremy Hicks and Hollywood Costume by Deborah Nadoolman Landis. The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation was established in 1985 by Andor Kraszna-Krausz (pictured), the Hungarian founder of the influential publishing house Focal Press.