Places Of Wonder and Discovery is the first book from OUR PLACE, the world’s largest ever World Heritage photography project. Launched at Photokina in September, Places Of Wonder and Discovery is the first of a series of 10 books based on the collection. All OUR WORLD photographers use the Panasonic Lumix DMC L1, L10, FZ50 and LX2 digital cameras.

MAGIX Xtreme Photo & Graphic Designer 2 provides image editing, graphics and website creation in a single unified program. New features include non-destructive real-time image editing, one-click montages of panorama images, beautify faces and add facial expressions, and optimization and editing of RAW images. MAGIX Xtreme Photo & Graphic Designer 2 will be available from June 9th for £39.99.

Tanscend has launched a transparent version of its 7 inch T.photo 710C digital photo frame. The transparent frame offers a simple and pure look, making it perfect for setting on an office desk or mounting on a living room wall. Also available in a black and gold color scheme, the T.photo frame includes a convenient picture-clock and calendar, alarm, and built-in MP3 player with speakers. All Transcend digital photo frames come with a two-year warranty.

This year’s Digital Photo and Imaging show takes place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London on 26th and 27th June 08. Peartree will be demonstrating the Leaf AFi camera system and Leaf Capture software, plus the Broncolor Lighting system. Leaf and Peartree experts will be on hand throughout the show to answer any questions on the Leaf and Broncolor solutions. The Digital Photo and Imaging Show is free if you register online, or it costs £12 admission at the door.

Digital Foci has launched a Custom Framer Program for its Image Moments 8 digital photo frame. Available immediately, all PPFA (Professional Picture Framers Association) members will receive a free Adapter Ring Kit ($10 value). Digital Foci’s Custom Framer Program will help framers create unique options for their customers. Image Moments 8 ships with a standard black frame with 3 interchangeable mats (cream, gray, and black) and is priced at $199.

17 college students from around the USA have been chosen as winners in the first MyShot08 photo contest. Entrants were challenged to create innovative and aesthetically striking photo specialty products using web-based templates in three categories: photo books, greeting cards and calendars. Contest judges reviewed more than 200 submissions. Jenee’ Jones, a junior photography major at Virginia Commonwealth University, won “best of show” honors and will receive a prize package that includes a trip to a photo shoot with lead contest judge and professional photographer George Kamper.

LG have introduced 3 new, 6x speed Blu-ray drives - the BE06, GBC-H20L and GBW-H20L. LG’s new line-up offers SecurDisc capabilities, providing data protection and content access control on all current optical formats, and LightScribe, which creates direct-to-disc labels. The external LG BE06 drive costs $379.95, whilst the internal LG GBW-H20L costs $279.95 and the LG GBC-H20L $199.95.

The-Digital-Picture have reviewed a new professional EF lens, the Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM.

“The Canon EF 200mm f/2.0 L IS USM Lens is at its release the shortest fixed-focal-length (prime) lens to have Image Stabilization. This IS implementation is rated by Canon for a state-of-the-art up-to-4-stops of improvement - and I find the improvement to be as-rated. After a long day of physical labor (around the house), and after well over 250 shots taken handheld (this is a heavy lens), I could still take sharp handheld shots at 1/5 sec with this lens as demonstrated in the sample comparison below.”

Website: The-Digital-Picture - Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM Review

PCMag have reviewed the Casio EX-Z9, a new 8.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, 2.6-inch wide LCD and 23 scene modes.

“The 8.1-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z9 surprised me. In my experience, Casio’s point-and-shoot cameras have suffered from poor image quality. My opinion was reinforced most recently by the EX-S880, a slim and sleek camera that took dull and dark pictures. I was expecting more of the same from the $150 (street) EX-Z9, but much to my delight, picture quality was improved.”

Website: PCMag - Casio EX-Z9 Review

Silkypix Developer Studio from Shortcut Software is a RAW conversion software application that offers a real alternative to the mainstream contenders. Silkypix is specifically aimed at enthusiast photographers and professional users, offering a professional colour management engine, ICC profiles, and control over white balancing, contrast, sharpness, saturation, lens correction, image perspective and trimming (cropping), outputting and printing. Silkypix Developer Studio costs $149.00 and is available for Windows and MAC. Jon Canfield discovered if Silkypix Developer Studio can compete with the likes of Adobe Camera RAW, Lightroom and Aperture.

Website: Silkypix Developer Studio Review

Capture NX2 is a more powerful and easier to use updated version of Nikon’s image-editing software. Nikon Capture NX2 now offers Selection Control Point, enabling users to apply enhancements such as Unsharp Mask and D-Lighting to a specific area. The Auto Retouch Brush mouse strokes to clear away specks caused by dust on the sensor. Capture NX2 is compatible with both Windows Vista and XP and Macintosh OS X and will be available from 20th June 2008 for €199. Owners of previous versions of Capture NX can upgrade to Capture NX2 for €119.

Kodak are set to raise the prices of their digital cameras and printers by up to 20%, according to The Guardian newspaper. Blaming soaring raw material costs, Chief Exec Antonio Perez claimed that the rest of the industry would follow suit sooner rather than later. Kodk are blaming the rising costs of aluminium, silver, oil and transport, commenting that “manufacturers had held off raising consumer product prices for some time but raw material costs were now so high that these had become inevitable”.

Website: The Guardian - Kodak warns of 20% increase in camera and printer prices

Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 delivers the equivalent of a 2-day course in one project-based book covering all of Aperture’s new features. It takes readers step-by-step through the basics of image management and Aperture’s editing, retouching, proofing, publishing, and archiving features. Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 is now available for $49.49.

Pinnacle Studio 12 is a new version of the market-leading consumer video editing software. Version 12 includes Pinnacle Montage, an innovative tool that makes high-end compositing and animation effects accessible to consumers. More titles, DVD menus and templates have been added to Pinnacle Studio 12, as well as new professional audio and video controls and a complete HD workflow with Blu-ray authoring. The Pinnacle Studio 12 family includes Pinnacle Studio, Pinnacle Studio Plus and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate with full HD support. Prices are US$49.99, $99.99 and $129.99, respectively.

Samsung is launching a multi-million pound advertising campaign this week including a heavyweight TV campaign. The new campaign – with an investment of £3million - focuses on on Samsung’s new NV24HD camera and launches with a 30 second spot on 9th June, and runs across ITV (London, Midwest, North, South East and Scotland), Channel 4, FIVE, Sky and a host of other stations. “This campaign shows how we give consumers exciting and innovative technology that helps them to capture their world,” says Robert King, Director of Samsung Cameras. “The new Samsung NV24HD offers cutting-edge functions and outstanding picture quality to satisfy users of all abilities.”

Website: Samsung NV TV Ad

Nikon UK has extended its spring cashback offer on the Nikon D60, with up to £90 / €120 off until June 30th 2008. Current cashback offers on the D80 kits and D40 kits still apply and are also valid until 30th June 2008. All claims must arrive by 31st July 2008 to be eligible.

DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association) has given a DIWA Innovation Award to the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 camera. The EX-F1 is capable of ultra-high speed shooting of 60 frames per second for 6 megapixel still images. Kai Thon, DIWA’s test manager, says: “Casio initiated the digital amateur photo age about a decade ago with its legendary QV-10. Since then, digital cameras have gradually become faster, even amateur models are nowadays capable of shooting several frames per second. With the EX-F1, Casio more than tenfold the top speed of the currently fastest competitor. That’s truly innovative!”

Olympus UK are offering a free FL-50R wireless flash worth £450 with any purchase of an E-3 DSLR camera. All you need to do is buy an E-3 between 1 June and 31 August 2008 and register it online by 11 October 2008. The Olympus E-3 is now available from around £1100 body only.

Reader’s Digest readers have voted Canon the most trusted camera brand in Europe for 2008. Research was conducted locally in 16 European countries with over 23,000 questionnaires. The UK online survey took place from November to December last year. What do you think - do you agree with the Reader’s Digest readers?

US bag manufacturer Think Tank Photo are offering a free trip to the Photokina photography show in September. If you are a photographer, you are eligible to enter Think Tank Photo’s drawing for free round-trip airfare, hotel, spending money, and exhibition passes to photokina, the world’s leading photo and imaging trade fair. Join over 160,000 visitors from 156 countries in exploring 1,600 exhibitors of cutting edge imaging products from almost 50 countries. And, you get to hang around Cologne with the gang from Think Tank Photo (what could be better!). Go to www.thinktankphoto.com/photokina to enter.