Lastolite has added inspirational new textures to their Urban Backgrounds Collection. Now available in Derelict Wall/Wooden Fence, Shutter/Distressed Door and Tarnished Metal/Container, the backgrounds have been designed using crease resistant fabric, allowing photographers to create the outdoor look in an instant, whether it’s in the studio or a client's home. Each reversible background has a unique urban feel and can quickly add a new dimension to any portrait sitting. The new Urban Backgrounds are available for £165 each, in a size of1.5m x 2.1m.

Issue 26 of David Noton’s Chasing the Light online magazine is now available. In this month’s edition, David takes his readers to Rio de Janeiro, relating an incident that took place on the Copacabana beach. In Seeing the Light, he considers the most effective lighting for travel portraiture and analyses some great accompanying examples. Hot Legs is the aptly titled name of this month’s essential Low Down and Video Blog by David, as he discusses tripods. Other interesting articles include a Guest Feature by world-renowned wildlife photographer Chris Weston, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a butterfly photo by Ross Hoddinott and the very first piece in David Taylor's series Taylor Made.  Do note that the full contents of Chasing the Light online magazine is available to f11 subscribers only. Non-members can purchase individual issues of the magazine at a price of £4.20.

Canon UK has launched its Spring 2014 cashback promotion. Customers can claim up to £210 cashback on a range of Canon products including DSLRs, lenses, compact cameras, camcorders and Pixma PRO printers. The offer runs from 1 March 2014 to 7 May 2014 for eligible products purchased from UK or Republic of Ireland retailers

Hasselblad has begun shipping its H5D-50c camera, which is billed as the world's first "fully integrated medium-format camera system to use CMOS sensor technology." Featuring a 50-megapixel CMOS imager with almost twice the physical size of the largest 35mm
DSLR sensor, a sensitivity range reaching all the way to ISO 6,400/39°, up to 14 stops of dynamic range, a 1,5fps continuous shooting mode and a maximum exposure time of 12 minutes; the Hasselblad H5D-50c is available for €20,900 (excl. tax).

Canon has released a firmware update for its EOS C100 cinema camera. Version 1.0.3.1.00 incorporates the following enhancement: 
a Continuous Recording function has been added allowing for nonstop recording. At the same time the camera creates IN and OUT points in the footage every time the START/STOP button is pressed. At this time, this function is compatible with "EDIUS Pro 7" software which is distributed by Grass Valley.

Website: Canon USA
 

Manfrotto has just revealed its new 055 collection of tripods. Featuring a Quick Power Lock system, which applies significantly increased locking power to the leg section cuffs, the new Manfrotto 055 tripods have a vertical-horizontal column mechanism hidden inside the tripod’s top casting until it is needed. Both the head and the camera are now closer to the central casting, making the tripod even more rigid and further improving image sharpness, the company says. When required, the touch of one-finger lifts the 90° column mechanism out of the casting, allowing the centre column to swing to the horizontal position, with no disassembly and without removing the head or camera. Supporting up to 9kg payload, the new Manfrotto 055 is available from £199.95 SRP.

Manfrotto has released its new Spectra 1x1 panels aimed at professional videographers. These versatile LED units provide a soft light with high colour rendition (CRI>90); thereby all colours are reproduced accurately, with no tone shift towards green. A knob on the back panel of the Manfrotto Spectra 1x1 LED panel allows users to regulate the light output level from 0 to 100%. The sister model Spectra 1x1 FT additionally enables videographers to toggle between cold white (5600°K) and warm white (3200°K) colour temperature settings. The Spectra 1x1S and Spectra 1x1F panels are daylight-balanced fixtures, emitting light respectively with a narrow and wide beam angle. The LED lights mount easily on light stands through a removable yoke with a standard 5/8” attachment and are compatible with all Manfrotto Baby Light stands. The Manfrotto Spectra 1X1 panels are available from £719.95 SRP.

Manfrotto today launched its new X-pro 3-way head (£114.95) for photographers who want maximum precision from a compact size. "Carrying a complete tripod and head takes up a lot of space in a photographer’s bag and means extra weight to carry," the company says. "This is why the new X-pro 3-way head has been designed to occupy as little space as possible, with retractable levers that can be extended when needed, but remain extremely compact when not in use." Measuring 13x13.5x13.5cm, the Manfrotto X-pro 3-way head weighs in at 1kg and has a maximum load capacity of 8kg.

Twenty years after launching the Mountaineer tripod family, Gitzo unveiled an updated version of the range. Now stiffer and stronger than ever, with newly developed Carbon eXact tubes and a refined top spider design; the new Mountaineer tripods are also faster and easier to use with evolutions in the G-lock system, Ground Level Set mechanism, and leg angle selectors. The new models feature G-lock Ultra, a redesigned version of Gitzo’s signature leg lock system G-lock. G-lock Ultra has even more comfortable operation and reduced risk of debris entering the tubes and locking mechanisms. There are ten tripod leg sets and three complete tripod and head kits in the new Mountaineer range, covering Gitzo’s Series 0 (the smallest) up to Series 3. Each series has three and four section models available, priced from £479.95 SRP.

Nikon UK today launched its spring consumer promotion offering up to £120 cashback. Eligible products include selected digital SLR cameras, selected DX lenses, plus the SB-300 Speedlight. The offer is valid through 28 May 2014 and all claims must be received by 30 June 2014. For more details, visit the website below.

Gary Fong today launched an addition to its line-up of flash diffusers with the introduction of the LightBlade Diffuser.  Designed to accommodate nearly all spedlights, the new LightBlade Diffuser softens the harsh light emitted by the flash tubes, minimises shadows and reduces glare. Attached using the Gary Fong patented strap and band mounting system, the LightBlade Diffuser mounts directly onto the flash head and is then secured with the included Gary Fong Velcro Cinch Strap. The LightBlade Diffuser is available for $34.95 MAP.

The new Gary Fong Lightbulb adapter kit contains a Gary Fong Lightsphere adapter, which secures to a light socket adapter with AC power plug or Europlug. Compatible with the new Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount (Generation 5) and the new SpeedSnoot the Gary Fong Lightbulb adapter kit fits on any standard-mount light stand. "By taking advantage of the continuous source to pre-visualise the effects of various lighting setups, photographers are provided the professional look of a diffused strobe light without the confusion of syncing, metering and modelling," the company says. The Lightbulb adapter kit will be available in April for $53.95 MSRP.

In a joint announcement, Bowens, PocketWizard and Sekonic have teamed up to create a complete wireless triggering solution for electronic flashes that will be first introduced in the US market. Most Bowens Gemini monolights will accept an optional PocketWizard module, which enables photographers to wirelessly trigger their flash with PocketWizard radios and Sekonic light meters. Compatible components within the system include Bowens Gemini 500R, 500Pro, 750Pro, 1000Pro & 1500Pro series of monolights with PocketWizard module, all existing PocketWizard radios and the Sekonic L-478DR and L-758DR exposure meters. In addition, other (earlier) Sekonic meters can be used with an optional PocketWizard transmitter. To commemorate the alliance, PocketWizard is introducing a new Plus III Transceiver in the "Bowens' signature yellow" colour.

The Fotospeed Photo Smooth Pearl 290gsm is a natural white, heavyweight and instant-dry, resin coated, inkjet paper. " The beautiful pearl finish matches that of the widely acclaimed, and now discontinued, Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl paper; a crisp finish with a superb color gamut," Fotospeed says. "It has a unique ink receiving layer giving an instant dry result straight from the printer." The Fotospeed Photo Smooth Pearl 290gsm will be on display at The Photography Show, along with two other new offerings, the Fotospeed Metallic Pearl 295gsm and the Fotospeed Platinum Etching 285gsm.

The latest work from leading light artists Ian Hobson of Newcastle, UK and Jeremy Jackson from Virginia, USA demonstrate how people can make spectacular light art using a Nokia Lumia smartphone. Armed with a Nokia Lumia 1020, the artists have created a series of images and guide which are intended to inspire a new generation of smartphone light painters. All made possible by the 4-second maximum exposure time and remarkable low light photography capabilities of the Nokia Lumia smartphone cameras with PureView technology. Ian Hobson comments: ‘The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the first smartphone I’ve ever seen that has the capability to capture quality light paintings due to its 4 second shutter speed and its 41mp camera. With the advances of cameras in mobiles, it allows anyone on the go, to try out light painting.’ Click through / scroll down for a helpful video giving hints about how to light paint with a Nokia Lumia 1020.

Akvis has updated its OilPaint software to Version 2.0. Available as a standalone application and as a Photoshop plug-in, Akvis OilPaint is claimed to offer "an incredible algorithm" for turning photos into oil paintings. The software offers a number of ready to use presets, and allows users to share their favourites with other fans of the oil painting technique. The batch processing feature enables the program to automatically process a series of images in order to create a number of illustrations at the same style or to process all frames in a video. The updated version brings faster image processing, new brushes and other important improvements, and fixes bugs. Registered users of Akvis OilPaint can upgrade to version 2.0 for free.

Nikon has launched  two new products developed in cooperation with BlackRapid. The Quick-Draw Strap and Quick-Draw Strap S offer great mobility by allowing the camera to slide diagonally up and down the shoulder strap; and a great sense of security with a safety strap that prevents the camera from falling in the unlikely event the fastener comes loose, and a cover that prevents the carabiner that connects the strap to the camera from scratching the camera body. The Quick-Draw Strap, with a wider shoulder pad, is suited to use with digital SLR cameras. The Quick-Draw Strap S, with a narrower shoulder pad, is suited to use with Nikon 1 System cameras and Nikon Coolpix series compacts.

Lowepro will set up a 'Loweprofessionals' wall at The Photography Show to wow visitors with an array of beautiful shots from professional photographers. Additionally, there will be two Lowepro-sponsored events at the show, including a talk by photographer Colin Prior and a seminar by Rebecca Litchfield. Throughout the day there will be a chance to win spot prizes on Stand E10, simply by wearing your Lowepro bag to the show and/or picking up a badge from the stand. Opening tomorrow at Birmingham's NEC, The Photography Show is a major new UK event dedicated to the imaging industry.