PicStop has launched a new photography competition. The theme of the contest is “Travel” and each entrant may submit up to three photos, complete with titles and descriptions. Images must be in JPEG format and must not exceed 300 kilobytes in size. The deadline for entries is 28 February 2014. The first prize is an Apple iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi worth £299.99. As always we suggest that you read the terms and conditions before entering your work.

Website: PicStop

The inaugural Andrew Carnegie Lecture at the University of Edinburgh, entitled "What Photography Is," will be delivered by leading art historian James Elkins on Thursday 16 January 2014. The lecture series will continue with separate events taking place at the Universities of St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen later in 2014. Professor Chris Breward, Principal of Edinburgh College of Art said: “It is a privilege to host this series of events commemorating the enormous contribution Andrew Carnegie made to higher education in Scotland. By allowing the University access to key arts practitioners and researchers, the lectures will allow us to develop and enhance the research culture of Edinburgh College of Art as a whole, and contribute to a wider global arts agenda.” Tickets are free and available to book online at the website below.

Epson has announced its first Japanese-inspired media, Japanese Kozo Paper Thin. Fabien Nicol, product manager, Epson Europe, says: “The introduction of Epson’s Kozo paper comes at a time when designers and artists are increasingly looking to use fresh and alternative media in conjunction with technology to create original and stunning pieces of fine art. Our Kozo paper fulfils this requirement by being printer-friendly while combining the appeal of light weight, strength, translucence and deep colour saturation.” Part of Epson's SignatureWorthy range of media, the Japanese Kozo Paper Thin is a lightweight and translucent 34gsm paper designed to perform with UltraChrome HDR and UltraChrome K3 inks. The Kozo paper will be available from 7 December 2013, priced from £66 per 10m roll.

Canon has posted a teaser ad on its South Korean website, hinting at a new, white digital SLR camera. The ad depticts an SLR camera underneath a white sheet. As of writing, it is unclear whether Canon is planning to release a completely new model or a white variant of an existing camera.

Website: Canon South Korea

Adobe has posted Lightroom 5.3 and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 8.3 as "release candidates." These updates add full or preliminary support for fifteen new cameras and digital backs including the Canon PowerShot S120, the Fujifilm XQ1 and X-E2, the Nikon 1 AW1, D5300, D610 and Coolpix P7800, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Stylus 1, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1, the Phase One IQ260 and IQ280, the Sony A7, A7R and RX10. Additionally, they contain new profiles for one Canon, four Nikon, one Sigma and two Sony lenses.

Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.3 RC

Website: ACR 8.3 RC for Photoshop CC

Website: ACR 8.3 RC for Photoshop CS6

Blackmagic Design has released DaVinci Resolve 10, available now for download free of charge for all existing DaVinci Resolve customers. This edition is a major upgrade that includes innovative on set tools, new editing features, support for OpenFX plug-ins and more. New editing features include full multi track editing with 16 channels of audio per clip and unlimited video and audio tracks in the timeline. Other new editing features include extensive ripple, roll, slide and slip clip trimming support which display dynamically on the timeline and viewer. Colour correction features have been upgraded in DaVinci Resolve 10, including support for industry standard OpenFX plug ins with an unlimited number of plug ins per clip. There are now unlimited power windows per corrector node and the new Gradient PowerWindow lets colorists quickly add a gradient across the image.

Elgato today announced Thunderbolt Drive+, a fast and ultra-portable storage solution for Thunderbolt and USB 3.0. By combining server-grade Plextor SSD technology, bus-powered operation, and a solid metal enclosure, Elgato Thunderbolt Drive+ is available immediately for £429.95 (256 GB) and £759.95 (512 GB).

Zeiss is to supply aerial specialist Heliguy with cinemizer OLED head-mounted displays for their professional aerial photography platform, Ikarus. The Ikarus Heavy Lift octocopter system was designed to carry the weight of professional movie cameras for over 15 minutes. Lighter payloads, such as stills cameras can remain airborne for as long as 30 minutes. The cinemizer OLED acts as a remote viewfinder, using a wireless video link from the octocopter. Using remote controlled aerial platforms like Ikarus is far cheaper, and quieter than using helicopters to get aerial shots, so the system is ideal for wildlife photography, Zeiss says.

Kenro has launched the full range of the new Marumi UV Haze Filters to the UK market. Specifically designed to reduce haze, these filters have been created to block ultraviolet rays. There are sixteen sizes available ranging between 37mm and 95mm, priced from £11.88 to £105.36.

LockCircle has introduced a new family of PrimeCircle professional filters to offer to filmmakers, videographers and photographers
a complete line of cost-effective 4 X 4" and 4 X 5,65" filters. Diamond cut from German Ultra-White optical glass, PrimeCircle professional filters are available now in a full range of  Technical, Diffusion and ND Grad filters.

Kenro has announced the immediate availability of a new range of 'holding devices' for tablets and smartphones, made by Reflecta. There are eight sizes available in the new Reflecta Tabula Range that hold devices in 7-11" sizes. Devices can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, and some models allow you to swivel the unit once mounted. "It's important to be able to view tablets and smartphones at the proper angle when used on a desk.... balancing them on a stapler or hole punch is not the best solution," says Kenro MD Paul Kench. "These new Reflecta Tabula holders not only look great, they are extremely functional." Suggested retail prices range from £3.54 incl VAT to £65.64 incl VAT.

Epson has extended its SignatureWorthy range to include its brightest  canvas media with a cool tint. The Exhibition Canvas Natural Satin has been designed for displaying high-end works such as portrait photography and fine art. The company claims that because it is not using any optical brightener agent, the yellowing effect over time is minimised. The Exhibition Natural Satin Canvas is priced from  £80.07 per 12.2m roll  and will be available in 2014 in widths of 17", 24" and 44".

Leica has announced a partnership with Exclusive Resorts, a private destination club for luxury vacations. The German camera and optics manufacturer invites photographers to submit their best travel photos that capture the "exotic, exhilarating and emotional moments" that they encounter when on vacation. The photographer with the winning image will receive a new Leica X Vario camera (pictured) and three nights with Exclusive Resorts at the destination and villa of their choosing. To enter your best vacation photos, visit the website below

X-Rite has announced its first annual Festival of Color Calibration taking place all through the month of November. Together with their dealer network, X-Rite will be bringing hands-on colour management to photographers with free laptop calibration at locations throughout the USA. During Festival of Colour Calibration events, retailers will host on-site colour management seminars, give away free sample packs of Ilford paper, and offer special pricing on the most popular X-Rite colour management solutions. Throughout this month, the company will be offering instant rebates including: $10 off ColorChecker Passport, $10 off ColorMunki Smile (pictured), $25 off ColorMunki Display, $40 off i1Display Pro, and $50 off ColorMunki Photo.

C&A Licensing, the authorised Polaroid licensee for camera accessories, mountable sports video cameras and the instant digital camera line, is bringing back the Polaroid Pic-300 instant film camera. The Polaroid Pic-300 includes auto flash and four scene settings, and comes equipped with a detachable wrist strap. The camera is available on Amazon and Target for $69.99.

The Profoto B1 is a 500Ws cordless off-camera flash, offering TTL metering with Canon and Nikon cameras, in connection with a hotshoe-mounted Air Remote TTL unit. The remote is sold separately, so that photographers may choose the right remote for their camera. The Air Remote TTL-C for Canon cameras with E-TTL II support is launched together with the B1. The Air Remote TTL-N for Nikon cameras with i-TTL support will be available in 2014. The 500Ws light output is enough to overpower the sun on a sunny day, or to light larger sets or groups of people. The light output can be controlled in 1/10 f-stop steps over the entire 9 f-stop power range. The B1 is also equipped with a high-efficient LED modeling light, powerful enough to be used as a portable video light.

Motion Source Video Production has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a new shoulder rig they have developed. Designed by a team of filmmakers who had the goal to develop a camera shoulder rig that any amateur filmmaker can afford, the Motion Source Shoulder Rig has numerous features and can easily compete with, and even outpreform, the more expensive rigs currently on the market, the inventors say. With a donation of $29, Motion Source will hand deliver a shoulder rig to a college student studying film at a local Chicago school. This campaign will also allow customers to preorder the shoulder rig for less than retail cost.

The finalists of the EyeTime 2013 competition have just been announced. Hosted by the Morpholio Project, EyeTime 2013 invited students and young professionals or enthusiasts to submit a collection of up to three digital images. There were two categories, Emerging Talent and Future Voices. The complete list of finalists, along with their entries, can be seen at the website below.

Wacom has announced a partnership with Square Group to open its first Experience Centre sales outlet in the UK. Launching on Thursday 7th November, the shop will have the full range of Wacom products on display including the recently launched Cintiq Companion creative tablets, as well as the new line-up of Intuos pen tablets. In addition, a brand ambassador will be available for customer queries at all times including Saturdays. For more information, call the store on 01494 492 000.