PhotoBox has just released the results of a new survey on the holiday photography habits of Europeans. The study has revealed that 55% of Brits share their holiday picture on Facebook, followed by the Swedes with 40%.  France is the least social media savvy, as only 4% of French said they share on Facebook. Instagram and Twitter were hardly chosen, apart from Sweden where 24.1% of respondents declared sharing their holiday pics on Instagram. Along with the Swedes, Brits are the most "selfie-obsessed" as 27% of them admit to taking self-portraits on holiday. The Spanish aren’t far behind with 22%. Photographing holiday meals is popular with 35% of Swedes, 30% of Germans and 27% of Britons. In addition, 30% of the British respondents said they used props in their holiday photos to make them look better just like celebs such as Rihanna, Kelly Brook, Cara Delavigne and Justin Bieber.

Microsoft and Nokia have announced that the former will purchase all of Nokia's Devices & Services business, license Nokia's patents, and license and use Nokia's mapping services. "Building on the partnership with Nokia announced in February 2011 and the increasing success of Nokia's Lumia smartphones, Microsoft aims to accelerate the growth of its share and profit in mobile devices through faster innovation, increased synergies, and unified branding and marketing," the companies said in a statement. "For Nokia, this transaction is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings, strengthen its financial position, and provide a solid basis for future investment in its continuing businesses." The €5.44bn transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia's shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Sony has released a firmware update for its SLT-A99 digital "single lens translucent" camera. Version 1.02 adds an HDMI simultaneous output mode, provides support for thirteen "Dual AF" function compliant lenses and half a dozen automatic compensation compliant lenses. You can download the firmware upgrade fromt the websites below.

Website: Sony SLT-A99 Firmware Version 1.02 for Mac
Website: Sony SLT-A99 Firmware Version 1.02 for Windows

Sony has posted a firmware update for the Sony NEX-7 compact system camera. Version 1.03 adds an AF drive system for movies "in order to enhance scalability of future E-mount system." According to Sony, this feature ensures a higher degree of design flexibility for future E-mount lenses. You can download the firmware upgrade from the websites below.

Website: Sony NEX-7 Firmware Version 1.03 for Mac
Website: Sony NEX-7 Firmware Version 1.03 for Windows

Sony has issued a firmware update for its NEX-5R and NEX-6 compact system cameras. Version 1.02 (for both models) provides support for the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 and Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS lenses, and adds an AF drive system for movies "in order to enhance the scalability of future E-mount systems." You can download the firmware upgrades from the websites below,

Website: Sony NEX-5R Firmware Version 1.02 for Mac | Sony NEX-5R Firmware Version 1.02 for Windows
Website: Sony NEX-6 Firmware Version 1.02 for Mac | Sony NEX-6 Firmware Version 1.02 for Windows

Panasonic has posted a firmware update for its Lumix GF6 Micro Four Thirds camera. Version 1.1 fixes a Wi-Fi connection issue with Apple Macintosh computers. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Firmware Update 1.1

Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Panasonic Lumix G6 compact system camera. Version 1.1 fixes a Wi-Fi connection problem with Apple computers and improves the reliability of the automatic swiching betwwn the  EVF and the LCD screen when using the eye proximity sensor. To download the firmware update, follow the link below.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Firmware Version 1.1

Manfrotto has launched a worldwide competition challenging photographers to share their best shots of the warm, soft light of the last hour of sunlight, also known as the golden hour. Competition entrants can submit up to five photos of this very special time of day to be judged by a professional jury. The best shots will win exciting prizes ranging from a trip for two to California available to one entrant from each territory, to a getaway to the Lake District for one special winner in the UK, or a selection of Manfrotto products. The Manfrotto Golden Hour competition runs until 31 December 2013. To enter, visit the website below.

Issue 31 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available to download. This edition includes a guide to infrared photography, a review of the book Scotland's Fifty Finest Mountains, an essay on image sharpness by David Hay, an interview with Hans Strand, a test report on the Pentax K5 IIs digital SLR camera, an article on photographing Yellowstone National Park, and much more. Do note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.

The Society of Nature and Wildlife Photographers (SINWP) has announced the winners of its "In The Wild" photographic competition. Bridgena Barnard from Cape Town, South Africa was chosen as the winner from over 650 images entered in to the competition with the image entitled ‘Leopard Stashing Kill’ (above). The photograph was taken on a Nikon D700 with a 500mm lens. Bridgena has won 12 months membership to the SINWP. The runners up Arun Koushik from India and Anne Algar from Middlesex, UK have both been awarded 6 months membership.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom LTE Edition is now commercially available in continental Europe. As the first smartphone to feature a 10x zoom lens. the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom has caused quite a stir when it was first announced in June this year. Now the company has added LTE connectivity to the already compelling feature set of the phone: "The introduction of LTE capabilities to the Galaxy S4 Zoom demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the best possible product on the market," says Simon Stanford, Vice President, IT & Mobile Division, Samsung UK & Ireland. "It’s powerful, stylish and is perfect for those who want to take outstanding pictures from a device that’s always with them and then share them immediately and easily." The UK availability of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom LTE Edition will be announced in due course.

SanDisk today commemorates its silver anniversary by ringing The NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell. SanDisk’s anniversary celebrations also include the company’s 5,000-person workforce volunteering in charitable programmes throughout the year in all countries in which SanDisk operates. “When Eli, Jack and I started SanDisk in 1988 we knew flash memory had great potential,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, SanDisk’s co-founder, president, chief executive officer.  “The company’s growth and impact have far exceeded our expectations. While we reflect upon the many achievements and milestones, SanDisk’s employees are focused on creating the technology and solutions that will drive the next 25 years of industry transformation and value for our shareholders."

Epson has announced the winning concept for its “Finish Strong” advertising campaign photography contest. The Finish Strong ad campaign contest invited photographers to submit 200 words or less describing their idea for Epson’s next Finish Strong print ad. At a vantage point 800 feet high atop the antenna on the Prudential Tower overlooking the Boston city skyline, Joe McNally and his photography crew recently shot the winning photo envisioned by a participant from the competition. Josh Lohmeyer from Pylesville, Maryland had the winning entry with the concept of a photographer on top of a tall, distinctive building with a large city skyline as the backdrop. “When we read Josh Lohmeyer’s entry, we were struck by the challenge of such a shoot, and yet could also visualise it – what a magnificent undertaking it would be with such a rewarding result," said Richard Day, group product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America. "Joe McNally and his team brought Josh’s vision to life with a breathtaking finish.”

Learning to Photograph by Cora and Georg Banek is a new title from Rocky Nook. Sold separately, Volumes 1 and 2 give photographers essential information about technique and design as well as an understanding of the big concepts of photography. In the first volume, the authors focus on the basics of camera technology: optics and exposure; while the second volume addresses visual design and composition. Topics covered include managing light, colour and its effects, sharpness and blur, shapes and lines, and more. Each volume sells for $39.95.

Photographers and artists have just four weeks to enter the Inaugural Art Gemini Prize. Open to all photographers and painters form anywhere in the world, the Art Gemini Prize is described as "a celebration to promote international contemporary art for emerging and established artists." A cash fund of £5000 will be awarded to the winners in three categories, Photography, Painting and Public Choice. The shortlisted applicants will be exhibited in London at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery. Do note that entry fees apply. The deadline for entries is 30 September 2013.

From 3rd September until 29th December, the  Library of Birmingham will be hosting Reference Works, a major new exhibition of photographs by Michael Collins, Brian Griffin, Andrew Lacon and Stuart Whipps. The exhibition is the product of the largest and most important photography commission ever undertaken in the city and will be the inaugural exhibition in the new Discovery Gallery at the Library of Birmingham. 

At long last, Facebook has announced the addition of a shared photo albums feature, which enables multiple users to contribute images to the same album. This will come especially handy for vacation and event themed photo collections. The creator of the album can invite and remove contributors, and set the privacy level (Contributors Only, Friends of Contributors or Public). Contributors can add and tag photos, edit the album and add other contributors; but they may only edit or delete the photos they've uploaded. The owner of the album can delete any contributor's photos. When a contributor is removed, they'll be able to delete the photos they've added to the shared album from their activity log.

Website: Facebook | Shared Albums