Released by MindTrip Studios, the MyMosaic app enables users to generate large photo mosaics with their iOS devices. “You can do anything from create original photo mosaics from your photo albums, vacations and friend pictures, etc,” the company says. ” Additionally, the app renders your mosaics so that they can be made into hi-res 30”x30” posters.” Using the app is easy – select a photo you want to turn into a mosaic, customise the mosaic settings, select the album(s) you want to compose the tiles, and then hit “make mosaic.” Available on iTunes, the MyMosaic app sells for $0.99.

Communities in Focus is a new photography competition designed to showcase inspiring images of people and communities from across the UK. There are two categories, one for inspiring images of community life, and the other for photos of projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund making a positive difference to people and communities. To enter the competition you must register for free via the Cam360 website and then follow the instructions on the Communities in Focus application form to submit your photo. All entries must be supplied with a caption explaining when the photo was taken and why it illustrates what’s brilliant about their community, or Big Lottery Fund project. The submission deadline is Wednesday 19th December. Full details on how to enter are available at the website below.

Swann has launched the OutbackCam – a portable five-megapixel camera and video recorder built to withstand the harshest weather conditions. The camera and recorder are both housed in the same anti-corrosive, lockable shell. Powered by four AA sized batteries, the camera comes complete with a 2GB SD card and offers features like night vision up to 32ft/10m and motion triggered recording, among others. The Swann OutbackCam retails for £99.99.

This Wednesday and Friday, Unified Color will be hosting a free webinar introducing their latest product, HDR Express 2. Taking place from 5pm PST tomorrow (register) and from 10am on Friday (register), this hour-long webinar will highlight the new Adaptive Tone Mapping technology that matches the tone mapping process to your particular image, as well as new workflow enhancements such as Visual File Browser and Merge Assist.

Sigma has partnered with a number of retailers throughout the UK to offer consumers a free three day ‘test drive’ of the latest Sigma cameras. These include the Sigma SD1 Merrill digital SLR camera (pictured) and the Sigma DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill large-sensor compact cameras. The promotion will run until April 2013. Click through / read on for a full list of participating retailers.

Akvis has released version 3.5 of LightShop, a software application that enables users to create an “infinite number” of light effects. Available as a plugin as well as a standalone program, this update adds support for Photoshop CS6 to the plugin version and offers compatibility with the latest versions of MacOS and Widnows. Registered users of LightShop can upgrade to version 3.5 free of charge.

Nikon has posted a firmware upgrade for the Nikon D4 digital SLR camera. The new version improves focus accuracy when a lens and teleconverter with a combined maximum aperture of f/8 are used. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Nikon D4 Firmware Update

The new and restyled VICTOR Photography Book One is now available in print format. Priced at £15, €20 and $25 and sold by exclusive magazine shops in London, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Madrid, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong,, the new VICTOR includes contributions from a wide range of top photographers,.Photographers anywhere in the world can obtain the magazine from the website below at the cover price plus shipping costs.

Website: Newsstand UK

We’ve teamed up with PENTAX RICOH IMAGING UK LTD to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fantastic PENTAX K-30 worth £649.99!

The lucky winner is Paula Hepburn. Congratulations!

The K-30 has been developed to help SLR beginners capture high-quality images with ease. Packed in a compact, weather-resistant, dustproof and lightweight body, the PENTAX K-30 offers a range of advanced features, including a 16 megapixel sensor, optical viewfinder offering almost 100% field of view, high-speed shooting and a full-HD movie function.

The K-30 is available in a choice of three colours: Crystal White and Crystal Blue, with brilliant, glossy finishes; and Classic Black, for a more traditional SLR look.

Triggertrap has just announced that its popular Triggertrap Mobile app for iOS and Android devices - originally priced at £2.99 - is now available as a free download from iTunes / Google Play. The newly free premium version of the Triggertrap Mobile app comes fully stocked with capabilities, including more than a dozen unique and creative triggering functions. The Triggertrap Mobile Dongle, which is used to tether the mobile device to a dSLR or advanced compact camera in order to experience these full capabilities, can be purchased for £20.99 and is compatible with over 280 cameras.

Vanguard UK has announced a cashback offer on its Alta Pro tripods, Up-Rise backpacks and Endeavour ED and Spirit ED binoculars. Those buying a Vanguard Alta Pro Carbon tripod will receive a £30 mail-in rebate, while those purchasig a Vanguard Alta Pro Aluminium tripod are entitled to a £15 rebate. Customers who buy a Vanguard Up-Rise 45, UP-Rise 46 or UP-Rise 48 backpack will receive a £10 cashback. Other offers include £15 mail-in rebate with the purchase of a Vanguard BBH ball head (BBH-100, BBH-200, BBH-300) or a GH ball head (GH-100, GH-200), a £10 cashback with the purchase of a Vanguard Nivelo 244BK or Nivelo 245BK and a £40 mail-in rebate with the purchase of a Vanguard Endeavor ED or Spirit ED. All of these promotions will run until 15 January 2013.

Website: Vanguard

Leash by Peak Design is billed as a complete re-definition of the classic camera strap that offers endless configurations, an elegant quick-connect system, and rugged minimalist design. Eliminating the clumsiness and bulk that typically characterise camera straps, Leash ($40) is built from custom-woven 3Ž4 inch seatbelt webbing that glides smoothly across your shoulder and chest. The quick-connection system utilises tiny anchors made of braided Kevlar and glass-filled resin that attach to any loop on your camera gear. Leash’s simple design allows it to be configured as a neck strap or sling strap. Leash can also attach to your camera to any point on your clothing or gear to act as a safety strap. Peak Design is also offering a smaller version of Leash — dubbed Cuff ($20) — that utilises the same quick-connection system but works more like a wrist strap. Those pre-ordering the products via the project’s Kickstarter page can take advantage of a special limited-time offer ($15 off from the regular price of Leash and a $5 discount on Cuff).

National Geographic has released a stunning slow-motion video capturing every nuance of a sprinting cheetah’s movements, with the animal running at top speeds of 60+ miles per hour. Working in co-operation with the Cincinnati Zoo and drawing on the skills of a Hollywood action movie crew, the National Geographic team used a Phantom camera capable of shooting at 1200 frames per second to film the movements of the magnificent feline. Click through / scroll down to watch the slow-motion footage as well as a behind-the-scenes video released by National Geographic.

An exceptionally rare photographic album of Ethiopian images is to be auctioned in the Travel & Photography, India and Beyond sale at Bonhams in London on 4th December. This particular album, estimated to sell for £600-800 covers, upwards of 180 views and portraits taken in Ethiopia including a number of self portraits of the intriguing character Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy(1836-1910) who learned to speak Amharic and adopted native dress. Another interesting lot going under the hammer is an exceptionally rare set of photographic albums of Java in the Dutch East Indies by the pioneering Victorian photographers, Walter Woodbury and James Page. The two volumes with some 60 topographical views and portraits in Java, mostly around Batavia, are estimated to sell for between £10,000-15,000.

On 23rd November, an 82-year-old Leica Luxus 1 camera was auctioned at a Bonhams sale in Hong Kong, fetching £603,837 (HK$7,460,000) - a world record for this particular rare Leica model. Jon Baddley, Head of Collectables at Bonhams, said after the auction: “This was the first Leica sale in Hong Kong and the results more than justify our belief in the idea of bringing these wonderful cameras to China which has a rapidly emerging market for vintage cameras. We took a bit of a gamble but it has paid off handsomely.” The Hong Kong sale included over 250 lots of Leica cameras and accessories from two major private collections.

Joby has announced a new range of pocket-sized mobile accessories called GripTight. All products in the line-up have been designed to support camera phones. The range includes three products, the GripTight GorillaPod Stand (£25, pictured) with a maximum load capacity of 325g, the GripTight Micro Stand (£25) with a load capacity of 250g and the GripTight Mount (£13).

Wilkinson Cameras have partnered with Aspire Photography Training to deliver discounts of up to 20% on a range of photographic equipment, accessories and training. Customers will also get ‘hands on’ opportunities to try and test the latest photographic equipment while on Aspire courses and seminars. The benefits of this partnership are open to all new and existing Wilkinson VIP customers and also all clients of Aspire Photography Training.

Datacolor will be hosting its next free webinar, “Holiday Stocking Stuffers from Datacolor,” on 28th November from 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar will focus on ideal gifts for photography lovers featuring products that have unique and interesting qualities. Led by Datacolor experts C. David Tobie and David Saffir, the webinar will help people choose the best products from a wide variety of items including Spyder products, lenses, tripods, lens filters, camera bags, memory cards and more. An interactive Q&A will take place throughout the webinar to answer any questions the audience might have. Participants who register in advance will be entered to win a Spyder4PRO (pictured). On a related note, the company has announced a Cyber Monday offer on the product, which will be available for $139.99/€99.00 on 26th November from 12:00am until 11:59pm through the Datacolor website.

Website: Datacolor