JP Distribution has announced a brand new cash back offer from award-winning manufacturer Sekonic. Those purchasing a Seconic FlashMate L-308s light meter from an authorised UK retailer can claim £20, whereas those buying a Seconic L-358 can redeem £30 cash back. The promotion runs throughout the month of August. For a list of participating dealers call 01782 753304.

Phottix and OmegaBrandess have launched the BG-5DIII Multi Function Battery Grip. Available now, it holds one or two LP-E6 or 6 AA batteries and features AF/On, FEL and AF Points Buttons, vertical shutter button, command dial and power switch. The suggested retail price is $129.

FotoDC has launched its 5th annual International Awards Competition. This year, the competition is offering two new categories: FotoBooks and Modern Vintage. A distinguished panel of industry experts will hand select winners in 13 categories, with prizes for the top 3 winners in each category and $26,000 in cash awards. Do note that entry fees apply. Photographers from the Washington, DC region and all around the world have an early bird submission by August 6, 2012 at 11:59PM PST, with a final deadline of September 23, 2012 at 11:59PM PST. As always we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work. For more information, visit the website below.

Athentech’s Perfectly Clear app is now available for Android devices. The company says the Android version is significantly faster than the iPad and iPhone editions (based on its own tests carried out on an ASUS Transformer Prime T300 running Tegra3 quad cores) and comes packed with a number of extra features such as time-saving presets and a multi-photo workflow that allows for multiple images to be loaded and batch corrected at the same time. Currently available for $0.99 in the Google Play Store, Perfectly Clear is compatible with smartphones and tablets running Android 2.3.3 (or newer).

On his personal blog, professional photographer Leon Neal has posted a number of photographs taken with the as-yet-unreleased Nikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 VR lens. Shooting swimmers at the Aquatics Centre in London’s Olympic Park, Neal had to up the ISO on his Nikon D4 to maintain a fast shutter speed with the f/5.6 lens but at the end of the day he walked away with positive impressions - and a set of great images. Check out his blog entry below for the details.

Source: Leon Neal’s Blog via NR

Issue 18 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available for download. This edition includes a guide to impressionist photography, an interview with Morag Paterson and Ted Leeming, a new episode of the magazine’s 12-part series with Boris Mar, an article on subjectivity by Guy Tal, useful tips on high-altitude photography, and more. In addition, the magazine now has a section called “Featured Artist.” Note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.

DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 7.5.3 for Mac and Windows, This latest version adds support for the Canon EOS 650D (pictured), the Sony NEX-F3 and the Sony SLT-A37. It also includes more than 300 new DxO Optics Modules, of which 61 are for the Canon EOS 650D and 40 are for the Sony SLT-A37. These modules support additional Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, and Sony lenses for numerous Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Panasonic, and Sony cameras. As of today, the DxO Optics Modules library includes more than 7,500 available camera/lens combinations. This update is free of charge for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 7, as well as for photographers who purchased a license for DxO Optics Pro 6 after 1 September 2011.

Sixty Tips for Creative iPhone Photography is a new title in Rocky Nook’s edition espresso series. Filled with images that illustrate each tip and technique, the 144-page volume covers “everything from shooting and editing photos using your iPhone’s basic features, to using third-party apps for turning ordinary snapshots into unique and artistic images,” the publisher says. Written by Swedish photographer Martina Holmberg, Sixty Tips for Creative iPhone Photography is available for pre-order, priced at $24.95.

You Are Here is an exhibition and evolving photo project live from 30 July to 10 August at Mother London. The partnership between Mother and award-winning international photographer Caroll Taveras will capture those found lost and wandering, in a specially created studio, during the Olympics. “Just one day in, and the You Are Here street team have helped an array of people who were lost – including the Serbian Olympic swimmer, George Markovic,” says Mother London’s Annalisa Hoadley. “The project has been greatly received by the sitters, who have all been helped out in return from the team here bringing them to the studio and giving them some tips and a tea.” All the images will be available to view on Tumblr - visits to the exhibition are by appointment only.

Independent developer Florian Stiassny has announced iLightningCam 4.00, a new version of his real-time lightning photography app for iOS devices. iLightningCam enables everyone to take spectacular real lightning pictures with full photo resolution. Version 4.0 introduces 4th Gen support for iPod touch, support for iPad 2 and 3, improved night mode,  optimized exposure for night lightning storms, minor bug fixes and improved instructions. iLightningCam 4.00 is now reduced to $0.99 for 2 days and available worldwide exclusively through the iTunes App Store in the Photo & Video category.

Facebook has announced upcoming changes to the way users’ photos are presented on their timelines. “Now when you click Photos at the top of your timeline, you’ll see larger pictures that fill up the page,” the company said in a statement. “You can use the menu to find shots you’re tagged in, pictures you’ve shared and albums you’ve created.” Although the press release does not say so in express terms, the screenshot above suggests that all images will - rather disappointingly and incomprehensibly - be cropped to square format, regardless of their original aspect ratio. The changes are being rolled out gradually.

MacPhun has recently released ColorStrokes, a successor to its Color Splash Studio app for iOS and Mac. “The key feature of ColorStrokes for Mac and iPhone [is] the possibility to recolour the images and add colours to black and white photos,” says MacPhun’s Veronica Melnikova. The iOS app is available now for $1.99 on iTunes (free for Color Splash Studio users). The Mac version is “coming soon”.

Cooliris has updated its photo app for the Apple iPhone and iPad. “The application makes it very easy to instantly have a digital, hi-resolution mobile portfolio,” explains Claire Illmer of Cooliris. “The Cooliris app organizes your personal photo albums from your iPad or iPhone LIbrary, as well as your Instagram and Facebook photos. Additionally, you can quickly share multiple photos to Facebook to broadcast new shots to your Timeline, or share your photos directly from any of your libraries and networks in either one-on-one or group conversations.” Cooliris 2.0 is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store.

Innova Art will be drawing up in a traditional London red bus and celebrating the sporting highlights of London 2012 on its stand in Hall 6.1, stand B31, at Photokina. The company’s range of new and enhanced products - including a new, improved JetMaster, two new products in the Olmec range and a premium selection of IFA media - will also be on display. The Photokina trade show will be taking place from18-23 September in Cologne, Germany.

On his blog, professional sports photographer Jeff Cable has briefly reported on his experiences with a “hand built” (prototype) Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens. “I borrowed t[he] 200-400 and it is amazing!” Cable says. “Canon and Nikon both loan lens and cameras to all Olympic photographers… I am like a kid in a candy store.” Canon first announced the development of this lens back in February, claiming that it “will offer an unsurpassed combination of versatility, first-class optical performance and an enhanced weather-proof construction.”

Source: Jeff Cable Photography via Photography Bay

Reuters TV has posted two new videos on robotic camera arms and underwater cameras used at the Olympics. Reuters was the first news organisation to develop remote robotic photographic cameras for sporting events - now the technology is being used at the London Games. In addition, Reuters photographers Wolfgang Rattay and Pawel Kopczynski have developed advanced underwater cameras to shoot swimming competitions nd transmit the images instantly around the globe. The videos below highlight these exciting new technologies.

Spider Holster has announced the addition of the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp to its range of camera accessories. With the Spider Arca- Swiss Clamp, Arca-Swiss plate users now can easily carry their gear with Spider Holster to reduce the stresses on their upper body. Compatible with any bracket or plate that features the Arca-Swiss geometry, including those from Wimberley, Really Right Stuff, Kirk, etc., users simply twist the pressure screw allowing the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp’s sliding jaws to release and are free to connect the camera to their tripod. Compatible with both the Spider Holster SpiderPro and Black Widow, the Spider Arca-Swiss Clamp carries an MSRP of $95.

Manfrotto School of Xcellence has announced a second webinar featuring the lighting master Joe McNally. During this hour long tutorial Joe will explain the key aspects to take into consideration when shooting on location in order to achieve outstanding images. He will explore and analyse how to optimise backgrounds and lighting, where to place subjects in the picture and how to use colour. The webinar is taking place on 1st August, from 7-8pm BST. Interested readers can register via the website below.