Tamron USA has announced a series of photography seminars for 2012. Targeted at beginners and enthusiasts, the 2-day “Beyond the Kit Lens” seminars are focused on the choices that can be made when shooting. Topics that will be discussed include lens choice, focal length, distance to your subject, aperture and shutter speed. The cost of the seminar is only $59. Click through / scroll down for a list of participating retailers as well as a “Beyond the Kit Lens” video released by Tamron.

The 11th edition of the online Landscape Photography Magazine is out now. This issue offers inspirational articles by Slawek Stazczuk, Andy Hemingway, Tom Grubbe, Dan Andre Knutsen-Oey, Dimitri Vasiliou, David Hay, Mike Bell and others. The magazine also features an interview with Lee Pengelly and some stunning images of Saddleworth moor in England. Note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only. The annual subscription is £6.00/$9.50.

Iridient Digital has released RAW Developer 1.9.4 for MacOS X. This update adds support for the Panasonic DMC-GX1 and Leica V-Lux 3 digital cameras and also includes improved default colour profiles and curves for several other models, minor performance improvements and several bug fixes. You can download Iridient RAW Developer 1.9.4 from the website below.

Bob Books have launched The Vintage Boudoir Studio Photo Shoot competition in collaboration with Julia Boggio Studios. Running until 29th February 2012, The Vintage Boudoir Studio Photo Shoot competition offers UK residents a chance to take centre stage at a 1940s style studio photo shoot, with a vintage make-up artist and hair stylist all on hand to recreate that retro Hollywood studio look. Once you’ve had your shoot you’ll have the opportunity to choose your favourite portrait and the team at Julia Boggio Studios will create for you a large framed pin-up portrait of you as a centrepiece for your home. The winner will also receive 10 retouched digital images, plus a free Bob Books photobook. To enter the competition, visit the website below.

Neil Maughan and Andy Sloan are the two lucky winners of a fantastic new Manfrotto Lino Pro Photo Vest.

To celebrate the new Manfrotto range of Lino Pro Apparel, Manfrotto is giving away TWO Pro Photo Vests for Photography Blog readers! Each Manfrotto Pro Photo Vest is worth £380 RRP!

The Pro Photo Vest is the ultimate photo working tool combined with the comfort and sleek design of an everyday vest. This dynamic shooting vest compliments your shooting experience while comfortably holding and supporting your camera gear and accessories.

This contest closed on Saturday 31st December 2011.

For more information or to buy Manfrotto products online visit: www.manfrotto.co.uk

Manfrotto - Imagine More

The winners of the December 2011 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for December was “Ice” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Stalag-Ice by nrshapiro

Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

The Samsung DV300F is a new compact camera with Dual LCD technology and Wi-fi connectivity. The DV300F features a a 1.5-inch front LCD screen display, 16 megapixels, 5x optical zoom and a bright f2.5 lens with a 25mm wide-angle setting. The Samsung DV300F will cost £179.99.

SLR Magic has announced the HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 lens for the Leica M mount. Slated for a September release, the SLR Magic HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 is claimed to be optimised for wide-open performance. The optical formula comprises 12 elements arranged in 7 groups, including 7 “Tantalum” glass elements, complete with an iris diaphragm boasting a dozen rounded blades for a pleasing rendering of the out-of-focus areas. Weighing in at 975 grams, the lens features a non-rotating, 62mm filter thread, a distance scale with depth-of-field markings, and a minimum focus distance of 70cm.

Filmed and edited by Hungarian videographer Péter Dancsó, Budapest Timelapse 2012 is one of the most spectacular time-lapse videos we have seen in a long while. The movie, which was shot over several months using a Canon EOS 550D digital SLR camera and an assortment of Samyang, Sigma and Tokina lenses, includes extensive tone-mapped sequences created through multiple exposure blending and other HDR imaging techniques. In his blog post, Péter remarks that he was very much aware of the somewhat un-film-like colour boost this would give to the footage, but says that the effect reminded him of the vivid, highly saturated look of MGM’s 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz, most of which was filmed in three-strip Technicolor. Compiled from around 50,000 source images, Budapest Timelapse 2012 is 4 minutes and 22 seconds in length, and includes both day and night scenes, panning and zooming effects, and even a reversed sunset sequence. Post-processing was done using Photomatix, Adobe Lightroom, Premiere, After Effects, and Red Giant Looks, the videographer says.

Spider Holster has started shipping its Spider Holster Black Widow Kit, which offers a comfortable and secure carrying solution for entry-level DSLRs and other small cameras. The kit costs $65.99 and includes the heavy-duty resin and stainless-steel Black Widow Holster unit and all the basic accessories, such as the Black Widow Belt and just updated Black Widow Pad. Offering a comfortable and secure carrying solution that ensures quick-draw access for entry-level DSLRs, camcorders and compact cameras; the Black Widow Camera Holster secures the camera firmly to the photographer’s hip and eliminates the neck, shoulder and back strain caused by cameras dangling from traditional neck straps or shoulder bags.

NightCap is a photography app that extends the maximum exposure time of the iPhone camera to a full second. “Capturing quality images with NightCap is very straightforward as it features a simple automatic mode,” the developers say. “The camera adjusts exposure and focus automatically, and will use the flash if needed. In low light it automatically uses longer exposures.” The app also offers a manual mode in which you can turn the flash off and set the exposure time anywhere from 1/20th to 1 second. Available on iTunes, NightCap sells for $0.99.

The Walter RX Leica M rangefinder astigmatism rotating eyepiece incorporates a special dioptre correction lens, and allows people suffering from astigmatism to use Leica rangefinder cameras more easily and effectively. Priced at $479, the Walter RX Leica M astigmatism eyepiece allows users to put their eye up close to the eyepiece and see the full frame including all frame lines in the viewfinder, For more information, visit the website below.

Website: Walter RX Leica M Rangefinder Astigmatism Rotating Eyepiece

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have launched a photo contest on their Facebook page in association with British photographer Rankin. It allows entrants to upload a photograph they’ve taken, inspired by the legendary Spirit of Ecstasy figure – the statue which adorns the front of every Rolls-Royce car. Rankin himself, who has produced 100 unique images inspired by the figure (including the photograph above), will choose the winning image. The winner will receive special prizes from Rolls-Royce and a framed print of their winning photo. Additionally, the image may be used in Rolls Royce materials.

Website: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on Facebook

The lucky winner of a fantastic Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S smartphone, courtesy of Sony Ericsson and Photography Blog, is Georgina Bean.

We’ve teamed up with Sony Ericsson to give away an Xperia arc S smartphone and a live dock to one lucky winner.

The Xperia™ arc S at a glance:
- Super fast 1.4 GHz processor
- 3D and 2D sweep panorama photography
- 8.1 MP camera with Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
- 4.2“ Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
- Latest Android™ platform Gingerbread 2.3

This competition closed on 19/12/2011.

Sigma Corporation of America has announced the winner of its “Dear Sigma” contest.  Participants were required fill out an entry form and draft a “Dear Sigma” letter describing what Sigma products they’re dreaming of this holiday season. The company today revealed that Brandon Bethea, of San Diego, California, will receive three Sigma lenses totaling nearly $2,500 as a result of his “Dear Sigma” contest entry, titled “Better to Give than Receive.” Bethea founded Fin Forward, a shark-diving project for cancer survivors, and said he plans to use the 50mm F2.8 macro, 8-16mm F4-5.6 wide angle (pictured), and 20mm F1.8 wide angle lenses to photograph his upcoming 2012 Mayan Shark Odyssey to raise awareness about cancer and shark conservation.