In a departure from his usual genre, British fashion / portrait photographer Rankin is launching his new book and exhibition RANKINJOZI - an insight into South Africa today. Exploring the genres of documentary, social portraiture, fine art photography and reportage, RANKINJOZI is the virtual record of Rankin’s journey to Johannesburg for the filming of South Africa in Pictures, his one-hour documentary for BBC Four. The documentary is airing in Spring as part of Wonderful Africa, BBC Four’s Southern Africa Season. Venturing out onto the city streets and into homes and communities, Rankin’s portrait of Jozi (i.e. Johannesburg) not only documents his own personal journey, but provides an insight into the land and its people. The exhibition will run from 7th May to 6th June at Annroy Gallery, Rankin’s own Kentish Town gallery space. The book is available via www.turnaround-uk.com, RRP £20.

South Africa in Pictures is a one-hour documentary in which British Photographer Rankin discovers contemporary South Africa. Airing in Spring as part of Wonderful Africa, BBC Four’s Southern Africa Season, the film follows Rankin through a series of encounters with some of South Africa’s most significant photographers from a range of photographic disciplines, including David Goldblatt and Alf Kumalo. Kumalo shares his experiences as one of the first black professional photojournalists for Drum Magazine, while Goldblatt - a documentary photographer with a career spanning more than five decades - talks about creating intimate and insightful portraits of South African communities.

Richmond has announced a new line of glassless box frames. Enabling you to display your favourite photos in the increasingly popular frameless style, the new glassless frames from Richmond are covered with a face paper that is simply peeled back before the print is applied. Richmond box frames are available now from Fuji Digital Imaging Service retailers across the UK, and come in 8x10”, A4 and A3 sizes priced at £6.69, £7.89 and £11.99.

Annabel Williams has joined forces with the organisers of International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) to host a one-day workshop dedicated to ‘Photographing People Outdoors’. The seminar will be hosted at the brand new Annabel Williams studio in the Lake District and combine talks within the studio, together with practical shoots out on location using a variety of real people as models. The seminar is designed to help photographers of all levels engage more with their subjects – whether that’s just friends and family, or professional models – and make the most of natural lighting and backgrounds. The seminar takes place on Friday 14th May and costs £195.

Website: Annabel Williams

Red Bull Reporter is going to send a reporter to Cape Town who can bring home the best pics of the journey and also write down his/her experience of the Red Bull Street Style World Finals. Red Bull Reporter is a nationwide search to find the best young music & culture, and sports writers, filmmakers, photographers and presenters, giving them the chance to use their skills and indulge their passions as a Red Bull Reporter. Budding photojournalists are encouraged to check out the Red Bull Street Style website for finding out more about the national competitions and the World Finals in 2010 and the dedicated assignment page for full information on the assignment.

Website: Red Bull Street Style World Finals 2010

Canon UK has announced new cashback offers on select Canon EOS digital SLR cameras. The offers expire on 31 May. Those who buy the Canon EOS 500D before this date can claim £30 / €33 back. Those who purchase the Canon EOS 550D are entitled to a cashback of £50 / €55, whilst new Canon EOS 50D owners can get back £65 / €70 from the retail price. The offers are valid in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Nikon Uk has reduced the recommended retail price of the Nikon D3000 digital SLR camera. The new RRP is £379.99 for the body, £439.99 for the kit with the 18-55mm non-VR lens and £449.99
for the 18-55mm VR lens.

Sony has just announced an update to its Image Data Converter SR software, featuring algorithms that significantly reduce image noise at high ISO settings when converting raw data to JPEG files. The new algorithms implemented in Version 3.2 affect photos taken at ISO 800 and higher, allegdly “delivering impressively natural results with minimised colour noise right up to ISO 12800”. Registered Sony Alpha customers can download Image Data Converter SR Version 3.2 free of charge from the Sony Europe support website from the first week of April.

Website: Sony

A stunning collection of photography taken at the Glastonbury Festival, the UK’s largest outdoor performing arts event, will go on display at London gallery, theprintspace, from April 16th. ‘Glastonbury: 40 years’ documents the day-to-day life of a makeshift city with a unique sociological footprint. Photographer Liam Bailey’s images show the spontaneous side of the festival away from the stages. In addition to the photographs of Glastonbury, the exhibition will also house ‘Round & About’, a collection of photographs encompassing footballs and other sports balls found and discarded in locations all over London, and sets of used stamps found at car-boot sales. The exhibition runs until 4 May from 9am-7pm Monday-Friday.

Leaf Imaging today announced the availability of the Leaf Aptus-II 10R digital camera back, with internal rotating sensor. The Leaf Aptus-II 10R is available for a variety of medium and large format cameras, and is best suited for architecture, landscape, portrait and product advertising, the company says. The Leaf Aptus-II 10R 56 megapixel sensor is 56x36 mm in dimensions, and can capture the full width of medium format capture area for either landscape or portrait setups. Whether shooting handheld or with the camera mounted on a tripod, there is now no need to remove the back to change the camera orientation. The Leaf Aptus-II 10R camera back is priced at €24,995 and is now available for orders.

Manfrotto is launching a new online tutorial platform called the Manfrotto School of Excellence. Allowing users to log on and access the experience and know-how of the world’s most famous photographers and videographers, the Manfrotto School of Excellence will offer a series of free training sessions of varying difficulty (from beginner to advanced level), designed to add to the knowledge of all enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals alike. Launching at the end of March, this learning opportunity will focus on the most popular areas of photography and video-work today - portraits, still life, news photo/videography and documentaries - for fashion, advertising and the traditional publishing trade.

Website: Manfrotto School of Excellence

Mastering HD Video with Your DSLR is a new book from Rocky Nook. The book teaches readers about capturing and editing video footage, and about the effects that weren’t possible with standard digital video equipment. Topics covered include mastering video concepts, specific video features of DSLRs, and equipment needed to shoot video; as well as the restrictions, problems, and pitfalls of shooting video with a DSLR. The authors use an easy-to-follow approach of introducing concepts, thoroughly explaining the process of shooting video, and finally, presenting step-by-step projects that take the reader from capture to editing. The 240-page book is available from ‘Reilly, priced at $34.95.

The Master Photographers Association (MPA) has launched the UK’s largest prize for baby photography, a cash prize of £10,000. The prize will be awarded to the consumer with the ‘Cherub of the Year’ bonniest baby. Established in 1993, Cherubs is the UK’s longest running baby photography programme and has over 200 professional photographer partners covering postcode areas in the majority of the UK. There are still some unallocated postcodes, so MPA is now actively recruiting professional photographers to join the programme and guarantees postcode exclusivity. For further details, visit the website below.

Website: Cherubs

Nik Software has just announced its Spring 2010 Webinar schedule. These six hour-long educational webinars, which début on 8 April and continue through mid-June, cover a range of photography topics including portrait, scenic and landscape, flora, fauna and architecture, while offering basic information, insights and tips on using Nik Software’s entire line of plug-ins. Read on / click through for the complete list of webinars including dates and times.

Hasselblad and DRS are sponsoring a photo competition called “SCREENings Internet Goes Print” in Berlin, Germany. The aim of the contest is to provide photographers with an uncomplicated, yet effective, means of contacting industry insiders and important decision makers in the photography sector. To enter, photographers need to provide a link to their online portfolio using the form at the competition website. Entries are judged on the basis of photography and creativity rather than website design and implementation. The closing date for applications is 20 April, and the finalists will be exhibited at the UPdate - Salon for Photography on 14 May in Frankfurt. The winner will receive €5.000.

Website: SCREENings

A team of Hasselblad imaging experts will demonstrate the new Hasselblad H4D cameras and the company’s Phocus software to photography students at colleges and universities across the UK. Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad UK MD explained: “Students are the future of the imaging business so we decided to plan a completely free of charge, nationwide educational roadshow to enable them to get some real hands-on experience with the 40-megapixel medium format H4D-40”. Hasselblad is also holding evening sessions after each student day event, and these are open to all professional photographers.

Website: Hands On Hasselblad

Avanquest Software has announced Print Artist Platinum 23, an application that makes producing personalised calendars and other items quick and easy. Photos are easily imported from digital cameras, mobile phones and scanners to be included in posters, flyers, brochures, greeting cards and even iron-on apparel designs for customising t-shirts, bags and a variety of other items.  Photo slideshows with music and animated transitions can also be created and burnt onto a CD. Additionally, Print Artist Platinum 23 features over 375,000 graphics including watercolours, vector images and photographs. Available from PC World, Currys, Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and Avanquest.co.uk, Print Artist Platinum 23 from Avanquest Software is priced at £39.99.

Tamron USA has just announced a new programme of educational weekend events. Aimed at enhancing the picture-taking abilities of photo enthusiasts, these “TamronExtravaganzas” are hosted by local Tamron dealers at over 50 specified times and locations throughout the United States, and will be listed on the Tamron website in the events section. Each event includes Tamron’s “Eleven Simple Secrets to Better Pictures” two-hour seminar prepared under the guidance of Tamron’s distinguished group of veteran pros including Andre Costantini, Ken Hubbard, and John VanSteenberg. Topics include when and how to use different lenses, making the most of available light, the effective use of flash, and more.

Website: Tamron Events