John Freeman Photours has launched a series of studio-based photography workshops. Day courses cover techniques such as lighting, still life and digital workflow and a five-day starter course, called the ‘Five day learn nearly everything course’, gives a thorough introduction to photography for beginners wanting to kick start their hobby; and even perhaps turn it in to a lucrative career. The courses take place in East London. Prices start at £195 for one-day workshops and £925 for the five-day course.

Website: John Freeman Photours

The Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide is a practical, full-colour book designed to help you get the very most out of the EOS 7D. The book covers the camera’s new features, including the 19-point autofocus, new metering system, integrated Speedlight Transmitter, 8fps continuous shooting, and video capabilities. In addition, it teaches you photography essentials such as composition, exposure, perspective, and more, and includes a grey and colour card checker and full instructions. The 304-page guide is available in paperback and Kindle editions, priced at €16.00 / $19.99.

Website: Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide

PhotographyBB has released the 26th edition of the free PhotographyBB Online Magazine. This edition examines some key traits necessary for those interested in becoming professionals, or “photo-preneurs.” Additionally, there are some helpful tutorials on conveying a sense of motion in night portraits, along with the top 5 landscape photography tips and techniques. The editorial team takes a look at the key differences, advantages, and disadvantages of shooting raw vs. JPEG, and presents readers with a very special in-depth coverage of the new Lightroom 3 Beta 2 release. PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB website.

Website: PhotographyBB

The Canon EOS Movie Plugin-E1 for Apple’s Final Cut Pro that was announced recently is now available. The new plug-in allows for simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s video-enabled EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro. The EOS Movie Plugin-E1 takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras. To download the plug-in, visit the website below, and select “Mac OS X” as your operating system.

Website: Drivers and Downloads

Apple has released an update for Aperture 3.. Version 3.0.2 improves overall stability and fixes issues in a number of areas. Click through / read on for the detailed release notes.

Website: Apple Aperture 3.0.2

DxO Labs have just published their raw-based sensor data for the Leica M9 interchangeable-lens digital rangefinder camera. “In comparison with the sensors used by other full-frame main manufacturers, the pixel quality of the Leica M9 sensor remains low,” they say. “The Leica M9 provides good image quality for low ISO, but its results for high ISO are weak, with dynamic range decreasing very fast.” The Leica M9 achieved a DxOMark Sensor score of 68.6, which is almost 10 points higher than that of the cropped-sensor Leica M8, but lower than that of any full-frame digital camera tested so far. However, DxO Labs point out that they only evaluate raw sensor performance which, they admit, “is not the only factor that should be taken into consideration when choosing a digital camera”.

Website: DxOMark Raw Sensor Data for the Leica M9

Phase One has just released an update for its Capture One software. Version 5.1.1 incorporates the following enhancements:

  * Tethered and raw file support for Leaf Aptus-II 8 (40 MP) camera backs
  * Improved default film curves for Leaf backs.
  * Support of develop-curves from Leaf MOS files.
  * White balance can now be set when shooting tethered with Leaf backs.
  * Orientation can now be set when shooting tethered with Leaf backs.
  * Base characteristics gains presets.
  * A number of bug fixes.

Epson America has launched a Web site sweepstakes – “Experience the Excellence $50,000 Scavenger Hunt”. Visitors to Epson’s Experience the Excellence Web site can enter to win instant prizes and gain entries to win the $50,000 grand prize by participating in the scavenger hunt. To participate, visitors can click on the Scavenger Hunt game board to see each game piece, then click on the clue to collect one of twelve tokens on the Designed for Excellence Web site. A wide range of instant win prizes are available for all entrants, including gas cards ($25 value), Starbucks gift cards ($25 and $10 value) and Apple iTunes gift cards ($10 value). An Epson prize pack, which includes the Epson Artisan 810 premium all-in-one printer with Epson inks and specialty paper (over a $400 value), will be awarded monthly for the duration of the sweepstakes.

Website: Experience the Excellence

CanvasPeople.com is a website where you can order custom prints of your digital photos. The service comes complete with framing and artistic technique options, and you get the first 8x10” print free, and the second at half price. Note tha your photo will be wrapped around the sides of the canvas stretch bar, so make sure nothing truly important is on the extreme edges of your shots. For more information, visit the CanvasPeople website.

Website: CanvasPeople

JP Distribution has been appointed as the distributor for Black Rapid for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Black Rapid is a manufacturer of innovative and creative photography products, including the R-Strap (pictured). The R-Strap is worn diagonally across the torso from shoulder to hip and is adjustable to fit most photographers. The pad has a mesh underside for comfort and breathability. The locking FastenR connects the R-Strap to the tripod socket located on either the camera body or the lens. Once connected, the camera hangs upside down, resting securely at your side or in the small of your back, with the lens pointing behind you.

Website: JP Distribution

Tamron USA has announced the second in its series of four photo contests for 2010: Backyard Wildlife. This quarter’s contest asks entrants to submit photographic portraits of their local wildlife, whether found in their own backyard, local parks, or other urban and rural neighbourhood areas. Running from 1 April to 30 June 2010, the contest is looking for local wildlife indigenous to the photographer’s home town, so photos from zoos, aquariums and the like will not be considered. The Grand Prize Winner of Contest Two 2010 will receive his/her choice of one of these Tamron lenses: SP AF60mm F2 Di-II 1:1 Macro; SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II; SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II VC (pictured); or AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC.

Website: Tamron Contest Page

PhotoXpress.com has just been re-launched, offering 10 times more images than before. Image downloaders now have the option to upgrade to either a PhotoXpress Lite or Premium subscription. With a PhotoXpress Lite subscription, users can download over 15,000 royalty-free images per month, for $9.99/month. The new Premium Library has nearly 6,000,000 high-quality, royalty-free photos, and the site offers a number of other new features such as bulk download, advanced search options, a Lightbox Dashboard that enables users to save and sort images quickly, and a drag-and-drop feature that interacts with images and the Lightbox Dashboard.

Website: PhotoXpress

DxO Labs have announced the addition of 70 new lens & camera combinations to its library of DxO Optics Modules for its DxO Optics Pro automatic image enhancement software. This new release brings the total number of available DxO Optics Modules to over 1900. DxO Optics Pro 6.1.2 for Windows is available from both DxO Labs’ e-store and selected resellers priced at $169 / €149 / £99 (Standard Edition) and $299 / €299 / £199 (Elite Edition). DxO Optics Pro 6 for Mac is scheduled for release in May 2010 and will be available as a free upgrade to customers who have purchased version 5 or higher after June 1, 2009.

Website: 70 New DxO Optics Correction Modules

Unified Color Technologies today announced the Unified Color “True Vision HDR Photo Contest.” U.S. photographers of all experience levels are invited to submit their finest images created using Unified Color Technology’s HDR PhotoStudio software, a free download available at Unified Color’s website. Images can be submitted in one of three categories: nature, architecture or “freestyle,” an open category for any image that does not qualify for either of the other categories.Awards and prizes will be presented in each category three times throughout the year followed by a grand prize announced on 1 December. The first round of awards will be announced in mid-May and entries should be submitted by 12 May. The three category winners will each receive a photo prize pack valuing nearly $2,000 including a Nikon D90 kit, Gitzo carbon fibre tripod, the new Lowepro Slingshot 202 AW and a Lexar Professional Class 10 8GB SDHC memory card. The grand prize winner will choose from a selection of dream photography workshops offered through National Geographic Expeditions and will also receive a 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Website: Unified Color’s True Vision HDR Photo Contest
Recommended Reading: How to Create High Dynamic Range Photos by David J. Nightingale

Kenro has been named as the official UK and Ireland distributor for the acclaimed range of Benro tripods. The range consists of four tripod models (Travel Angel, Quick Lock, FlexPod and EX Series) with aluminium and carbon fibre versions available. The Benro range also includes five models of ballheads and two HD Series 3-Way heads and accessories. To view Kenro’s full range, visit the website below.

Website: Kenro

Adobe has officially unveiled the worldwide launch date of Creative Suite 5. The company will release Adobe CS5 on 12 April, and encourages everyone to attend the global launch event online via a dedicated website. The launch time is 5pm CET / 11am EDT / 8am PDT.

Website: Adobe Creative Suite 5 Launch

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Carl Zeiss lenses. While Carl Zeiss was founded in 1846 in Jena, in its early years, it manufactured microscopes almost exclusively. The first photo lenses were launched at the end of March 1890. Throughout the anniversary year, the company will be celebrating its breakthroughs in photographic technology with activities for both customers and the public. “Carl Zeiss lenses helped write photographic history. They have truly stood the test of time,” says Winfried Scherle, head of the Camera Lens Division. Zeiss submitted a patent for the Tessar lens (pictured), invented the anti-reflex coating in 1935, and developed MTF charts in 1943. The shots of the 1969 moon landing were taken with Carl Zeiss lenses, as were numerous Oscar-acclaimed films, such as Barry Lyndon, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Slumdog Millionaire.  Sony has been using Zeiss lenses in its compact cameras and camcorders since 1996, while Nokia camera phones have had integrated Zeiss lenses since 2005. Today, Carl Zeiss manufactures high-quality SLR lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony mounts.