Discovery Channel’s Life, the 11-part follow up to Planet Earth - the most successful natural history documentary of all time - will launch on Sunday, featuring amazing cinematography. While Planet Earth told the story of the natural world through the framework of our planet’s ecosystems and regions, Life takes viewers on a more intimate journey as they’re introduced to different animal and plant groups, using the latest in HD filming techniques to show jaw-dropping behaviours that you may never have witnessed before. Click through / read on for behind-the-scenes vignettes and previews from the first two episodes.

John Freeman Photours has just launched its website. A company specialising in luxury photography holidays and workshops, John Freeman Photours employs award-winning photographers as tutors. The website has been designed to help visitors get a feel for the photography courses offered by the company, plus detailed course agendas and biographies of the photographers who have been hand-picked to teach the courses. The website is image-led, with bold, colourful shots taken by John Freeman over his 40-year photographic career.

Website: John Freeman Photours

Fujifilm has posted firmware updates to a number of their new digital cameras. Version 1.02 improves colour reproduction in the live view feed and in movies captured, the aspect ratio of HD movies has been optimised for displaying on both the cameras’ LCD screens and HDTVs, and for the S2500HD / S2600HD, the aspect ratio of HD movies through the cameras’ HDMI terminal has also been optimised for displaying on HDTV.

Website: Fujifilm Firmware Update

Brighton-based Silicon Beach Training has launched a photography competition centred on the theme “My Home Town”. The winning photographer can choose from Silicon Beach Training’s one- or two-day training courses. Entrants can simply upload their photograph directly to the competition’s Flickr group pool. The submission deadline is 21 May. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.

Website: My Home Town

Wearable Inc. today announced that AirStash, the first wireless SD card reader for Wi-Fi enbaled devices, is now available. “It’s the first flash drive that shares and streams files directly and securely over WiFi, and the only flash drive which works with Apple’s new tablet [i.e. the iPad],” said Matthew Klapman, Wearable’s CEO. Measuring just 3.6 x 1.9 x 0.5 inches (92 x 47.8 x 12.2 mm) and weighing just 1.5 oz (43 g), AirStash is powered by a built-in lithium-polymer battery. New features and enhanced device compatibility can be provided by firmware updates downloaded from the Internet. AirStash is available now for $99.99 at the website below (US and Canada only).

Website: AirStash

Digital Anarchy today announced a free update to its ToonIt! Photo plugin for Apple Aperture. ToonIt! automatically takes photos and gives them a variety of cartoon and illustrated looks. Version 2.5 is now fully compatible with the 64-bit mode introduced by Apple’s Aperture 3, while still supporting 32-bit architectures and Aperture 2. ToonIt! Photo 2.5 for Aperture is regularly priced at $129, but will be on sale for $99 until 26 March 2010. A separate version for use Photoshop and Elements is on sale for $129, normally $159.

Forty-nine photo editors from respected picture-desks in twenty-six different countries will judge the Red Bull Illume competition this year. 4,337 photographers from 112 countries registered to the competition website and 22,764 images were submitted to the competition before the February 28 deadline. This is more than three times the amount entered into the 2007 Image Quest. The jury has the challenging task of selecting the best 50 images from 10 categories. For a complete list of jurors, see the press release below.

The Photographers’ Gallery will host an exhibition of the works of photography graduates from across the United Kingdom. Twenty-nine photographers have now been selected by a panel of photography experts to have their work exhibited at the exhibition entitled, “Fresh Faced & Wild Eyed 2010”. The selected photographers have graduated from courses across the UK, including University of the Arts London, Swansea Metropolitan University and UCCA Farnham and demonstrate the quality and range of new photography practice. The exhibition kicks off on 14 May and runs through 6 June 2010.

GigaPan has just introduced the Epic Pro, a robotic camera mount that empowers DSLR cameras to take thousands of photos that can be combined for one highly detailed image. Based on technology employed by NASA’s Mars Rover, the GigaPan Epic Pro joins the newly designed EPIC and EPIC 100 in the series. Strong enough to hold a camera and lens combination of up to 10 lbs, the Epic Pro enables users to capture enormous panoramas with crisp, vivid detail, the company says. Priced at $895, the GigaPan Epic Pro will be available from April.

Following on from their highly successful exhibition Landscape Beyond at London’s OXO Gallery in 2008, David Ward and Anna Booth have again joined forces for an exhibition of new work, entitled Intimations.  The title reflects the artists’ belief that abstract images have the power to transcend mere description, the power to allude to objects and places beyond the frame and the ability to evoke emotional responses in the viewer. Intimations will run from 31 March to 11 April 2010. The OXO Gallery$ is open from 11am to 6pm daily, Admission is free.

WD today introduced its new 1 terabyte and 750 gigabyte capacity My Passport SE for Mac portable USB drives. These ultra-portable 1 TB and 750 GB My Passport SE drives are easy to carry because they are USB-powered and do not need an external power adapter. Available now at WD’s online store, WD’s My Passport SE for Mac portable drives feature 256-bit hardware encryption for an extra level of security. MSRP is $199.99 for the 1TB portable drive and $179.99 for the 750GB model.

Website: Western Digital

Canon has released the much-anticipated fimware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which brings 24 and 25fps movie recording to this DSLR camera. Version 2.0.3 also adds a function for manually enhancing the sound recording level, Tv and Av exposure modes for video recording and a histogram display for movies, plus changes the audio sampling frequency to 48 kilohertz, and fixes a bug.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3

Leica has released a firmware update for the Leica M9 interchangeable-lens digital rangefinder camera. Version 1.116 removes a magenta cast seen in the left half of the frame when certain wide-angle lenses - including the 18mm f/3.8 ASPH; the 21mm f/2.8 ASPH; the 24mm f/3.8 ASPH; the 28mm f/2 ASPH and the 28mm f/2.8 ASPH - are used, introduces an ISO-dependent vignetting correction feature, improves image quality in thumbnail display, speeds up the SD card formatting process, and fixes bugs.

Website: Leica M9 downloads for registered owners

A hands-on preview of a Pentax 645D beta unit is now available. Posted by Japanese website DC Watch, the Pentax 645D hands-on preview focusses on the camera’s exterior, lens compatibility, comparative size, menus and a few key features including the virtual horizon and interactive status screen. For heaps of product shots and screen grabs, head to the website below.

Website: Pentax 645D Hands-On Preview at DC Watch

Via Rice High

Bibble Labs has just issued an update to Bibble 5 Pro. Version 5.0.3 adds raw support to the Canon EOS 550D and the Olympus E-PL1 digital system cameras, plus lens aberration correction for the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, the Zoom-Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S and the Zoom-Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S lenses. This is a free update for registered users.

Website: Bibble Download Centre

Sigma has announced that the deadline for voting online for its first-ever scholarship contest has been extended to April 30. A total of 122 high school seniors, hailing from nearly every state including Hawaii and Alaska, are vying for $5,000 in cash and $1,000 in Sigma products. Applicants were required to submit up to five thematically tied photographs, along with a brief essay describing their creative process in capturing and selecting the images. Students chose a wide variety of themes such as natural beauty, personal growth, artistic expression, and love. Online voting by the public started on 17 February and will end 30 April, narrowing the field to the top three student finalists.Responding to user requests to make the voting process more user friendly, Sigma modified the Web site to make it easier for voters to make their selection by using a valid email address.

Website: Sigma Photo Scholarship

Join photographers Ian Bradley and Barry Whitcher for a photo trek through Exbury Gardens on 29 April 2010. The treks start at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., each lasting four hours. Topics covered include photographic composition, abstract, landscape, close up as well as camera technique and the all important “eye for a picture”, whilst enjoying a relaxing walk in this beautiful Grade-II listed Garden to enable you to capture images of Exbury’s stunning collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and bluebells - all at their peak at this time of year. Tickets cost £50 including tea / coffee on arrival and a lunch of soup and sandwiches. Advance booking is essential on 023 8024 5750, and you will need to bring your own camera.

Nikon offers attendees at the interactive, film and music festival taking place in Austin, 12-21 March, an opportunity to post content in a dedicated gallery on yfrog. The Nikon gallery will enable thousands of members of the music, interactive and film community to offer updates, share photography and video content and participate in a dialogue about emerging trends with friends and peers. Each blogger will be equipped with Nikon digital cameras to capture their experience for the Nikon gallery, showing their perspective on festival news and events through images and HD video. They will attend screenings, musical performances, interactive panels and local parties in Austin during the festival.

Website: Nikon Gallery