Iconic images of Hollywood stars from the early days to the present will be displayed in an exhibition held in London to celebrate Hollywood’s 100th anniversary.  Sponsored by Canon and running from 8 March to 3 April, ‘Hollywood through the lens – celebrating 100 years of Hollywood’ will take visitors on a journey from the 1920s, showing the evolution of Hollywood portraits through the golden age of cinema through to modern icons. The exhbition is hosted by the Getty Images Gallery, open from 9am to 6pm. Monday to Sunday. Admission is free.

The innovative Spider Holster is now available from B&H and distribution partners in 14 international markets. The Spider Holster System provides photographers with a comfortable and durable carrying solution that is designed to put the weight of accessory-laden pro-grade cameras on the photographer’s hip, eliminating the back, shoulder and neck strain often experienced with traditional camera straps or shoulder bags. Up until now, the Spider Holster has been available through the manufacturer’s direct sales channel, but now interested photographers can test it in person through a local, trusted retail outlet. In addition to availability at B&H in the United States, Spider Holster will also market its products internationally in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation. The complete Spider Holsters System, including the SpiderPro Holster, the sturdy Holster Belt designed to evenly distribute the camera weight across the photographer’s hips, along with the Spider Plate and Spider Pin which connect the camera to the holster by attaching to the tripod mount on the camera bottom carries an MSRP of $109.99.

Ohanaware has announced the immediate availability of a free update to its free HDR Photography software HDRtist. HDRtist is easy to use HDR imaging software for Mac that creates high dynamic range photos and tone maps them in a single step. Version 1.2 - allegedly the most stable version of HDRtist to date - resolves a corruption issue with large images, preserves metadata and colour profiles when aligning photos, and makes it easier to organise and store the processed HDR images. Requiring a Power Macintosh G4 or Intel based Macintosh computer and Mac OS X v 10.4 or later, HDRtist is available today as a free download from the website below.

Website: HDRtist

Magix has released Movie Edit Pro 16, its premium video editing and dubbing software.  Movie Edit Pro 16 gives the user effortless video capture, straightforward editing, spectacular 3D effects, a large selection of titles and fades, brilliant dubbing, and the result burned to an interactive CD/DVD or exported to the Internet or a mobile player.  Available in two versions – Classic for beginners and Plus for more ambitious users -, Movie Edit Pro 16 comes bundled with Magix PC Check & Tuning 2010, a tool or intelligent checking maintenance and acceleration for PCs and laptops. Magix Movie Edit Pro 16 Classic and Magix Movie Edit Pro 16 Plus are available now for SRP £49.99 and £69.99 including VAT, respectively, from Amazon and PC World.

The Phase One Digital Artist Series international workshops are now open for enrollment. Each of this years five all-inclusive PODAS workshops is limited to 25 participants and will be held at some of the most worlds most beautiful locations, including Big Sur, Glacier National Park and Zion National Park in the U.S.A., as well as Iceland and Australia. Each participant will be loaned a 60-megapixel P 65+ camera system comprising a Phase One 645DF camera body and P65+ back; a full set of Phase One lenses will also be available; also included is a copy of Capture One PRO software. Shooting excursions will be complemented by seminars on topics ranging from visualisation to composition, capture, workflow and presentation. For details including pricing, pay a visit to the website below.

Website: PODAS

The Paper Eaters: Long Live the Photo-Story! is an upcoming exhibition held on the lower ground floor of Selfridges. Converting Selfridges’ Ultralounge into a bunker-like workspace/den, it will be filled with paper inspired found and made objects, creating an environment reminiscent of a 1980’s pop video and suggesting the innocence of a bygone era. As well as being able to pick up a copy of The Paper Eaters: Long Live the Photo-Story! magazine, visitors can stay and enjoy numerous interactive activities. These will include a drive-in style photo-story viewing booth, 1980’s makeovers, a dance floor, manual typewriters to try out, and photo opportunities. Visitors will also be able to talk to the artists - Andrea Blood and Zoë Sinclair – and the magazine contributors and even become involved in editorial meetings. The Paper Eaters: Long Live the Photo-Story! will take place from 1 to 29 April.

Nik Software and a group of its photography industry partners have announced a special attendee sweepstakes promotion for the 2010 WPPI convention and trade show.  The prize package includes a 2010 Nissan Cube automobile and a collection of top-of-the-line products and services from a range of photo industry partners. The prize package, valued at approximately $20,000, will be awarded to one lucky WPPI attendee on the last day of the show, held in Las Vegas, NV, March 8-10. To enter the drawing, attendees will use a free “passport” found in their welcome bag or at each partner’s booth, and then visit each partner’s booth to receive a “passport stamp”. Passports completed with all 10 stamps may then be submitted at the Nik Software booth (#1007) to enter the drawing prior to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 10 March 2010.

Canon UK has announced a cashback offer on the Canon EOS 450D digital SLR camera for residents of the EU. Those buying the 450D in any configuration from now until 30 April 2010 can claim up to £30 / €35 cashback. Claims must be received by 28 May 2010. This promotion is only available on purchases made in the UK or the Republic of Ireland from participating retailers.

Website: Canon EOS 450D Cashback Claim Form

Israeli photographer Netanel Hadad has won the Carl Zeiss photo contest on ‘digital culture’ for his work entitled “The digital blind date” (see above). “The picture won because it deals with a tough topic beautifully and creatively. There’s great atmosphere in this image,” says photographer Edith Held from Berlin, who assessed the contest entries. “The photographer plays with the details and thus renders the story into the image perfectly. I really like the idea behind it.” Hadad’s image was created with a Hasselblad camera and Planar T * 2/80. The picture was inspired by his personal experience. ”I met my wife through the Internet. Fortunately there are no geographic boundaries on the Web. Now I can finally capture how strongly the digital culture has influenced our lives.”

Wacom has unveiled the newly-redesigned Wacom Cintiq 21UX sporting a 21.3” screen. “The new Cintiq 21UX detects 2048 levels of pressure, giving you even more control over pressure-sensitive pen effects such as line weight, opacity, and exposure. With Wacom’s new Tip Sensor, the pen now features a lower activation force that captures even the most subtle nuances of pressure,” the company claims. Boasting a resolution of 1600x1200 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3, the Wacom Cintiq 21UX is available now priced at $1999. The price includes the device itself with a display stand and three pieces of software, Corel Painter Sketch Pad, Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 WE6 and Wacom Brushes 3.0.

Olympus America has announced that the Olympus E-PL1 system camera is now shipping. Sporting a stabilised 12.3-megapixel LiveMOS sensor, the Olympus E-PL1 weighs in at only 296 grams without a lens, battery or memory card. Other highlights include a Supersonic Wave Filter for automated sensor cleaning, a sensitivity range of ISO 100-3200, 3fps continuous shooting for up to 10 raw images, HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity, and auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and blocked-in shadows. The suggested retail price is $599.99, and Olympus America has launched a store finder to help you locate a dealer near you.

Website: Olympus E-PL1 US Store Finder

Olympus has issued a firmware update for the Olympus E-P1 system camera. Version 1.3 resolves an issue in firmware version 1.2 where the electronic level gauge did not move when using manual focus. For update instructions, pay a visit to the website below.

Website: Firmware Update Service

FilmMakerAccessories are launching a new line of affordable professional film/video, DSLR, and other camera related accessories. The new line of products features the SD Camera Brace which is for use with video DSLR cameras, including the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Nikon D90, Nikon D300s et al. The fully adjustable SD Camera Brace delivers cinema-grade support for $249, including numerous ¼” - 20 threads to mount optional accessories like batteries and wireless devices, all wrapped into one highly stylistic and modern design, the company says. The SD Camera Brace for DSLRs is available for immediate purchase from filmmakeraccessories.com and from selected resellers.

Website: HabbyCam

Epson has launched two large-format printers - the Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 - and announced it had joined forces with Ricoh Americas Corporation to sell these printers exclusively in North America. The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 (24-inch) and Epson Stylus Pro 9700 (44-inch) incorporate the company’s latest achievements in high-performance ink jet printing. The extreme precision, speed and image quality achieved by MicroPiezo TFP print heads and the benefits of Epson UltraChrome Vivid Magenta Inks position these printers to deliver an unprecedented level of printing technology, Epson says. The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 are currently available at a suggested retail price of $2,995 and $4,995, respectively. (These printers have already been launched in Britain; the UK prices are £2,395 and £4,795 sans VAT.)

Zen and the Magic of Photography is a new book geared toward helping photographers develop their visual awareness, sensitivity, and intuition. Topics covered include the relationship between Zen and photography, the two essential elements in every photograph, the art of photographic analysis, experiencing Zen through photography and photography through Zen, experiencing the creative process and photographic examples of the points of intersection and merging between photography and Zen. Priced at $24.95, Zen and the Magic of Photography is a 112-page book written by Wayne Rowe.

Photo Iconic is running two short image workshops at the Intrepid Travel store in Islington, London, this month. Each course will be taught by professional travel photographer and founder of the international Travel Photographer of the Year awards, Chris Coe. The first workshop, Digital Photography Made Easy (starting at 6.30pm on 17 March), aims to cut through the confusion of the endless digital menu options, show participants how to set up their cameras, guide them through the important settings, explain the different file formats and other considerations to help them get the best out of their digital camera. The other one, Shoot like a Pro (6.30pm-8.30pm on 24 March), will look at how to go about earning a living as a travel photographer, starting with the images which sell. Chris Coe will examine potential markets for travel photography, how to prepare images for selling and how to set about finding potential customers. The workshop will cover print sales, published images and the internet, and will look at potential markets from both stock and commissioned images. Each workshop costs £40 and all participants will receive £50 worth of discount vouchers from Intrepid Travel and a £20 discount voucher for other Photo Iconic photography courses in 2010. To book a place a workshop or the Challenge, visit the booking page on the Photo Iconic website.

Website: Photo Iconic

The Lomography Gallery Store LA has announced a range of events revolving about the upcoming Oscar night. First up, they’ve got a competition - fill out an Oscar ballot, and if you pick the most winners, you can take home a free Oktomat. This is Lomography’s version of an analogue mini-movie camera, and the Lomography Store is organising a free workshop on how to turn your multi-lens photos into mini-movies. Also, with every purchase you make on 7 March 2010, you receive a free Lomography Camera Keychain. On the same day, they are organising a live telecast and an Oscar afterparty featuring drinks, a Lomo presentation and the announcement of the competition winners. The Lomography Gallery Store is located at 7998 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood.

Website: Lomography

HP has announced that it will show its latest product portfolio, demonstrated in a live photo shoot environment for production of premium quality photo applications, at Focus On Imaging. An HP Media Scientist will provide demonstrations of how to increase creativity in print, through better understanding of available HP media, and how photographers and photo labs can use HP media and inkjet technology together to produce exciting results, that add value to their work/business offering. HP will hold on-stand seminars featuring industry-leading photographer, Donovan Wylie, and daily live on-stand shoots by Keith Thompson and Robin Preston. These industry experts will demonstrate how professional photographers, amateurs and retail publishers are using HP Designjet Z3200 and HP Designjet Z2100 Photo Printers, to exhibit work, sell prints or even print personal photographic imagery.