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

Zenfolio has added new offerings that provide users with a unique way to add music to their site, and select and share favorite photos. Zenfolio users can now enhance their photo presentations by adding soundtracks to be played along with their images. Photographers can easily upload legally licensed songs for use on their Zenfolio web site. Music files can be selected to play when a visitor enters a photographer’s portfolio home page, views customisable full-screen slideshows, or along with embedded slideshows on external web sites.

Website: Zenfolio

FocalPoint Daily, a website offering a free new service for all those interested in photography and digital imaging launches this week. Posting the most important photography-related stories from across the web in the categories of News, Ideas, Reviews and Tools, Tips and Technology, FocalPoint Daily is run by photographers for photographers. Within the next two months an iPhone App will be launched that will allow photographers access to the latest, high quality news in their area ‘on the go’.

Website: FocalPoint Daily

Sigma has just relaunched its website, complete with a fresh look and new features. Designed by Blue Collar Interactive, the new Sigma site has an extensive Lens Finder Tool, enhanced functionality for Sigma dealers, and social media sharing tools. One of the prominent new features is the Sigma Lounge, which includes a photo share gallery and blog. “We’re particularly excited about the opportunity to interact with users and provide a place for the Sigma community to share their images,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America. Customers will also find it much easier to navigate our product pages and make purchases through Authorized Sigma Dealers.”

Website: Sigma

Announced today, Fotobabble allows people to add voice to photos in seconds with just a few clicks on a web browser or an iPhone. Simply upload a photo and record your voice directly through your computer’s microphone to create a talking photo. On your iPhone, after downloading the free Fotobabble app, select an existing photo or a snap a new one, hit record and you’re done. Whether using a computer or your iPhone, you can share talking photos via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or embed them into a blog or website free of charge. Businesses can create Fotobabbles to promote a product, to more effectively engage with customers online, or to increase the number of visitors to their website.

Website: Fotobabble

Photo and video sharing service DPHOTO has seamlessly integrated high-definition video into its premium photo sharing and backup solution. This enables albums and slideshows to come to life, seamlessly combining large high-quality photos and high-definition video. Allowing users to upload large, high-definition videos to their account in almost any format, DPHOTO simplifies the sharing process and also optimises each viewer’s experience by automatically displaying video in the most appropriate resolution based on the viewer’s computer specifications. In addition to its sharing capabilities, DPHOTO also provides remote backup protection for your original hi-resolution photos and videos. With a Pro account priced at $90 per year, users can store an unlimited number of photos and videos, with each video being up to five minutes long and 500mb in size.

Today, Fotolia officially launched Flixtime, a free site that enables users to create free 60-second videos using their personal image collection or those provided by Fotolia.  AudioMicro also provides users with a selection of award-winning tracks, sound effects, and stock music. All Flixtime video productions can be used both for personal or independent commercial purposes. “Companies from all over the world have video needs, whether for websites, projects, or presentations. Until now, production costs were very high,” says Fotolia and Flixtime CEO Oleg Tscheltzoff. “Just like we democratized stock images on Fotolia by offering images for under $1 USD, we have made videos accessible and affordable to countless companies. Instead of investing tons of money in equipment, talent, and a location to produce videos, our users can simply use their content, or the images and music provided by Flixtime, to create the videos they envision.”

Website: Flixtime

Shutterstock has just announced the addition of its 10 millionth image. Founded in 2003, Shutterstock claims to be the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Its 10 millionth image is by Matthew Jacques of Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. Jacques submitted a dramatic image of two male Dall Sheep locking horns against a snowy background, photographed at a wildlife park in Nova Scotia. A Shutterstock submitter since 2006, Jacques started taking pictures as a hobby, but he recently used his Shutterstock earnings to invest in a professional-quality DSLR camera and has branched out to shoot motor sports, weddings and portraits. “My hobby’s paying for itself,” said Jacques. “That’s what Shutterstock and online stock sales have done for me.”

Website: Matthew Jacques Photography

Getty Images today launchesd Thinkstock, a new image subscription product developed for value-conscious creative professionals. “Thinkstock is the new industry-standard in the image subscription business,” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images. “By delivering an affordable and simple offering with excellent legal protection, Thinkstock provides one of the most complete subscriptions available anywhere, with premium, professional and user-generated imagery all in one place.” The monthly or yearly subscription options, priced at $249 and $2499 respectively, grant customers access to the entire library of Thinkstock images with downloads of 25 images per day, up to 750 images per month. Additionally, Thinkstock will soon offer multiple-shot image packs, with prices ranging from $59 - $999, ideal for customers with smaller budgets or who require imagery for a specific project.

Website: Thinkstock

TangeloImages allows users to create interactive experiences through digital images. It’s not a photo-sharing site - it’s billed as “a system for creating interactive images that provide information and cause action”. TangeloImages is claimed to be ideal for enthusiasts of all kinds who want to share their knowledge, business owners who want to promote their products, and just “regular folks” who like to share information as well.

Website: TangeloImages.com

A a new website dedicated to exploring the growing world of video-enabled DSLR cameras, accessories and related software has just launched. Contributors to HDSLRreview.com include Peter iNova and Uwe Steinmueller. Reviews are graded on features for movie shooting, image quality, ease of integration into current editing software programs such as Final Cut Pro and the ergonomics of the camera in cine modes.Accessory reviews are graded in terms of usefulness, ergonomics and production values obtained with them contrasted with their costs. Tips and techniques for videographers abound, and the site has tidbits for all users at every level of proficiency, the developers claim.

Website: HDSLRreview

Jalbum have launched a browser-based version of their web photo album desktop application. The new version requires no download or installation of software and includes 90 designs in the initial launch. Jalbum have also partnered with with photo editing site Pixlr.com to provide easy editing within the new browser app.

Today’s second story related to underwater photography is about a site created by photographer Scott Gietler. UWPhotographyGuide.com has been in beta for several months already, with articles on theory, technique and equipment being added every week, but now it’s been opened to the general public. Many award-winning amateur and professional underwater photographers worldwide have contributed to the Underwater Photography Guide. Reaction to this resource by industry professionals has been overwhelmingly positive, Mr Gietler says. In addition to photography theory and technique, the Underwater Photography Guide also has articles on the natural history and behavior of marine life, and unbiased, informative articles about dive destinations around the world that offer underwater photography opportunities.

Website: UWPhotographyGuide.com

DivePhotoGuide.com has launched a free series of comprehensive underwater photography tutorials and guides to help the world learn underwater photography. Underwater photography can be incredibly rewarding, but it does pose unique challenges and requires an understanding of basic principles and techniques. The underwater photography guides from DivePhotoGuide offer easy-to-read tutorials for photographers all levels to learn how to take great underwater photos. Beginners will find the Getting Started Guide very intuitive, including the top ten basic principles of underwater photography and how to select your first underwater camera system. Other tutorials include macro, wide angle, super-macro, composition, lighting, surf photography and a number of creative techniques. New and advanced techniques and tutorials will be added on a regular basis.

Website: DivePhotoGuide.com

Portrait photographer and Flickr megastar Natalie Dybisz (read interview) - the brain and body behind the Miss Aniela brand - has just launched a new liveBooks-powered website. “I was in search of a new platform and I liked the simplistic, slick and lightweight feel of liveBooks’ sites,” said Dybisz. “They satisfied my identity graphically and, probably most importantly, their editSuite allows me to easily update my site whenever I want. I also like how the company is so tapped into the photo community – I really get the sense that they know what photographers need and want.” To view her new website, visit www.missaniela.com.

Panasonic Singapore is about to launch a new, English-language microsite dedicated to the Lumix G series of Micro Four Thirds cameras. The countdown has already started, and the site will go live on 31 January. If you happen to be in Singapore on that day, you might want to join Panasonic to celebrate the microsite launch in the Eugenia Ballroom of the Siloso Beach Resort. The launch event will kick off at 1pm local time. Advance registration is mandatory.

Website: Panasonic Lumix G

The online photo book site My Photo Plus has announced the addition of 2 HP Designjet Z6100ps large format 60 inch wide printers offering large canvas, posters and photo prints.My Photo Plus is based in Washington DC and provides many photo products from photo books, photo prints, calendars and many photo gift items. James Dempsey - My Photo Plus Division Manager - said “We now can offer our customers large photo prints, maps, fine art, photos on canvas, photo gloss/matte paper and even super large wall stickers and posters using their own pictures”  The HP Designjet Z6100 uses 8 sepearate colour cartridges, and also has an embedded spectrophotometer to ensure accurate colour output every time.

Tamron has announced the launch of a new, innovative, interactive blog-style sharing site, called ShareItWithTamron.com. Participants are encouraged to respond by posting one or more photos and any length story about the photo, tip on how it was created, hotel recommendations for the place where it was shot and more. The rules are simple: All content (words and photos) must be appropriate. “This is a responsive and interactive site designed to motivate a spirited exchange of images and ideas,” notes Stacie Errera, Tamron’s Marketing Director. “Many people are used to reading and posting on blogs these days and we feel this blog-style sharing site will be comfortable for users. We want people to respond to our posted questions with comments in the form of their own images and words, comment on each other’s photos and stories, and have an entertaining and informative conversation. By posting frequent questions on a variety of topics, we hope to motivate people to come back frequently to see what’s happening on this dynamic new site, to converse with their peers, and to have fun sharing a broad range of images.”

Website: Share It With Tamron

FinerWorks.com has announced “My Licensed Images”, a web-tool designed to increase earning potential for registered photographers and other artists. James Theopistos, graphic artist and owner of FinerWorks.com states, “I think that our members will be very pleased with this new feature because it will allow them to batch upload their images without forcing them to create a print or gift product in order to profit. It is a big time saver on one hand, but on the other, it actually increases their potential to profit, because it essentially increases their number of available products.” Though it is scheduled for release late this month, a beta version may become available within the next week. Registered members will be able to access “My Licensed Images” through their account management systems and will not be limited to the number of images they may display in their galleries.

Website: FinerWorks

Start 3D is a new website that’s all about getting people started taking 3D photographs and sharing them online. Currently in beta phase, Start 3D supports the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 camera, but you can also upload a pair of jpegs taken with any camera and they will be converted into an animation with a 3D effect. Behind all this wizardry is a patent-pending technology called Piku-Piku, which animates your 3D photo to reveal the depth on a 2D monitor. Check out the “Featured 3D photographs” at the website below.

Website: Start 3D