The World Photography Organisation has issued the last call for entries to the Sony World Photography Awards. Free to enter, the Awards feature five competitions: Professional; Open; Youth; National Awards and Student Focus. The awards’ prizes include the latest Sony digital imaging equipment; inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House, London; inclusion in the 2016 awards’ book and $30,000 for the overall winners. New for 2016, the 14 Professional categories are now divided into two distinct genres - Art and Documentary. The change is to provide a clearer structure in which photographers can be recognised. Both genres also include new category additions, with Art presenting the new Staged and Candid categories and Documentary now including Daily Life and Environment. The deadline for entries is 5 January 2016 for the national, youth and Open awards and 12 January 2016 for the Professional competition.

Fujifilm has issued a notice for X-T1 customers who have downloaded Firmware Version 4.20. The company has found a malfunction that can, in rare cases, cause the camera to freeze when shooting in AF-C mode. Those X-T1 users who have already installed Firmware Version 4.20 can download Version 4.21 whose functions are same as the previous version of 4.10.

DxO announced today the immediate availability of two new extensions for OS X El Capitan. DxO OpticsPro for OS X Photos adds seamless access to tens of thousands of DxO Optics Modules that enable DxO’s automatic optical corrections for distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberration and lens softness for virtually all popular cameras and lenses. DxO OpticsPro for OS X Photos is a paid download from the Mac App Store ($9.99/£7.99), which when installed automatically appears as an extension that can be accessed via the editing tools in Apple Photos. DxO ONE owners can download and install the DxO OpticsPro for OS X Photos - DxO ONE Camera Only version free of charge.

Nikon UK has announced that it will be exhibiting its product line-up at The Photography Show, held from 19th to 22nd March 2016 at the NEC in Birmingham. An interactive Nikon stand will showcase a range of DX and FX digital SLR cameras, Nikon 1 system CSCs, selected Coolpix models and Nikkor lenses. Central to the stand will be the Nikon School stage, where a host of speakers, including the current line-up of Nikon UK Ambassadors, will give talks on a range of photography topics to inspire passionate photographers. The speaker schedule will be announced in January 2016.

SoftColor has released PhotoEQ 10, a robust automatic photo editor for batch photo enhancing, editing and colour management. New features in this release include version 10 of the SoftColor SpectralHDI automatic colour correction algorithm, new colour correction layers, a suite of photo editing tool presets, a new tool for colour temperature adjustments, a To-do List based photo workflow, a new Rich dynamics enhancer colour correction tool that can generate an HDR-like look for regular JPEG images, and much more. PhotoEQ 10 is available immediately for $79.

Corel has announced the latest update to PaintShop Pro. Version 8.1 introduces the Welcome Guide, an all-new in-app learning tool that makes it easier to access helpful tips and tricks. Users will also find new ways to discover content, plus significant performance enhancements app-wide, including major improvements to brush speeds. The X8.1 update is available now and is free to all registered users of PaintShop Pro X8.

Akvis has released Version 5.0 of Akvis HDRFactory, an application that creates HDR images from a series of photographs taken at different exposures. This update adds a new Local Correction mode for additional processing of specific areas, uses a new algorithm of creating HDR images and introduces a refined Ghost Removal tool.

NCTech has announced that it will be showing its iris360 panoramic camera at the CES 2016 trade show. Remote-controlled from a smartphone or tablet, iris360 quickly captures high-resolution 360-degree images courtesy of its four sensors. With zero setup time, iris360 does not require photographic experience to operate and, with one touch, captures and delivers an 8K resolution, HDR panoramic image in less than two minutes. iris360 is small and lightweight, making it easy to transport and deploy, and is designed for use in both indoor and outdoor environments. At CES, NCTech is located in the Eureka Park Marketplace, Sands Expo, Hall G at stand 81651.

Fuji have issued a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-T1 and X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition. Version 4.20 incorporates half a dozen improvements and fixes. Click through / scroll down for the complete list.

Sony have expanded their PlayMemories Camera app lineup with Sky HDR, enabling users to independently control the exposure of land and sky and adjust different brightness levels in one picture. The application, which is compatible with a host of Sony cameras, also allows the user to set the white balance separately for the shadows and the highlights. After adjusting the exposure and white balance for land and sky the final image with its added effects can be created by pressing the shutter button. The Sky HDR app is now available to download for €9.99.

X-Rite and Pantone have announced that Color Finale from Color Grading Central is the first colour grading solution for video to fully support X-Rite’s new ColorChecker Passport Video target. When the target is included in shot setup, the Color Finale plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro X can automatically perform colour corrections to adjust for color temperature issues, variances among cameras and other colour biases that can occur during video shoots. “We are very excited to be the first color grading solution for video to support the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Video targets,” said Denver Riddle, President of Color Grading Central. “By simply inserting the ColorChecker Passport Video into the frame prior to the ‘take,’ Color Finale removes all of the guesswork from colour correction in post so that filmmakers can feel confident that they are achieving a good, colour-accurate starting point from which they can then apply a creative look.”

Marsel van Oosten has been confirmed as the overall winner of the 2015 international Travel Photographer of the Year awardss (TPOTY). The Dutch photographer beat entrants from over 110 countries to scoop the top prize and the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2015. The Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2015 is 18-year-old Chase Guttman from the USA. Chase’s fellow American, Spencer Cox (age 17), won Young TPOTY 15-18, while 13-year-old Indonesian Michael Theodric won Young TPOTY 14 and Under for the second year in a row. The winning images can be viewed in the 2015 Winners’ Gallery on the awards’ website.

Adobe has released version 2.1 of Lightroom for iOS. This new version adds an array of new features including iPad Pro support and support for iOS 9's multitasking capabilities, new shoot-through presets in the Adobe built-in camera, a novel Point Curve mode for the Tone Curve and the Split Tone adjustments tool, support for 3D touch, and a new widget to launch the Adobe built-in camera from the iOS Notification Centre. You can download Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for iOS from the iTunes App Store.

Today marks the opening of Jessops’s 50th store. The new concession shop officially opened its doors to Christmas shoppers today at Sainsbury’s in Emersons Green, Bristol. The new store will offer shoppers the services that Jessops is renowned for, including expert staff, try-before-you-buy product displays, and access to a wide range of cameras and accessories. Customers can also take advantage of one-hour printing services and attend a range of photography courses designed to meet the needs of all levels and abilities. “The opening of Jessops at Emersons Green concludes a very successful year for Jessops. In 2015, our vision has been executed perfectly with fourteen new store openings, allowing us to bring our fantastic service to even more customers around the country.”

We've teamed up with LoveCases to giveway a Jill-E Jack DSLR Camera Messenger Bag worth £210!

The lucky winner is Dmitriy Sukhanov. Congratulations!

Jill-E camera bags deliver a spacious interior, protection, and an unforgettable style that simply cannot be matched. The "Jack" DSLR Messenger bag is luxuriously crafted from weather-resistant Columbian leather, offering a beautiful exterior that will protect your precious equipment, should you get caught out in the rain, and proves that you needn't sacrifice style for substance.

Jill-E create bags to complement with the technologically-focused lifestyle of today, and this camera bag is no exception. Featuring padded exterior walls to protect your precious equipment and customisable interior dividers that hold your accessories in place, the Jack DSLR Messenger bag also has room for a 15" laptop to complement and compile your snaps.

To check out LoveCases full range of bags, feel free to check them out at: http://www.lovecases.co.uk/camera-cases-bags.html

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Booq have just released their latest backpack for photographers: the Slimpack. Accommodating to SLRs, up to four mid-sized lenses or one large zoom lens, a 12” notebook or 10” tablet and a tripod. The spacious interior features a cushioned, non-scratch lining and densely padded dividers that can be configured to fit users’ gear of choice, while a variety of pockets with concealed interior slots keep accessories safe and organised.  The Slimpack boasts two entry points, making quick shots easy to capture, and is available now for $195.

We've teamed up with Milk Books to give away a Moleskine Leather Album and a Moleskine Leather Backpack, worth a total of $975!

The lucky winner is Jackie ONeill. Congratulations!

Moleskine + MILK introduces the handcrafted Moleskine Leather Album, a new take on old world traditions of book making. Handbound in quality black or ivory leather, made with a choice of sustainably produced Italian Tintoretto art paper or Mohawk proPhoto Paper, this new Album truly sets the standard for Moleskine's print-on-demand range. 

With a customized inset image and delivered in a protective linen bag . At 13.5 x 10.26” / 343 x 261 mm, the Moleskine Leather Album is large enough to feature your most beautiful photographs. The 20, 30, and 40 page options have a retail value of US$595, US$695, and US$795, respectively.

http://moleskine.milkbooks.com

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