TeoreX, the company famed for its BatchInpaint, FolderIco, Inpaint, iResizer and PhotoSticher applications, has released PhotoScissors 2.1. Targeting users who don’t want to learn secrets of retouching, PhotoScissors makes background removal easier than ever. Now the user can remove the photo's background, and immediately replace it with another one. Additionally, the "Shadow" option first introduced in PhotoScissors 2.0 has been further enhanced in the new version of the program. Now, a user can choose the colour of the shadow to create eye-catching visual effects. And for better presentation of the cut out objects, the new release features updated and improved image edge handling. The price for a single license of PhotoScissors is $19.99. PhotoScissors is available both for Windows and Mac OS.

BenQ has partnered with Adobe to launch a new promotion for creative professionals. Those purchasing a new BenQ 24” PG2401PT colour critical monitor can now get a one-year membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography (worth £102). The Creative Cloud Photography plan combines the creative power of Adobe Photoshop CC with the management and enhancement tools within Adobe Lightroom CC. This new BenQ / Adobe offer is available to purchase through leading photography retailers and is distributed exclusively by Colour Confidence in the UK, Poland, France, the Nordics and Spain.
 

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Calumet Photographic store in Glasgow (Oakbank Ind. Estate, Glasgow) is hosting a week of special events featuring experts from leading photography brands to offer advice and product demonstrations; from Tuesday 4 until Friday 7 August. On Tuesday, Profoto will offer some hands on demonstrations with their new range of flash equipment. On Wednesday, the much acclaimed Pentax 645Z will be under the spotlight, with Eizo also demonstrating its professional monitors, and Colour Confidence advising on the importance of correct colour. Thursday will see Fujifilm showing off the new X series cameras and lenses, as well as demonstrating how simple it is to produce top quality framed canvas prints at a fraction of the price of the commercially available variety, with the help of Epson. The week will end with a pro video day: Canon will demonstrate an extensive range of pro cameras and lenses with microphones and headphones from Sennheiser; stability will be added by Manfrotto; Global Distribution will handle sound recording with its range of Atomos recorders, also showing backup solutions from G-Technology; and keeping everything on track, Konova will demonstrate its tracks and sliders. All events are taking place from 10am until 4pm on each day; admission is free.

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR3000 is a raw-capable digital compact camera with a 1/1.7"-type back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 25-300mm (eq.) f/2.8-6.3 lens, plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Other highlights include a 3-inch, 921,600-dot LCD screen that tilts up 180 degrees, plus a front-mounted secondary shutter release to facilitate the capture of self-portraits. The camera can record 1080p movies at 30 frames per second, and reduced-resolution videos at up to 1,000fps. The Casio Exilim EX-ZR3000 will become available on 31st July (in Japan) in Black and White. The initial monthly production volume is 10,000 units. There is no word on international availability and pricing.

Casio Japan has announced the Exilim EX-ZR60, a 16-megapixel compact camera with a 25-250mm equivalent zoom lens, a 180° tilting LCD screen and a secondary shutter release on the front panel to facilitate the capture of self-portraits. The camera features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for easy image sharing via Ripplex's Scene smartphone app, plus a range of "SELPHY Art" modes whose effects can be previewed on-screen. Due to be released on 28th August (in Japan), the Casio Exilim EX-ZR60 will be available in Green, Pink and White. The initial monthly production volume is estimated at 15,000 units. Pricing to be confirmed.

Fantasea have announced an upcoming release of an underwater housing for the brand new Sony RX100 IV digital compact camera. Providing full access to all essential camera controls and functions, the Fantasea FRX100 IV housing is depth rated to 60 metres, and features a shock-resistant construction, ergonomic design and double O-ring protection. Free extras include a hand-strap, moisture detector and port cover. Also compatible with the Sony RX100 III, the Fantasea FRX100 IV underwater housing will be available from September 2015 at an estimated retail price of $500.

PhotoShelter's Pro plan now allows for unlimited file storage. This means that pro members are no longer restricted to 1TB, having the freedom to upload as many images as they like; at no extra cost. "As a PhotoShelter Pro, you'll have full control over what, when, and how you choose to store with us," the company says. "Upload any file format or size, with as many images as you like -- as often as you like -- and rest easy knowing your original files can be accessed anywhere, anytime." The subscription fee is $49.99 / month.

Metabones have issued a firmware upgrade for four of their Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds adapters. Applicable to the Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster  S Adapter  (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BM2, pictured), the Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster Adapter (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BM1), the Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster  ULTRA 0.71x Adapter  (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BT4) and the Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster  XL 0.64x Adapter  (model number MB_SPEF-M43-BT3), Firmware Version 1.7 enables auto focus on Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera bodies and fixes a couple of bugs.

Metabones Canon EF to MFT Speed Booster Adapter Firmware V1.7 for Mac OS
Metabones Canon EF to MFT Speed Booster Adapter Firmware V1.7 for Microsoft Windows

PhotoWhoa has released a new ebook entitled, 22 Landscape Photography Mistakes And How to Avoid Them. Offering 22 lessons that promise to help you shoot a landscape "as a veteran landscape photographer would," this publication describes a number of techniques that emphasise and magnify the environment; and shows you how to modify your visual instincts so that you avoid common mistakes. The book is available now from PhotoWhoa, and free for a limited time only.

The first solo UK exhibition of images by Magnum Photographer Harry Gruyaert will open at the Magnum Print Room (63 Gee Street, London, EC1V 3RS) in September. The exhibition will span Gruyaert’s work from 1972 to 2004, shot in diverse locations including Bosnia, Belgium, Egypt, France, Ireland, Mali, Russia and the US. Also on display will be a small selection of Gruyaert’s photographs from his distorted television images series, shot directly from a broken television screen on which he could manipulate the colours. The four works on show are of the 1972 Munich Olympics and are a parody of the conventions of the current affairs photostory. This body of work was controversial when first exhibited in Paris in 1974, viewed as a disrespectful assault on the culture of television with a radical challenge to the conventions of press photography. Gruyaert himself views these works as the closest thing to journalistic photography he has ever made. On display from 15 September – 31 October 2015, the exhibition is free to attend.

Timelapse Workshops have announced that their upcoming 3-night and 4-night advanced timelapse photography workshops will be held in Death Valley in late September and early October. Combining daily class time with plenty of in-field instruction and shooting, these workshops focus on teaching you the skills needed to capture day and night timelapses in motion. The workshops are led by award-winning cinematographer Ron Risman. Risman has been a photographer for over 30 years and has specialised in timelapse photography since 2008. For more information, visit the website below.

Adobe have released version 1.2 of Lightroom Mobile for Android phones and tablets. This update adds support for raw image files generated by the Panasonic CM1, enables users to copy and paste adjustments from one photo to another, introduces a more sophisticated tool for cropping and straightening your photographs, and introduces the new Segmented view, which gives you a different way to view and engage with your photos.

Amazon has just  opened its new multi-million pound  fashion photography studio in London. At 46,000 sq ft, it  houses 22 individual photography bays, a large state-of-the-art editorial  suite, video editing facilities, a creative fashion library, and several offices. “Our aim is to make Amazon the best place to buy fashion online,” said  Sergio Bucher, Vice President of Amazon Fashion EU.  “The opening of our new fashion studio, in  the heart of one of the leading fashion capitals of the world, illustrates our  ambitions.” The new Amazon Fashion Photography Studio is situated on Geffrye  Street in Shoreditch.

Flickr have just unveiled their new Pro membership plan. Available to both existing and new members, this subscription offers improved stats, a discount on Adobe software and more. Flickr members who do not currently have Flickr Pro can purchase it for $5.99/month or $49.99/year. Flickr members who have existing Pro accounts will automatically be upgraded to the new Pro membership will automatically be upgraded to the new Pro membership while being able to keep theirexisting pricing and unlimited space. Existing Flickr Ad-Free account holders will be automatically upgraded to the new Flickr Pro with no change in price or renewal date.

Panono has announced its plan to release the first edition of its 108-megapixel Panono Camera, the first consumer camera to exceed 100 megapixels and deliver high-resolution, 360° X 360° full-spherical panoramic images. The Panono Explorer Edition is a small, grapefruit-sized, ball-shaped camera with 36 individual camera modules that fire simultaneously to capture everything in every direction. The panoramic images can be previewed instantly in the free Panono mobile app before being sent to the Panono Cloud for finishing and delivery back to the app, the photographer‘s account on the Panono website, or can be shared on social media sites. The Panono Explorer Edition will start shipping in September. It is already available to preorder from $1,499.

RED have issued a firmware update for their Epic and Scarlet camera platforms, adding several still photography features. One of these is a new multi-shot mode. In this mode, if you press the red button on the side-handle once, the camera will capture a single frame - but if you keep it depressed, it will record all the frames for the duration you hold down that button. Another new mode is Motion+Stills, which allows users to mark individual frames for extraction while recording video, reducing the amount of time needed to find the perfect one at the post processing stage. Finally, the S-M sliding switch on the side handle now toggles between Stills and Movie modes. The default settings in Stills mode include 6K resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio, so in essence by switching to this mode you can turn your RED device into a "traditional" 19-megapixel digital camera. Click through / scroll down for the details and a video explanation.

This Autumn three of Europe’s chicest cities will form the backdrop to an exclusive series of photography workshops from renowned photographer and trainer Damien Lovegrove. He will lead two street portrait workshops - one in Stockholm on Saturday 5th September and one in Oslo on Monday 7th September, plus a boudoir photography workshop in Copenhagen on Wednesday 2nd September. Click through / scroll down for the details.