Inspiring Photography Workshops have announced a new photo adventure in Venice, Italy. "Venice is undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man and it definitely is one of Europe’s most romantic cities," says photographer Dimitri Vasileiou, owner of Inspiring Photography Workshops. The Venice workshop will run from 19 to 26 January 2015, and there are two options: Package #1 includes 4 nights accommodation with breakfast, airport transfers, one-to-one tuition and a daytrip to Burano for £995. Package #2 includes 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, airport transfers, an additional day on Burano island, food and wine tasting, an 18th century Venetian style dinner night with traditional Venetian food and dressing, and plenty of opportunities to photograph locations off the tourist path for £1,795. For more information and to book your place, visit the website below.

Astrobphotography by Thierry Legault is a new title by Rocky Nook. Legault teaches the art and techniques of astrophotography: from simple camera-on-tripod night-scene imaging of constellations, star trails, eclipses, artificial satellites, and polar auroras to more intensive astrophotography using specialised equipment for lunar, planetary, solar, and deep-sky imaging. The 240-page volume is available for $39.95.

Bonhams is to sell the Leica camera with which Russian photographer Yevgeni Khaldei took Raising a Flag over the Reichstag, one of the most famous photographs of World War II.  Khaldei’s image was taken on 2 May 1945 shortly after the Reichstag had finally fallen.  It is a restaging of the moment when Red Army fighters had first flown the flag over the building two days earlier before the Germans fought back and dislodged them. The camera that was used to take this photographt is being offered at Bonhams Leica Centenary Sale in Hong Kong on 30 November and is estimated at £230,000-340,000. Bonhams  Head of scientific instruments Jon Baddeley said, “It is a great privilege to be selling a  camera with such evocative associations. Raising a Flag over the Reichstag is a defining image of victory over evil which affected people deeply at the time and has continued to resonate for later generations.”

Transcend has launched two CFast 2.0 memory cards. Designed to support high-end 4K cameras and camcorders and to meet the extreme demands of professional cinematography, Transcend’s CFX650 memory cards feature the fastest transfer speeds available in the market, while its CFX600 media boast the highest storage capacity. Supporting the next generation CFast 2.0 specification with a SATA III interface, CFX650 memory cards offer read and write speeds of up to 510MB and 370MB per second, respectively; while CFX600 cards offer vast capacities of up to 512GB, surpassing the capacity limit of any existing card. Transcend's CFast 2.0 CFX650 memory cards are available in 128GB($499) and 256GB($949), while the CFX600 cards are available in 128GB($249), 256GB($499) and 512GB($949) capacities.

Canon today announced Canon Print Service, a mobile print offering that enables users to print from any Android version 4.4 enabled devices as well as select HP Slate devices to select Canon models. Canon Print Service works on top of Android’s recently announced printing framework and enables users to print their photographs and documents to Canon printing systems over a wireless network. “As the growth in mobility among individuals and businesses around the world expands exponentially, Canon U.S.A. continues to deliver to our customers the technology they need to remain productive and successful,” said Junichi Yoshitake, senior vice president and general manager, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A. “With the release of Canon Print Service, we are demonstrating our commitment to existing Canon customers especially by offering them a valuable solution they didn’t have when they originally bought their product.”

MindShift Gear’s Filter Nest is the first dual-purpose round filter case for outdoor photography. Described as "essentially two bags in one," the Filter Nest is belt-mountable and compatible with MindShift Gear’s rotation180° Panorama and rotation180° Professional backpacks for quickly accessing filters while setting up a shot. A padded, zippered pouch protects delicate filters from dust and scratches in the field and a removable insert allows for compact packing. The Filter Nest fits 8 round filters (up to 82mm) including 2 variable NDs in orange divider, step up/down rings, cleaning cloth, lens caps and more.

Microsoft Devices have just announced the UK release date of the new Lumia 930 smartphone, which features a 20-megapixel camera module with optical image stabilisation and dual LED flash. Shipping with Windows Phone 8.1, the Lumia 930 will go on sale with UK retailers from the 17th of July and will be available from Vodafone, EE, Phones4U, O2, Carphone Warehouse, Tesco and Amazon. It will also be widely available across other UK High Street and online retailers in a range of vibrant colours including bright orange, bright green and black. Phones4U will stock the Lumia 930 exclusively in white. The handset will be available from £33/month on contract.

Professional underwater photographer Richard Salas is gearing up to publish Luminous Sea, the third and final book in the trilogy of his underwater photography series. With 50% of the book’s future profits going to The Ocean Foundation, Luminous Sea enables readers to play an active role in marine life conservation. The book will cover sea life found in the Pacific Ocean from Washington to Alaska, completing Richard's series of photo books covering the Pacific Ocean from the Equator all the way to Alaska. Readers will get up-close and personal with Galapagos sharks and Red-Lipped Batfish. They’ll see intimate shots of male seahorses tending for their young as well as Star-Eyed Parrotfish interacting with other fish in the community. The publication of the book is funded through an Indiegogo campaign.

A Kingston University graphics student has used his camera to tell the story of the dying art form of subway dancing in New York City. Scott Carthy, who is originally from Drogheda, Ireland, arrived in the United States with his camera in March of this year with the intention of documenting the declining subculture which is currently being clamped down. The result of Scott’s trip is the seven-minute film 1050.6(c), which takes its name from the section of the New York City Transit Rules of Conduct which prohibits performers from dancing within the subway cars. Hiss film takes a snapshot of social and political change in one of the world’s most famous cities, and captures the artistry and often unappreciated talents of New York’s subway performers through the eyes of an aspiring young film-maker. Scott is now determined to find a way to return to shoot a feature-length version of the movie and, to that end, has set-up a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to try and get the project in motion.  “I want to film these amazing performers now, because this could be the last chance to record this art form,” the 22 year old explained. “If no one else does it, it will be gone.”

Panasonic UK is now offering a unique promotion for its Lumix G products – a 100% satisfaction guarantee. To qualify, you need to buy a brand new Panasonic Lumix G product from a participating retailer (Panasonic Store, WEX Photographic, Park Cameras and Wilkinson Cameras only) no later than 30th October. In plain language, if you’re not 100% happy, Panasonic will refund you within 60 days of purchase. As always, make sure to read the promotion's terms and conditions before buying.

Fuji has posted a firmware upgrade for the Fujifilm X-E2 compact system camera. According to the company, version 2.10 incorporates the following enhancements:

1.Addition of compatibility with "XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR"

2.Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.

Website: Fujifilm

Fuji has issued a firmware upgrade for the Fujifilm X-E1 compact system camera. Version 2.30 incorporates the following enhancements:

1.Addition of compatibility with "XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

2.Change of aperture display for zoom lenses
Display of aperture value when zooming with the shutter button pressed halfway will become same as the display when zooming without the shutter button pressed.

Website: Fujifilm

Fashion photographer Nick Knight has collaborated with American Express to create his first real-time photography exhibition hosted on Twitter. Leaving the studio and taking to the streets of the capital, Nick set out to capture photos of the hidden inspiration he sees in the places he passes every day, shared in real time via @AmexUK. The exhibition uncovers the hidden beauty in these unexpected places - including city gardens and urban habitats to help people realise the full potential of London. Vice President Brand and Communications, American Express, Melissa Weber says, “The cities we live in are brimming with potential, although we may only appreciate a fraction of what they have to offer. As a fashion photographer, Nick has consistently challenged conventional notions of beauty. We’ve challenged him to re-imagine his commute to work and take a look at other sides to London, in the hope that they inspire others to realise the potential of their city.”

This summer Olympus are asking the United Kingdom's amateur photographers to take a shot at becoming a master photographer in a new competition they are calling Olympus Protégés. Entrants to the competition will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the photographic industry. To be in with a chance of becoming a Protégé, entrants simply have to select the category that they would like to master, and then upload the photograph they are most proud to have taken along with a message supporting why they should be chosen.

Canon and Microsoft have signed a broad patent cross-licensing agreement. Covering a broad range of products and services, this contract allows both companies to gain licences to each other’s patent portfolios. “This collaborative approach with Canon allows us to deliver inventive technologies that benefit consumers around the world,” said Nick Psyhogeos, general manager, associate general counsel, IP Licensing of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft believes cooperative licensing is an effective way to accelerate innovation while reducing patent disputes.”

DNP Imagingcomm America has announced the official start of the “Memories Deserve Prints Media Sweepstakes.” Fans of DNP’s Facebook page can enter for a chance to win a free media pack - two rolls of DNP media and thermal-dye ribbons (ARV: $189.99) - for DNP’s DS40 or DS80 dye-sublimation photo printers. DNP media utilizes a special coating to ensure every print produced is resistant to water, fingerprints, dust and fading. The DS40 can also print 400 4x6 images from a single media roll, for a total of 800 prints per pack. The deadline for entries is 18th July and a total of three winners will be announced on 21st July. All U.S. citizens of at least 18 years of age are eligible to enter the sweepstakes by providing basic contact information through the entry form at the website below.

The team behind this year’s South West Coast Path Photographic Competition announced that David Noton has agreed to come on board as their professional judge. “As a travelling professional photographer for almost 30 years, it’s been a rollercoaster of global adventure which has illustrated just how lucky we are to have such a jewel as the South West Coast Path on our doorstep," David says. "I never tire of walking the Coast Path which I find endlessly photographically inspiring." Amateur and professional photographers, of all ages, are encouraged to enter their best pictures of the Coast Path in this annual photographic competition, which closes on 31 December 2014. Prizes include a One Night Luxury Spa Break at Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa, Cornwall and a gift voucher towards products from David Noton’s website.

Jessops Summer Photo Festival, now in its second year, kicks off today and runs for 7 weeks until (20th August). The first week is Sony Week, with a dozen demonstration days taking place in-store, including two seminars by guest speakers Michael Wayne Plant and Nick Webster. Michael Wayne Plant is a Sony Advocate and social documentary photographer who is constantly learning new ways to work with his subjects on the stories that interest him. He holds a particular interest in Street Portrait photography and will be sharing his top tips for getting that perfect street photograph. He will be showing how he uses the Sony A7 A7R and going through camera settings, sharing tricks and enabling you make the camera work for its customisable features. Nick Webster is a Sony Advocate and a UK-based Sports and Editorial photographer who will be giving industry leading advice as to how you can capture spectacular sports photographs. The Jessops Photo Festival events cover a range of topics and are free to book. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. For more details on the events and to reserve a place, visit the website below.