Professional and amateur photographers can now submit entries to compete for the 2013 UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards. Hosted by BBC journalist and presenter Kate Silverton, the UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards recognise outstanding photography from the world of news, royalty, sport, business, fashion and entertainment. Winners will have their work displayed at the Museum of London, as well as receive prizes from headline sponsor SABMiller, and award sponsors: Bloomberg, BT, British Airways, Genesis, Getty Images, Nikon and OpenText. Click through / read on for more information including the full list of the 2013 UK Picture Editors’ Guild Award categories.

AKVIS has just issued a free update to AKVIS LightShop. This program helps you create version light effects: flares on the sun, lights from distant planets and stars, alien signs blazing in the night sky, a colourful rainbow over a city, reflections in raindrops, fireworks and more. Version 4.0 features a new graphical user interface with two workspace modes, adds an Effects panel with 138 ready-to-use presets, a Toolbar with new tools, new Elements for creating natural-looking light effects, and compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC. Registered users of LightShop can upgrade to version 4.0 free of charge.

Kenko Tokina has announced the DSC880DW waterproof digital camera, which features a dual-monitor design. Waterproof to a depth of 3m for up to an hour, the 8.17-megapixel DSC880DW has a 2.7-inch display at the rear and a smaller, 1.8-inch monitor on its front plate. Perhaps the most striking feature of the camera is its 1.8mm f/2.8 lens which, given the 1/3.2"-type sensor, works out to about 14mm in 35mm terms. The product page on Kenko Tokina's website does not specifiy whether this is a rectilinear lens or a fisheye optic, but we suspect it's the latter. At the moment, there is no word on international availability and pricing.

The Institute of Optics and Electronics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a camera with a 100-megapixel square-format sensor. Apparently, the IOE3-Kanban is not designed to compete with high-resolution medium-format digital backs such as the Leaf Credo 80 or the Phase One IQ280 - its main areas of use include areial photography, disaster monitoring and high-dynamic-range imaging. The device, which takes 10240x10240-pixel photographs, can be used in temperatures ranging from -20 °C to +55 °C.

Casio has launched two new digital compact cameras dedicated to shooting self-portraits. Like the Exilim TR-100 (a.k.a. TRYX) and EX-TR150, the new Casio EX-TR10 and EX-TR15 employ an adaptable frame, a rotating monitor, 12-megapixel sensor, 21mm equivlent lens, and come complete with a special "make-up mode." They also add a new self-portrait button on the frame, a 920,000-dot screen, and a new function called Skin Brightening Mode, which makes skin look even more beautiful, the company claims. The EX-TR15 additionally features wireless connectivity. Pricing and availability have yet to be communicated.

Nikon has just launched My Nikon World, a Facebook application that awards users for taking and uploading photos. User participation will be rewarded with community points and digital badges for uploading photos and participating in the community. With a strong focus on social sharing and engagement, participants will also have the option to include links to their personal social profiles on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks so they can interact with fellow photographers. To visit the site and become a fan of Nikon, visit the official Nikon Facebook page.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is a new camera phone with a second-generation 41-megapixel sensor, six-element f/2.2 Zeiss lens, optical image stabilisation, mechanical shutter, Windows Phone 8 operating system and PureView technology on board. Using a new feature called dual capture, the Nokia Lumia 1020 simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image and creates a 5-megapixel picture that is easier to share to social networks. Other highlights include a 4.5" PureMotion HD+ OLED screen with a resolution of 334ppi, Gorilla Glass 3, 2GB RAM, 32GB/64GB internal storage and a 2-megapixel secondary camera module. The Nokia Lumia 1020 will launch first in the US exclusively with AT&T, with sales expected to start on July 26 at a price of $299.99 on a two-year contract. An optional Nokia Camera Grip adds a shutter release and tripod mount, and is expected to be available this month for an estimated retail price of $79.

The Northwestern University’s Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art has announced its schedule of fall exhibitions. “Steichen|Warhol: Picturing Fame” is the first exhibition to pair the photographic works of Edward Steichen and Andy Warhol to explore their roles in shaping how we see fame and glamour. “The Polaroid Years: Instant Photography and Experimentation” brings together work by more than 40 artists who embraced the Polaroid format as they upended the established parameters of photography. “Steichen|Warhol” and “The Polaroid Years” are on view at the Block from 20 September to 1 December 2013.

The fourth installment of the contemporary art in editions fair, Multiplied, returns to Christie’s South Kensington this October. The fair will be open to the public with free admission from 18-21 October 2013. Murray Macaulay, Director, Multiplied, commented: “Multiplied’s eclectic mix of established galleries exhibiting eminent artists, and young galleries with new talent, represents the whole gamut of contemporary art in editions, from traditional printmaking and photography, to the experimental edge of 3-D printing and digital art... Prices range from £10 to £30,000.”

‘Exposed’ is a new exhibition of works by students on the Kensington and Chelsea College's BTEC National Diploma in Photography. Describing the show Bruce Tanner, Head of Photography at Kensington and Chelsea College said: “Finding an individual voice in a world so packed with images is one of the hardest things to do and this year’s students have really managed to achieve this. Presenting something different, they have needed to trawl back and forth through the history of photographic processes and combined this with modern digital techniques to produce a show that is stunning and inspiring.” The exhibition is free to attend and runs from Friday July 19 until Friday July 26 in the Carlyle Building, on Hortensia Road, SW10 0QS.

Intro 2020, official UK importers and distributors of Hoya filters, have just launched the new Hoya REVO series of filters in the UK. This filter series consists of a UV and Circular Polarising filters that are all sold separately. All Hoya REVO filters have very low-profile aluminium filter frames to house the glass and keep it perfectly parallel to the sensor plane. The low-profile frame also makes the filters compatible with a wide array of super and ultra wide-angle lenses. Hoya REVO series filters are available in sizes from 37mm to 82mm. Suggested retail prices start from £35.00 for the 37mm UV filter.

The Society of Nature and Wildlife Photographers have announced the winners of the Treasures of Nature photo competition. Michelle Valberg from Ontario, Canada with the image entitled 'On the Move' (above) was chosen as the winner from over 350 pictures entered in the competition. Michelle has won 12 months membership in The Society. The runners up Debbie Picknell and Anne Algar have both been awarded 6 months membership.

Children with Cancer, a UK-based children’s charity, has announced its 2013 photo competition. Now in its second year, the competition is aimed at raising awareness and helping fight childhood cancer. There is a special category for children aged 16 years or under and a second category for adults aged 17 or over. The organisers are looking for the best photographs which represent ‘childhood’ - it could be a special moment in a child’s life, something that represents youth or a snapshot that illustrates the innocence of childhood. There is no entry fee for the Young Photographer category. For adults, the entry fee is £5 per image. The competition runs until 5pm on Monday 2nd September. The best photographers will be in with a chance of winning an opportunity to attend a photoshoot with celebrity photographer Nicky Johnston, a family photoshoot with Little Bunny Photography and Amazon vouchers. As always, we suggest that you read the terms and conditions before entering your work.

Website: Children with Cancer

Windows users can now download a free version of JPEGmini, the flagship photo optimisation tool from technology innovator Beamr. "Photo storage used to refer to stashing a shoebox full of snapshots. Today, the proliferation of digital photography has freed up our closet space while creating its own set of storage challenges, including hard drives that are bursting at the seams, and slow online transmission times," said Sharon Carmel, CEO of Beamr. "JPEGmini for Windows offers a simple solution to the storage crunch and sharing dilemma, without compromising the quality of precious photographs." Available at the website below, this free desktop version of JPEGmini for Windows optimises up to 20 JPEG photos a day. (The full version of JPEGmini for Windows retails for $19.99, and accommodates an unlimited number of photos.)

YouFrame has launched a new product called "Aqua Canvas," which allows photographers to sell images to customers for showers, bathrooms and outdoor locations. “100% waterproof. You can display your canvas anywhere. Inside or outside. Even under water! You can't do that with a wooden frame,” said Andrew Ainge, Managing Director of YouFrame International. Pricing for the new "Aqua Canvas" starts at £44.

DxO Labs have just released DxO ViewPoint 1.2.1, the newest version of its software dedicated to correcting keystoning and volume anamorphosis. This update adds full compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5. With just one licence, DxO ViewPoint v1.2.1 can be used as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, and as a standalone application. DxO ViewPoint v1.2.1 is now available in the DxO Labs online store and at photo resellers at a special discount price throughout July. Click through / scroll down for the details.

Creativity Backgrounds have launched two new backdrops for photographers. PhotoDrapes are available in 11 colours across three dye processes (wash, crush and tie dyes) which add elegance, gothic flavour or classic beauty to portraits depending on the colour. Priced at £144, each PhotoDrape comes in a size of 10'x12'. PolySilk backdrops (pictured) are available in three colours and are easily transportable, ideal for photographers on the move. They are washable, it does not matter if they get wet or damp so they be used outdoors. The price of the Creativity Backgrounds PolySilk backdrop is £95.