ChromaLuxe has launched customisable ChromaLuxe Flex Frame for the iPhone 4/4S, recently released iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy SIII. This new camera phone cover allows users to print personalized images on high definition interchangeable inserts crafted from ChromaLuxe’s HD Metal Prints. The Flex Frame’s two-piece cover features a hard-shell design that snaps together for a secure fit that can protect a phone from daily bumps and bruises. A raised bezel keeps the screen elevated from surfaces. Additionally, the antimicrobial additive in each HD photo print insert and select covers helps reduce up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria levels. the company says. ChromaLuxe Flex Frames are available through various retail photo labs, including Walgreens.com and GiftsForYouNow.com.

G-Technology has announced the winners of its Driven Creativity 2012 awards. Taking the top spot is “A Fox Tale,” by a group of four students headed up by Julien Legay. This animation team will receive a grand prize of €5,000 as well as a G-Technology 8TB G-RAID with Thunderbolt for their project that focuses on “the poetic and artistic side of Asia.” The winning piece, along with the category winners and runners-up, was showcased at a special exhibition last night at Shoreditch Studios, London.

FotoDC are gearing up for the 5th annual FotoWeek DC festival this month. Held across the Washington, DC region from 9-18 November, this year’s FotoWeekDC festival sees the addition of the new FotoWeekEDU programming and the launch of the FotoPage portfolio profile system. Other highlights include FotoWeekCentral, the focal hub of the Festival, FotoWeek By Night, a series of evening slideshow events, and the new and updated FotoPage and FotoPartner web modules which offer individual photographers and local partners exposure on the greatly expanded FotoDC.org website.

Profoto has announced a new line of softboxes. The company’s RFi softboxes are available in 12 sizes and four models: rectangular, square, octagonal and strip. The “RF” in RFi stands for “recessed front”. The recessed front minimizes stray light. It is also used for mounting the optional Softgrid. The Softgrid is a clever tool that creates an even more directed light, which in turn allows for even more precise light shaping. Other optional tools include the Flat Front Diffuser and the Stripmask. You will not need to worry about what strobes you are using either, as the new speedring adaptors make the RFi softboxes compatible with more than 20 different flash brands.

Olympus UK are really excited to announce the launch of our latest offer, the PEN 1-2-3 Offer.

It’s as simple as it sounds:

Step 1 - Buy any PEN E-PL5 or E-PM2 kit from an authorised Olympus dealer and get a FREE 8GB FlashAir Card, which will allow you to take advantage of the new smart phone app, Olympus Image Share.

Step 2 - Purchase a PEN Portrait Zoom Kit for just £99, saving £250 on the RRP of £349.99.

Step 3 - If you’ve completed steps 1 & 2 you can then claim a 15mm Body Cap lens (RRP £69.99) absolutely FREE!

Visit http://olympusuk.sales-promotions.com/ for more information.

100 Ideas that Changed Photography is a new book that chronicles the most influential ideas that have shaped photography. Arranged in a broadly chronological order to show the development of photography, the ideas that comprise 100 Ideas that Changed Photography include innovative concepts, cultural and social incidents, technologies and movements. Each idea is presented through lively text and arresting visuals, and explores when the idea first evolved and its subsequent impact on photography. 100 Ideas that Changed Photography costs £19.95.

The HiLO Lens redirects the iPhone and iPad camera 90 degrees so it becomes easy to get more creative angles in your photos. With the HiLO Lens the tablet can be held at waist level and the photo of the horizon framed while looking down at the iPad screen. The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign has been launched to bring HiLO Lens into production. Anyone can back the HiLO Lens project on Kickstarter now and receive one of the first HiLO Lens to be produced.

Eyeist has created the first Web-based photography review service that connects world-class photography experts with photographers. Eyeist.com provides insight and advice to a global audience of amateur and professional photographers at affordable rates. Base prices range from $100.00 to $350.00.

The winners of the October 2012 Photography Blog Competition have been announced. The theme for October was “Rays of Light” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
Rays of life by MKatz
Prize: X-Rite ColourChecker Passport
Kindly donated by X-Rite
http://www.xritephoto.com/

We’ve teamed up with Booq to give away one of its fantastic new Python camera backpacks, worth EUR 269,95!

The lucky winner is Fleur Moody. Congratulations!

Python pack is a camera laptop backpack designed for 1-2 DSLRs, up to 4 mid-size lenses, 1 large zoom lens, tripod, iPad, and a MacBook up to 15-inch. Its ergonomic shoulder strap design and side-loading camera compartment lets you access your gear while wearing the camera bag. Inside its rigid camera compartment, contoured padded walls cradle your DSLR camera for easy access, and densely padded dividers (not the flimsy stuff those cheaper camera bags use) can be configured to fit your gear of choice. A variety of pockets include concealed interior slots designed to be used to securely store accessories and flash cards, and its large laptop compartment, protected from the elements via a water-repellent zipper, is perfectly sized for a 15-inch MacBook Pro or magazines.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging UK has announced a cashback promotion on the Pentax K-30 digital SLR camera. The promotion entitles UK and Ireland residents to claim £50 cashback when buying either the body only or with any Pentax lens. The cashback campaign will run from 1 November 2012 to 15 January 2013. For details visit the website below.

This Christmas, Canon UK is offering photographers an opportunity to complement their new DSLR with a range of accessories for half price. Those who buy an EOS 7D, EOS 60D or EOS 60Da will be able to get 50% off the battery grip, AC adapter, remote switch, additional batteries and remote control from a number of retailers. The promotion covers all purchases from 1 November 2012 until 27 January 2013.

Issue 21 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available to download.This edition includes a guide to focus stacking, written by Michael Breitung, a review of four ebooks by David Hay, an interview with William Neill, the portfolios of Austin Thomas, Richard Hurst and Tom Shapira, and much more. Do note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.

Nikon UK is launching its biggest Christmas promotion to date, offering cashback on selected entry-level DSLR cameras, DX lenses, speedlights, as well as the Nikon 1 J1 and J2 compact system cameras. The offer runs until 21 January 2013. The cashback amounts range from £15/€20 to £70/€85. All claims must be received by 28th February 2013 in order to qualify.

HDR+ Camera is a new iOS app that helps users easily take ghost-free high dynamic range (HDR) images on their device. The app’s rapid algorithms also ensure “lightning-fast” processing times that rival professional-grade equipment, the developers say. “HDR+ Camera is the elegantly efficient way to overcome the frustrating problem faced by iPhone and iPad users, which is that their device’s native camera cannot vividly capture real-life scenes due to ranging light intensity,” commented Eugene Panich of Almalence. “As a result, bright areas look washed-out, while shadowy areas are darkened and devoid of details. But now, with HDR+ Camera installed on their device, they can apply the same HDR photography approach used by professional photographers, and effortlessly capture real-life images with truly vivid color and amazingly rich detail - and all with just one touch!” HDR+ Camera is available for $1.99 on iTunes.

Alien Skin Software today released Alt Photo, an iPhone app that applies a wide range of analog looks to photos. Alt Photo reproduces effects from throughout the history of photography, offering numerous black and white styles that cover everything from scratched Daguerreotype to grainy modern film. “It’s fun to give iPhone photographers cool results from our work on professional photography tools,” said Tom Welsh, creator of Alt Photo. “We stripped away all the geeky controls and made complex effects easy to apply.”Alt Photo is available through the iPhone App Store for the introductory price of $0.99.

PolicyBee, an online business insurance broker for photographers, is launching a promotion for photographers. In order to enter, all you need to do is submit up to five of your top tips for budding photographers. The organisers will then pick a winner out of a hat at the end of November who could win £100 London Camera Exchange vouchers. The closing date for entries is Friday 30th November. To enter, head to the website below.

Kensington and Chelsea College has announced four free photo lectures for November and December. Each session will be hosted by one of four established photographers: Anders Birger on 7th November,  Grant Smith on 21st November, Nayia Yiakoumaki on 28th November and Adrian Wood on 5th December. Each lecture at 5pm and takes place at the college’s Chelsea Centre in Hortensia Road, SW10 0QS.