Canon has unveiled the new “Photo Paper Pro Luster” (255 gsm) professional inkjet paper. Optimized for use with the Canon family of Pixma professional printers - the PRO-1, Pro9500 Mark II and Pro9000 Mark II - the Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster delivers vivid colours, reproduces sharp details, and produces black and white output with rich blacks and smooth tonality. With an expected availability of late June, Canon’s Photo Paper Pro Luster will come in two sizes, 8.5 x 11 and 13 x 19 inches, with an estimated selling price of $34.99 and $99.99 respectively.

Kris Matyskiewicz, from Watford and Thomas Casey from Islington have been announced as winners of the amateur and professional categories of the Barclays London by Bike photo contest. Kris’ inspiring photograph showcases two of London’s best cultural icons, Big Ben and the London Eye, in a shot featuring a silhouetted cyclist on the South Bank. Thomas’ entry (above) is a scenic shot of the lush greenery of Richmond Park, a known hot-spot for cyclists.

AlbumPro 2 is a new program that makes the creation of albums faster, more efficient and comfortable. Simplifying the design workflow through partly automated processes such as a template selector or the export function, the software is easy to use and comes with several integrated layout presets. A demo version is available at the website below.

AKVIS has released ArtWork version 7.0. This update introduces the Gouache style that lets creating a gouache painting from a photo. Also, the new version adds the preview images for the AKVIS presets. The update is free for all registered users. New users can purchase a home licence for $72. Available as a standalone application, as well as a plugin to a photo editor, the software runs on Windows XP/Vista/Win 7 and on Mac OS X 10.4-10.7, both 32 and 64 bit.

Fujifilm has launched its UK social channels, including an innovative new Facebook page. The company has developed an online presence across Twitter, Google+ and Tumblr. At the heart of the offering is a Facebook page featuring apps with magazine style content alongside a timeline on the Wall, highlighting the history of the brand from its inception in the 1930s to the present day. The platforms will be monitored closely, allowing Fujifilm to respond to users quickly and effectively, the company claims.

Trygger has announced its new crowd-funded iPhone case, which incorporates a sliding polariser for the built-in camera. Made of optical-grade glass, the adjustable Trygger Polarising Filter wheel has a rubberised edge to give you accurate control. The slim fitting cases will be available in 4 different colours through Trygger’s Kickstarter page.

Angry Chicken Software, the developers of five-star photo app “Photo Notes,” have released One Stop Crop 1.1. Billed as “the only photo editing app that truly streamlines the iPhone photo editing experience,” One Stop Crop let’s you crop, rotate and even straighten images and supports unlimited, undo and redo actions. Additionally, One Stop Crop integrates the familiar, Safari-style multi-page display to allow editing up to 10 photos at a time. The app is available on iTunes for $1.99.

Bolide Software has released Bolide Slideshow Creator 1.4 – the latest version of its freeware slideshow editor. The new version introduces a pan&zoom effect that lets you highlight important details in a photo, show particular objects or people in a picture in more detail, or simply make the slideshow more dynamic. Bolide Slideshow Creator v.1.4 can be downloaded from the website below.

Tiffen has released updates to Tiffen Photo fx and Tiffen Photo fx Ultra. The apps now provide a number of ways to share enhanced or retouched images, allow users to save their favorite Photo fx looks into presets and import into Tiffen Dfx 3 and provide faster processors. Additionally, the Tiffen Photo fx Ultra version now supports the high-resolution Retina display of the new iPad. Tiffen Photo fx 5.0 and Tiffen Photo fx Ultra 5.0 apps are available today for $2.99 and $4.99.

The two lucky winners of a Manfrotto Photo Kit are Charlotte Clark and Austin Taylor.

These kits include the new Manfrotto Compact Travel Tripod which will go perfectly with your Manfrotto Veloce Backpack! Each kit is worth £135!

The new Manfrotto Veloce III (Black) Backpack is the essential shooting backpack, which comfortably fits all your camera gear and tripod either inside or outside the bag as well as a 13” laptop (13” Apple). Grab your DSLR (with or without battery grip and up to a 16-35mm lens attached) via the top opening without having to open the entire bag. 1-2 additional lenses, flash and accessories fit in the bottom compartment.

The Manfrotto Compact Photo Kit (Grey) is the most compact full size support in the market. The five section legs and the unique reversible column provide maximum compactness for storage and transportation, and yet, when fully extended it is a full size tripod with no compromise on height. The quick action intuitive ball head allows you to simply and quickly set the position of your camera in any situation so you don’t lose the right moment.

For more information or to buy Manfrotto products online visit: www.manfrotto.co.uk

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

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

Tamron has announced the addition of the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD for Canon mount to the lens profile for aberration correction offered for Adobe Photoshop CS6, ACR 7.1 and Lightoom 4.1. With the new profile, customers who own the lens will be able to utilize the above software for easy correction of lens distortion, chromatic aberrations and peripheral brightness based on design data.

Canon U.S,A, is once again joining forces with several of the country’s acclaimed national parks to offer free photography workshops to visitors this summer. Providing participants with free equipment loans and professional photography instruction as they take part in a guided walking photo tour, the workshops also offer an opportunity to print images for free. New to this year’s program are Canon video workshop sessions.  Visitors can experience and learn about shooting video by using a Canon VIXIA camcorder or EOS digital SLR camera and participating in a hands-on videography demonstration with experts. Click through / read on for the detailed schedule.

Sprite Labs have announced an update to Paint FX. Version 3.1 adds three new HDR effects with advanced controls and new effects including “Flame”, “Cracked Paint”, “Cracked Tile”, “Grunge Film”, “Handmade Paper” and more. Paint FX 3.1 is available for $1.99 through the iTunes App Store.

Induro has announced the July 2012 availability of its new Dual Range (DR) Hi-Hat Tripod Set. Shown for the first time at NAB 2012, the new Induro DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set, designed with both photographers and videographers in mind, is a unique support system that provides a range of capabilities that makes this tripod compatible with the requirements of still cameras as well as video platforms. Boasting a surprisingly high load capacity of 220lb, the new DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set consists of both a short Aluminium Alloy tripod with 100mm Bowl, and a 100mm Half Ball Adapter. The Induro DR Hi-Hat Tripod Set will be available for $279.

Sekonic has announced that the L-308DC DigiCineMate is now available in the U.S. with a special Protective Orange Skin. Now available at time of purchase, the colourful, sure-grip orange skin makes the DigiCineMate easy to find in any gadget bag, comfortable to operate, and adds a degree of safety when placed on surface.

Sekonic today announced a free downloadable upgrade to its Data Transfer Software (DTS) allowing for automated DSLR and Digital Video Camera meter calibration. Version 3.0 enables the measuring of the dynamic range of a DSLR or digital video camera and calibrating a photographer or videographer’s Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster and L-758Cine DigitalMaster meter to that specific data. Note that using the automated process requires recording images of one of Sekonic’s Exposure Profile Targets or one of X-Rite’s ColorChecker series targets.

Kenro, the official UK and Ireland distributor for the Benro range of tripods, has announced the availability of the new Benro Classic Series Kits. Kenro Managing Director, Paul Kench commented on the release: “The Benro Classic Series Kits are the Bear Grylls of tripods! They’re ideal for the photographer who likes to push themselves and who needs a tripod that will take on any environment and a couple of the extra innovations like the built-in spirit level and compass have both been included to appeal to dedicated outdoor photographers.” All tripods in the Classic Series are supplied with a Benro N Series Ball Head which, incorporating Arca-Swiss style quick-release system, have been designed to facilitate both smooth movement and stable camera positioning. The range comprises of five models, ranging from £119.94 to £185.94, all featuring anti-rotation legs incorporating twist locks with dust and water-resistant design.

Issue 16 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available for download. The redesigned magazine includes an interview with Colin Prior, a guide to long exposures, an article on finding your personal style and many more articles, tips and techniques. Note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.

Jessops has launched a new photography competition running throughout the month of June to celebrate National Photography Month. By entering your perfect celebration moment you could win one of ten Canon EOS 550D twin-lens kits, one of five Powershot SX260 HS superzoom cameras or one of twenty-five canvas prints, each mounted on a sturdy wooden mount stretcher. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is simply upload your photos to Facebook at the website below.