The winner of the Nikon Photo Contest International (NPCI) 2010-2011 competition has been revealed. Billed as the biggest international photography competition in the world, NPCI 2011 saw more than 60,000 entries submitted by approximately 23,000 photographers from 153 countries. The winning image, “Learning to Fly” by Indian photographer Debarshi Duttagupta (above), was taken in Varanasi, India. Commenting on why the jury chose this photo as the overall winner, judge Hiromi Tsuchida said: “This image tells three stories in synchronicity, exhibiting the passage of time and the simultaneity of life.” A selection of the winning photographs will be on display at Getty Images Gallery, London, from 15 September until 13 October 2011.

Website: NPCI

Underwater Photography Guide has announced that the prestigious Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition 2011 is now open for submissions. The competition has 12 categories, including a Novice DSLR category and 3 compact camera categories, giving underwater photographers of all levels a chance to win a prize. Unique categories include SuperMacro, Cold/Temperate Water, Nudibranchs, and Divers/ Fashion. The more traditional categories include Wide-Angle, Macro, Marine Life Portraits, and Marine Life Behaviour. There are over $75,000 worth of prizes, including over 25 liveaboard and scuba diving resort packages, dive equipment, and more. For more information, visit the website below.

Bob Books is launching its first UK-wide celebration of photobooks in September. Taking the form of a touring workshop that will call at 10 cities across the country, Photobook Month is aimed at photographers and photobook lovers looking to improve their photobook projects or get some inspiration from photographers and photobook experts. Bob Books’ general manager Ibolya Németh said: “We wanted to celebrate photobooks in their many forms and the best way to do this is to invite photographers and photobook lovers to join us for a month-long celebration of photobooks in September.” Tickets are £10 in London and £5 everywhere else and limited to 15 tickets per city. Click through / read on for a full list of dates, locations and guest speakers.

Filled with 156 high-quality panoramic photographs from Kolor’s 2011 Panoramic Photography Competition, Rocky Nook’s Panobook 2011 is a beautiful, 224-page hardcover book that opens to 24 inches across two pages. “This collection of images provides an introduction to the best of today’s panoramic photography and serves as inspiration for the interested photographer,” the publisher says. “Laymen and photographers alike are certain to be delighted as they embark on a tour of the world.”

Burrard-Lucas Photography has launched a new “Wildlife” photo contest. They are looking for striking and original photographs taken anywhere in the world. The winner receives a Canon EOS 60D digital SLR camera and a $100 Amazon gift voucher, while two runners-up will be awarded with $25 gift vouchers. Entry to this contest is free and you will retain copyright over any pictures you submit. The submission deadline is 15th October.

Website: Burrard-Lucas Photography - Wildlife Photo Competition 2011

The organisers of PhotoBook London are reminding interested photographers that today’s the last chance to enter their self-published photo books to be on show and for sale during the fair. Giving photographers and publishers a platform to get their books seen and sold, PhotoBook London will take place at Hotshoe Gallery from 2-5 September, offering events, exciting talks and book reviewing sessions, all with the intention of promoting independent, and self published books. To submit a book for consideration or simply to learn more, visit the website below.

Website: PhotoBook London

Olympus has released firmware updates for six digital cameras. The Olympus XZ-1, E-P2, E-PL1 and E_PL2 gain support for the new VF-3 electronic viewfinder, while the updates for the VR-310 and VR-320 compacts improve the image quality of the rear LCD screen. You can learn how to update your camera’s firmware by clicking through to the website below.

Website: Olympus Firmware & Language Update Instructions

Epson has just introduced the Epson Artisan 837 ($299.99) and Artisan 730 ($199.99) wireless all-in-one printers for photo enthusiasts. The company claims that the Epson Artisan 837 and Artisan 730 deliver the world’s fastest 4”x6” photo print speeds of any inkjet photo all-in-one priced at $299 or less.  Both models allow users to print from any room in the house with built-in wireless and Ethernet networking, and both. offer Epson Connect for hassle-free printing on the go. With Epson Connect, mobile device users can print photos and documents directly from compatible tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices. Both devices are capable of scanning and copying reflective media such as documents and prints. The difference between the two models is that the flagship Epson Artisan 837 also offers high-speed colour copying and faxing with a 30-page automatic document feeder.

The third issue of Adore Noir Magazine is now available. Adore Noir is a fine art photography magazine available exclusively in digital format. Featuring artistic nudes by Elena and Vitaly Vasilieva, amazing macros by David Johndrow, sensual portraits by photographer/model April-Lea Hutchinson, landscapes by Håkan Strand, fine art photographs by Charles Grogg and architectural photography by Thibault Roland, this issue reinforces the magazine’s commitment to high-quality black-and-white imagery. In addition to introducing the featured artists, issue #3 also includes articles on topics such as censorship in photography and Art vs. Science, plus an interview with master printer Mike Crawford. The latest issue of the magazine is available for $2.95 from the website below.

Website: Adore Noir

The independently curated MA Photographic Studies 2011 Exhibition, organised by the University of Westminster, showcases the work of 13 graduates from the University’s MA photography course. Taking place in the Ambika P3 gallery in the heart of the West End, addresses a diversity of themes, from the personal and public to the photographic. Exhibiting photographers include Matthew Fagg, Paula Gortázar, Tam Hare, David Kilian Beck, Deirdre King, Davide Maione, Javier Marquerie Thomas, Bethan Mills, Tom Need, Mari Rustan, Alexandra Serrano, Gosia Sobieszek and Clement Verger. The exhibition opens to the public on 8th September and runs until the 12th.

Black Rapid has rolled out a revised version of its RS-4 camera strap. To match the other BlackRapid R-Straps, the RS-4 Ballistic camera will now be manufactured from ballistic nylon rather than the ripstop nylon of the previous version. Apart from the change in material, the RS-4 is exactly the same as the original and will maintain its current SRP of £60.

OmniVision has recently launched the super-tiny 8-megapixel OV8850 CMOS image sensor featuring a 1.1-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel architecture. The chip, which is 20% smaller than the 1/3.2” imagers used in camera phones, is claimed to offer “a 20 percent improvement in peak quantum efficiency in all colour channels, a 35 percent improvement in low-light sensitivity and a 45 percent increase in full-well capacity in an extremely compact and power-efficient package,” said Per Rosdahl, senior product manager at OmniVision. Besides its advanced pixel design, the OV8850 also features advanced imaging functions, such as an on-chip temperature sensor, two phase lock loops, context switching, and alternate row exposure for high-dynamic-range (HDR) video and still image capture. The OV8850 fits in an 8.5 x 8.5mm autofocus camera module with a build height of 4.7 mm. Sampling will begin in August, with mass production expected in the first calendar quarter of 2012.

Sigma has issued a firmware update for the Sigma SD1 digital SLR camera. According to the company, version 1.02 does the following:

Corrects various bugs to achieve more stable operation.
Corrects the phenomenon of camera freeze when in Custom White Balance Mode.
Improves image quality at high sensitivity (ISO 3200, ISO 6400), only for raw image files.

Website Sigma

Chainfire has released an app that allows you to remotely control your Canon EOS digital SLR camera via USB using a smartphone or tablet running Android 2.3.4 or later. Currently in Beta, the DSLR Controller app does not require you to hook the camera up to a computer - all you need is a compatible DSLR (the app has been tested with the Canon EOS 600D, 550D, 60D, 50D, 7D, 5D Mark II and 1D Mark IV models), a compatible smartphone* or tablet and the right USB cable. Features include the display of the Live View feed with histogram, grid overlay etc., LV autofocus by touch, and the ability to remotely change a large number of settings on your camera. As this is a Beta version, you should expect intermittent freeze-ups and error messages, the developers say. The DSLR Controller Beta app can be purchased and downloaded now from the Android Market.

*Note that apparently the only compatible smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S2, with the 2.3.4 KG series firmware (or newer). The app should work with most Honeycomb-powered tablets though, Chainfire says.

Via Rob Galbraith

The Ricoh GXR A12 is a new GXR system lens mount unit that accepts Leica M lenses. Featuring an an APS-C size CMOS sensor, the GXR A12 is compatible with both the Leica M mount and many more types of mounts if a conversion adapter is used. The A12 also offers a newly developed focal plane shutter as well as an electronic shutter, a number of lens correction functions to accommodate the different lenses, and a focus-assist function to improve the accuracy of manual focusing. The Ricoh GXR A12 will be available from September 9th, priced at $649, with the Soft Case B SC-75B at $65 and the Soft Case T SC-75T at $35.

Canon has collaborated with one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, Ron Howard, to select the eight winners of the “Project Imagin8ion” contest from 96,362 submissions. Launched in May, the contest challenged photographers to submit their most imaginative images based on a series of eight separate movie themes, each one a core tenet of storytelling, to ultimately inspire a short film byRon Howard. The film, which will be shot using Canon DSLR products, goes into production in September and will premiere later this year in New York City..Click through / read on for more information including a full list of category winners.

Genius has just launched an upgraded version of its G-Pen F610 graphic tablet. The ultra-slim, 6"x10” wireless graphic-design tablet works with any screen size and comes with a pen that boasts two buttons and 1024-level pressure sensitivity, allowing graphic artists - including photographers performing post-processing tasks - the subtlety of more pressure levels. Since the pen battery can last up to one year, the odds of a “power outage” during important work projects are highly unlikely. The pen also comes with a holder that protects the device and its tip, and keeps it handy for use. The Genius G-Pen F610 carries a suggested retail price of $99.90.