Sample 10 is the third annual group show of theprintspace clients’ work. London’s theprintspace was launched in October 2007 in Shoreditch, and has quickly become a firm favourite with London-based commercial photographers, artists & students. The staff at theprintspace are in a unique position to oversee an extraordinary number of images produced for portfolios and exhibitions all around the UK and they invite you to view a little glimpse of the talent that they see week after week. Presented by Exhibit X, Sample 10 explores artists’ use of creative printing to enhance their work. The exhibition runs from 29 January through 18 February. Click through / read on for a list of exhibitors.

Nikon has released a new version of its Capture Control Pro software. Camera Control Pro allows the user to remotely control a camera from a computer using either a wired connection or a wireless connection if using a Nikon Wireless Transmitter with the camera. Version 2.7.1 adds support for the Nikon D3 with firmware v2.02, and modifies the following settings:

• When the ISO Auto box under Sensitivity in the Exposure 2 tab is checked and the Detail… button clicked to specify the maximum sensitivity, the steps available can now be selected from 1/3 step, 1/2 step and 1 step from Custom Setting b1 ISO sensitivity step value.
• The length of time the camera waits before adjusting focus in response to sudden changes in the distance to the subject can now be selected from 5 (Long), 4, 3 (Normal), 2, and 1 (Short) from Custom Setting a4 Focus tracking with lock-on.
• Dynamic AF area can now be specified for FUNC. button + dials with Custom Setting f4 Assign FUNC. button (f5 Assign preview button>Preview + command dials, f6 Assign AE-L/AF-L button>AE-L/AF-L + command dials). 

Support for the Nikon D700 with firmware v1.02 has also been added. When a D700 with firmware Ver. 1.02 installed is connected, the behaviour of Auto ISO and focus tracking are also modified as described above.

Website: Nikon Capture Control Pro 2.7.1 for Windows
Website: Nikon Capture Control Pro 2.7.1 for Mac OS

CoolerBot is an interesting outdoor telepresence robot built for nature photography. Created by Steve Norris of Norris Labs, CoolerBot sports an infrared video camera, a Nikon digital SLR camera and two solar panels used to recharge the batteries. Rugged, waterproof and designed to stay outdoors for long periods of time, the robot is remote controlled through a 912 MHz transceiver. Norris’ CoolerBot certainly looks like it has a great potential in aiding photographers wishing to photograph timid or potentially dangerous wildlife. For more information and to see a video of CoolerBot in action, head to the website below.

Website: Norris Labs

Unseen work by Mali’s most celebrated living photographer Malick Sidibé will be shown at the Lichfield Studios in London from 4 March 2010. Sidibé, who became the first photographer to be awarded the Lion d’Or for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2007, is now internationally respected for his black-and-white photographs that capture the transformation and energy of post-colonial Bamako, Mali’s capital city. Sidibé launched ‘Studio Malick’ in 1962, at this key moment in Mali’s history. His talent and charm won him a fashionable, young clientele, not only for portraiture, but also to see the pictures that he began to take of Bamako’s nightlife. He was one of the first studio photographers in Bamako to take a lighter 35mm camera outside to parties, weddings and picnics. A selection of Sidibés trademark small-format portraits as well as his images of Bamako nightlife, will be shown at Lichfield Studios between 4 March and 1 April 2010.

Update: The dates have changed. The exhibition will run 11 March – 16 April 2010.

LaCie has unveiled LaCinema Mini HD, an all-in-one Wi-Fi High Definition media centre. Encased in the latest minimalist design from Neil Poulton, LaCinema Mini HD is described by LaCie as a fusion of art, simplicity and technology. “The new LaCinema Mini HD offers a full-featured media centre by combining high storage capacity, compact design, and seamless store-and-play functionality,” commented Salem Tirane, Digital Home Product Manager. “Users will benefit from large HD video format compatibility and the convenience of built-in wireless N streaming.” Transferring content to the LaCinema Mini HD is easy through the bus-powered USB connection for maximum transfer speeds, or by connecting the drive to a home network. Users can conveniently load files wirelessly from their computer or via the Ethernet connection. LaCinema Mini HD is available in 500 GB capacity in Europe and will be available worldwide later this year through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, and LaCie Corner, starting at the suggested retail price of £259.

Website: LaCie

Prysm has announced the public launch of its Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) technology that promises dramatically reduced power consumption, long-lasting performance and brilliant picture quality. LPD images are created by using a laser engine to excite a phosphor screen while consuming up to 75 percent less power than other display technologies. LPD screens deliver high brightness, high resolution, high contrast and natural colour content with zero motion blur, the company claims.

Website: Prysm

Datacolor has announced that Manfrotto Distribution (formerly Bogen Imaging) will serve as its U.S. master distributor for the entire line of Datacolor Spyder monitor and print calibration solutions. The Spyder3Studio SR workflow solution (pictured) includes the new Spyder3Print SR (strip reader), a spectrocolorimeter that incorporates significant advancements in ICC printer profile technology; the Spyder3Elite, a monitor calibration tool; and the SpyderCube, which eliminates any need for traditional 18% grey cards. “Clearly the synergy between our target audiences – those photographers that demand the highest in quality, performance and reliability – is evident. We are proud to add Datacolor to our growing roster of first-class partners,” said Andrew Mougis, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Manfrotto Distribution. “Datacolor’s highly-respected Spyder line is widely recognised as the most advanced colour management technology available today.”

Flaghead Photographic has announced the availability of two new folding brackets from Custom Brackets. The CBFolding-T and CBFolding-S are designed to keep the flash well above the camera and lens, regardless of camera orientation, ensuring that shadows disappear down behind the subject and red-eyes are avoided. The CBFolding-T bracket accommodates tall cameras, or those with add-on vertical grips/battery packs. Boasting an easy-to-use, spring-loaded flash flip and suited for both right- and left-handed photographers, the CBFolding-S is built to accommodate smaller cameras, or those without add-on vertical grips.  The CBFolding-T and CBFolding-S are available from Flaghead for £58 and £54, respectively.

Website: Flaghead

Sakar International has announced a new Kodak-branded microSD memory card reader. Roughly the size of a quarter, the new Kodak R110 card reader for microSD cards has special features to keep the card, USB connection and device itself safe and secure.  It slides open from the middle to expose the card compartment and USB - then slides closed to prevent the card from falling out and the USB from collecting dust and dirt. For loss protection, it comes with a cord that connects to your keychain as well as a built-in non-detachable cover that cannot be misplaced. The MSRP is $14.99.

Adorama are launching the APPOS, the first annual iPhone App Awards for Photography as well as an iPhone Photography Contest. The Adorama Photo APPOS Awards will cover six categories of photo software from colourisation, masking/cropping, filters, zoom, panoramic and stop action apps. Along with honouring the software titles and their developers, Adorama will showcase the winning photo apps, chosen by popular vote. Photographers winning awards will be chosen by a panel of judges, in categories including Nature, People, Humour and Creative/Special Effects. Contest entries will be accepted until February 15, 2010. All winners will be announced during the month of March 2010. Prizes include one Grand Prize of a $1,000 Adorama Gift Certificate plus 10 Wacom tablets, fifteen Canon wireless printers, thirty $100 Adorama Gift Certificates and twenty-five $50 Apple App Stores Gift Certificates. All photographic entry information can be found on the Adorama website.

Website: Adorama

Addonics Technologies today announced a new CFast Memory Adapter, which is designed as a solution for connecting any CFast media to eSATA or the new eSATA USB hybrid port. CFast is the latest Compact Flash media standard with native SATA interface to achieve much higher data throughput than the current CF standard. The CFast Reader reads and writes to any CFast card through the eSATA port or the new eSATA USB 2.0 Hybrid port. By using the optional Addonics eSATA USB adapter, the CFast media can also be accessed via the ubiquitous USB port found on many systems. List price of the CFast adapter is $39.99. The optional eSATA USB adapter costs an additional $29.95.

Website: Addonics Online Shop

Frommer’s is awarding the winner of its first Cover Photo Contest $5,000 and the honour of the winning photo being featured on the cover of a forthcoming travel guide. Four second-place winners will receive a prize pack containing three Frommer’s Day by Day travel guides and a selection of Frommer’s Lug travel accessories worth more than $300. Contestants have until 31 March 2010 to submit their best travel photos. The Cover Photo Contest celebrates Frommer’s new full-colour editions that premiered in September. Début titles available now include London, Paris, New York City, Italy, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Hawaii. Nine more full-colour guides will be available in 2010. The contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty United States,Canada (excluding Quebec)and the United Kingdom who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. We do recommend that you read the official rules at the website below before entering your work.

Website: Frommer’s Photo Contest

DxO Labs have just released DxO Optics Pro v5.3.7 for Mac that adds raw support in both in its Standard and Elite editions for the Canon PowerShot S90 (pictured). This release also brings better support for Snow Leopard (installation, activation, stability, plug-in for Photoshop), along with some stability improvements for previous Mac OS versions. DxO Optics Pro v5.3.7 for Macintosh costs $169 / €149 / £99 for the Standard edition, and $299 / €299 / £199 for the Elite edition, including sales tax and VAT where applicable. The minimum system requirements include 2GB of RAM, 400MB available disk space and Mac OS X.4 or X.5 or X.6. Canon S90 owners working on a Windows platform should go for DxO Optics Pro v6.1.1 for Windows instead.

Website: DxO Labs

Nik Software has announced a free daily webinar series set on introducing the company’s digital photographic tools to current customers as well as those who have not yet purchased any Nik Software products. Every daily webinar is hosted by Nik Software experts and provides attendees with introductory information and tips for specific Nik Software products including Dfine 2.0, Viveza 2.0, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro, and Sharpener Pro 3.0 software. Webinars cover basic installation, usage tips and other information to help photographers achieve maximum success with the Nik Software product line. Available now, these daily webinars are held three times a day, Monday through Friday. Pre-registration for the webinars can be found at the website below.

Website: Nik Software Webinars

Flashfixers have announced the release of ImageRecall 4 - Don’t Panic Photo Edition (DPPE) recovery software. DPPE is the fourth major revision in the ImageRecall recovery software series. Updated to support the latest Windows and Mac operating systems, the new interface still offers users an easy step-by-step recovery process, but saves time by offering 30 percent faster recovery speeds and an improved thumbnail viewer. It also supports the newest larger capacity memory cards and most popular image formats, including many raw file types. The software’s features allow users to rebuild corrupt files, scan cards for damage, view recovered images, change the destination directory, securely erase cards, make backups and burn recovered files to CD or DVD. Don’t Panic Photo Edition for the PC requires Microsoft Windows Operating System (2000, XP, Vista or Windows 7) or Mac OS 10.4 and above for the Mac version, (Intel Core Duo or Power PC G3, G4 or G5 Processor), a minimum of 256mb of RAM and 15mb of hard drive space for installation, plus additional drive space for recovered images. The software can be ordered as a full version for $39.95. A free trial is downloadable from the website below.

Website: FlashFixers

BenQ has introduced a new digital camera, the pocket-thin (18.4mm) BenQ W1220 with automatic, semi-automatic and full manual exposure modes, a 12-megapixel CCD and 5X optical zoom starting at 28mm (equivalent). The highlights of the new BenQ W1220 are the P/Av/Tv/M exposure modes that are quite unusual at the low price point the camera is offered at. Apart from these, the W1220 sports most all the features expected from a 2010 compact, including Smart Scene, Smart Focus, Face Tracking, Smile Catch, Blink Detector and the bombastically named Love-Portrait Auto Capture mode, which is actually a shooting mode for self-portraits. Available now, the BenQ W1220 sells for €125 according to DCViews.

Website: BenQ DC W1220

Olympus have issued a firmware update for the Olympus Pen E-P1 interchangeable-lens digital compact camera. Version 1.2 reduces the duration of the MF ASSIST enlarged display; allegedly to improve operability. It also enables REC VIEW when the monitor backlighting is set to ‘off’. Unlike with most other manufacturers’ models, but in line with other Olympus cameras, the Olympus E-P1 firmware can be updated from within the Olympus Master or Olympus Studio software.

Source: Olympus Japan

Hearst Corporation has announced the 2011 international biennial competition to recognise and showcase the professional work of talented young photographers. Hearst 8 X 10 Photography Biennial began in 2009. The premiere biennial garnered more than 1,000 entries from 47 countries. The 2011 contest is open to all U.S. and international freelance, amateur and professional photographers and students, aged 18 to 35 years of age. All entries must be submitted no later than May 31, 2010. Winners will be announced in September 2010. Additional information and submission guidelines can be found at the website below.

Website: Harst 8x10 Photography Biennial

Today LaCie announced the LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey, built with sturdy metal, making the surfaces tough and dependable.  The Gold SIP connectors on these USB keys are both water- and scratch- resistant. But the LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey offer more than a resilient surface and up to 32GB of storage—they integrate an extra 4GB of online storage through Wuala. A company of LaCie, Wuala is an online storage service that allows you to securely store, back up, share, and access files from anywhere. The LaCie CooKey and WhizKey will be available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, and LaCie Corner, starting at the suggested retail price of $19.99.

Website: LaCie