Cirrus TLZ, a new line of top-loading camera bags from Lowepro, the worldwide leading provider of protective cases and backpacks for imaging and technology products. It is designed (in black and ultra marine blue) for compact, pro-compact digital cameras and digital SLRs and it is available in three models: Cirrus TLZ 5, 15, and 25:

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Cirrus TLZ 5 has been developed to protect one pro-compact digital camera or ultra-compact video camera. In addition, the front accessory pocket holds batteries and the media storage pocket provides quick access to one memory card. Dimensions:
External: 11.5 x 11.5 x 17 cm 4.5 x 4.5 x 6.7 in.
Internal: 9.5 x 9 x 11.5 cm 3.7 x 3.5 x 4.5 in.

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Cirrus TLZ 15 protects one digital SLR with lens attached. Dimensions:
External: 18 x 13 x 22 cm 7.1 x 5.1 x 8.7 in.
Internal: 15.5 x 10.5 x 16.5 cm 6.1 x 4.1 x 8.3 in.

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Cirrus TLZ 25 protects one digital SLR with short zoom lens attached. Dimensions:
External: 18 x 13 x 26.6 cm 7.1 x 5.1 x 10.5 in.
Internal: 15.5 x 10.5 x 21 cm 6.1 x 4.1 x 8.3 in.

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Both Cirrus TLZ 15 and Cirrus TLZ 25 are capable of holding multiple memory cards and small accessories.
The interior features a built-in memory card pocket for quick changes and the brushed-tricot lining protects LCD screens from scratches. The exterior of the bags are constructed of rugged water- and abrasion-resistant fabric to provide durability and style. Adjustable shoulder strap, padded handles and belt loops present a variety of comfortable carrying options. These lightweight and compact top-loading shoulder bags provide digital camera users with solid protection and immediate access to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Additional features include dust-resistant reversed zippers to keep dirt and dust away from imaging equipment and water-resistant outer fabric to protect against moisture. 360-degree swivel clips prevent tangling of shoulder straps.

Tags: camera bag, camera bags, Cirrus camera bag

Workshops Programs:
1) Children’s Photographic Workshop – in conjunction with Ansford Community School
10.00am – 3.30pm Tuesday 30th October, 2007
2) Landscape Photography with Ron Pybus ARPS, MA, AMPA, ASWPP DipPP
11.00am – 5.00pm µ Saturday 3rd November, 2007
3) Advanced Digital SLR, Lightroom and Photoshop
10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th November, 2007
4) Introduction to your Digital SLR
10.00am–5.00pm µ Saturday 10th November, 2007– Ross Curzon-Butler BA
10.00am–5.00pm µ Saturday 5th January, 2008 – John Roe ARPS
5) Studio Portraiture – Chris Burfoot ARPS
Sat 10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2007
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April 2008
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2008
6) Choosing and using a digital camera – Nick Holloway
10.00 – 4.30pm µ Saturday 17th November 2007
7) Beginners SLR Digital Photography and PhotoShop CS – John Roe ARPS
Sat 10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November, 2007
8 ) Documentary Photography Series for Beginners – Street Photography – Jo Murphy MA
Sun 12.00pm–7.00pm µ Sunday 2nd December, 2007
9) Colour Management with Rob Griffiths from The Colour Collective
Wednesday 10.00 – 4.00pm µ Wednesday 5th December 2007
10) Adobe Lightroom – An Overview with Geraint Cunnick MA
10.00am – 5.00pm µ Saturday 12th January, 2008
11) Compact Camera Course for Beginners – Ross Curzon-Butler BA
Sat 10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th January 2008
12) Digital Monochrome, Toning and Tinting Lecture – Tony Worobiec FRPS
10.30am–4.00pm µ Saturday 26th January, 2008
13) Introduction to PhotoShop CS – Ross Curzon-Butler BA
Sat 10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd February, 2008
14) Contemporary Photography Talk – Richard Sadler FRPS
10.30-4.00pm µ Wednesday 6th February, 2008
15) Getting the most from your Digital Camcorder – Ross Curzon-Butler
10.00am – 5.00pm µ Saturday 9th February, 2008
16) Advanced PhotoShop – Frank Menger MA
Sat 10.00am–5.00pm, Sun 10.00am–4.30pm
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March, 2008

What you need to know:
-> Most workshops are held at the RPS headquarters in Bath unless otherwise stated.
-> All workshops are open to non-members and members of The Society.
-> Topics include Studio Portraiture, Documentary Photography, Colour Management and Adobe Lightroom. Choose or attend them all.
-> To see details about each of the following 16 courses and any possible changes, click here.

Tags: Royal Photographic Society, Royal Photographic Society workshops, photography workshops

OLYMPUS Studio 2 supports professional photographers and engaged amateurs to get perfect results out of their images within a minimum of time. The software provides various functions and powerful tools to assist your workflow, such as examining and selecting the best shot from a large number of images, searching for a desired image from folders and albums, editing and processing images you have shot, printing pictures, etc.

Features:
- PC-control of the camera
- Image editing functions
- Batch processing
- Rapid processing of RAW files
- Automatic tone adjustment

Olympus Studio 2.1 (the new version of Olympus’ professional workflow software, with added support for the E-3 DSLR) includes the following improvements:

- Support for “E-3” DSLR
- Added “Add IPTC Information” function under Transfer Images, RAW Development and Batch Processing.
- Added New skin (Professional) which is the most suitable for viewing and sorting photos.
- Added the function to show Pop-up Information for a file.
- Improved the function to narrow down by Color Mark.
- Improved the operability of the function to sort images.
- Added the function to display the background processing status in the status bar.
- Added the function to select the next operation after saving files.
- Improved the display speed in Thumbnail Area (Windows).

There is a 30 days Trial, and it can be downloaded here.

Tags: OLYMPUS Studio Photo, OLYMPUS, photo editing software, OLYMPUS Studio Photo trial

Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX

Most Nikon camera users process their images with Capture NX software that provides direct control over any region in a digital image and enables selective editing or enhancements without complicated layer masking techniques. Capture NX works with TIFF and JPG files and provides superior processing of Nikon’s RAW format, which is the main reason for the wide use of this software. Image edits are fully non-destructive and can be modified at any time and in any order, even after the file has been closed and reopened. File sizes do not substantially increase no matter how many edits are added to the original image.

In order to make processing easier and more pleasant, Nik Software, Inc. (established in 1995, it has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals) announced a new powerful photo editing software bundle designed specifically for professional and advanced amateur photographers: Color Efex Pro 2.0, an award-winning package.

“Professional photographers and advanced amateurs have recognized Nik Color Efex Pro as a big part of their photographic workflow because of its simplicity and power. Bringing Color Efex Pro 2.0 and Capture NX together offers photographers an easy to use and complete photo editing solution,” said Michael J. Slater, president and CEO of Nik Software, Inc. Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX includes 75 award-winning filters that offer a tremendous range of traditional and stylistic photo enhancements.

• Capture NX and Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX are available via electronic purchase in the United States for $329.95 (purchased separately) or together for a limited time at a $30 discount.
• Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX Complete Edition (75 filters total): $179.95
• Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX Select Edition (45 filters total): $99.95
• Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX Standard Edition (19 filters total): $59.95
• Capture NX: $149.95

Capture NX and Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX run on both Windows and Macintosh platforms. To purchase and to find out more about this software package go to http://www.niksoftware.com/nxbundle.
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Color Efex Pro 3.0 for Photoshop

On the other hand, Photoshop users can now upgrade to Color Efex Pro 3.0, the latest version of Nik Software’s award-winning Color Efex Pro collection of photographic filters for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, which integrates Nik Software’s patented U Point technology for precise selective editing control (Using U Point powered Control Points, you can make selective corrections or enhancements by placing a Control Point directly on any part of an image – such as sky, skin, grass, or a building – and adjusting the level of opacity of the effect on that specific part of the image), includes new and updated filters, and features a completely redesigned user interface.
Notable features in Color Efex Pro 3.0 also include a Filter List organized by photography styles, a resizable window that easily accommodates large monitor sizes, large before/after image previews, a Navigator Loupe, and the ability to save favorite filter sets. Photographers and photo enthusiasts of all skill levels will be able to use Color Efex Pro 3.0 for such tasks as traditional filter enhancements, color correction, image retouching, creative enhancements, and more. Color Efex Pro 3.0 also supports Photoshop’s layer masks and is optimized for pressure sensitive devices such as Wacom® pen tablets.
Color Efex Pro 3.0 is available in three versions:
• Complete Edition is $299.95;
• Select Edition is $159.95;
• Standard Edition is $99.95.

Tags: Color Efex Pro 2.0 for Capture NX, Color Efex Pro 2.0, Capture NX, Color Efex Pro, color efex

Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R Wireless Flash are ideal for use with the Olympus E-3 professional D-SLR which enables the control of up to three different flash groups directly from the camera – no separate commander unit is required. Using their slave function, the FL-50R and FL-36R can also be used with other Olympus SLRs with manual flash facility and Olympus SP series cameras capable of slave mode operation. The irradiation angle of each flash unit can be set either by automatic zooming according to the interchangeable lens used or manually. Available starting from November 2007 and December 2007.

FL-50R

· multiple adjustment modes including TTL Auto and manual, high-speed synchronisation – in Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· features fast recycle intervals which can be as little as less than 1.3 sec. when using the SHV-1 Flash High-Voltage Set
· GN28 performance at a 12mm focal length (equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera; ISO 100)
· GN50 at a 42mm (equiv. to 84mm; ISO 100)
· Wireless remote control in three groups (A, B and C)
· Control settings directly from camera LCD
· Choice of four channels to avoid interference
· Extendable transmission distance
· Option of TTL Auto, Auto, and Manual modes
· Bounce and swivel head
· Usual synchronisation speed 1/180 sec.
· Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· Built-in diffuser can be used to obtain wide-angle coverage at an 8mm focal length (equivalent to 16mm on a 35mm camera)
· Red-eye reduction, slow synch and 2nd curtain synch
· Flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the focal length of the lens when zooming
· Flash recycle time less than 1.3 sec. when optional SHV-1 Flash High-Voltage Set is used

FL-36R

· Enhancing mobility
· lightweight compact design
· allows 1/8EV-step accuracy to satisfy the high light metering precision digital photography demands
· GN20 at a focal length of 12mm (equiv. to 24mm; ISO 100)
· GN36 at 42mm (equiv. to 84mm; ISO 100)
· well-suited for high-action assignments
· Wireless remote control in three groups (A, B and C)
· Control settings directly from camera LCD
· Choice of four channels to avoid interference
· Extendable transmission distance
· Option of TTL Auto, Auto and Manual modes
· Compact design and light weight
· Energy-saving circuitry
· Bounce and swivel head
· Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· Flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the focal length of the lens when zooming
· Flash intensity setting in 1/8 EV steps possible with Olympus E-System D-SLR
· Red-eye reduction, slow synch and 2nd curtain synch

More accesories:
The Bounce Adapter FLBA-1 can be mounted on the FL-50R flash head and diffuses the irradiation light to soften the bounce light by attenuating the contours of shadows produced in bounce shooting. The FLBA-1 comes with the FL-50R and is also compatible with the Olympus FL-50 flash unit.

The Reflector Adapter FLRA-1 not only provides a catch light effect, it also softens the effect of bounce lighting by providing auxiliary frontal irradiation to eliminate shadows caused by bounce shooting; it can be used in both ceiling and wall bouncing, alloing photographers to take advantage of bounce lighting more often and in a wide range of situations. It comes with the FL-50R and is also compatible with the FL-36R, FL-36 and FL-50 Olympus flash units.

Tags: Olympus FL-50R, Olympus FL-36R, Wireless Flash, Olympus Wireless Flash

The Annual Deutsche Börse Photography Prize rewards a photographer, of any nationality, who has made the most significant contribution to the medium of photography in Europe between 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2007.
The Prize was originally set up in 1996 by The Photographers’ Gallery in London to promote the best of contemporary photography. Deutsche Börse has sponsored the £30,000 prize since 2005. The Prize showcases new talent and highlights the best of international photography practice and is one of the most prestigious in the world of photography.
The Photographers’ Gallery continues its commitment to showcasing new talent and highlighting the best of international photographic practice with generous support from the title sponsor, Deutsche Börse Group. The Prize continues as one of the most prominent exhibitions at The Photographers’ Gallery and is amongst the most prestigious international arts awards.
This year’s shortlist demonstrates a focused and sustained commitment to exploring subjects of social and political importance through photography.
The selected photographers are John Davies (England), Jacob Holdt (Denmark), Esko Männikkö (Finland)and Fazal Sheikh (USA) by a jury formed from Els Barents, Director, Huis Marseille (The Netherlands), Jem Southam, photographer (UK), Thomas Weski, Chief Curator, Haus der Kunst (Germany) and Anne-Marie Beckmann, Curator, Art Collection Deutsche Börse (Germany) and Brett Rogers as The Chair.


More about them and the winning works that pushed them in the top of the list here.

Deutsche Börse Group is the world’s largest exchange organisation and a major sponsor of photographic art. The Group owns an extensive art collection of contemporary photography which, to date, includes more than 600 works, most of them large-scale, by over 60 international artists. In addition, Deutsche Börse organises exhibitions for young artists in the Group’s global headquarters in Frankfurt and Luxembourg and sponsors photographic exhibitions in Europe.

The winner of the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2008 will be announced in London: John Davies, Jacob Holdt, Esko Männikkö and Fazal Sheikh will be presented by the Photographers’ Gallery in London at the opening venue for the exhibition between 8 February – 6 April 2008. Later in 2008 the exhibition will be shown at the C/O Berlin and the Deutsche Börse Group headquarters in Frankfurt.

A new set of Photoshop actions (called Travel & Landscape Workflow Action Pack) have been added to the shop at That’s My Monkey, a website for digital photographers. The Travel & Landscape Workflow Action Pack is available for $89.95. That’s My Monkey also offers a Wedding and Portrait Workflow Action Pack – also $89.95 – and a Master Sharpener Action Pack for $19.95. Here’s a link to their website.

The Action Pack includes tools for improving skies, mimicking the effects of traditional filters like polarizers and graduated neutral density filters, and offers several options for monochromatic and toned conversions.

There are also actions for resizing and rotating images, adjusting contrast and saturation, correcting color balance and more.

Most of the filters in the Travel & Landscape Workflow Action Pack are also customizable. By using the “undo” command after running the majority of these actions, two layers are created; the lower is your original image and the upper is the action affected version. This allows you to decrease the effect created by the action by lowering the opacity of the upper layer. In the case of the toned conversions, many interesting effects can also be achieved by changing the layer blend mode of the upper layer.

The Panorama Kit pictured below includes a panorama plate that has a 360° index wheel and integrated spirit level. It consists of two pieces:
1) The panoramic plate which turns the camera frame by frame while the camera shoots one shot after the other.
2) And the Software from Arcsoft who accurately merges the individual pictures on your computer.
This package allows you to achieve amazing panoramic results even without professional photography equipment, at a costs of 29.99 Eruos.

PhotoFrame Pro 3.1 has been renamed to PhotoFrame 3.1 because of the launch of PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition incorporating the complete onOne Software Pro Digital Frame Bundle collection.
The two digital frame collections created for onOne Software are Photoshop plug-ins that provide photographers thousands of frame and matte selections that add a professional finishing touch to any digital image. Both editions of PhotoFrame 3.1 allow users to quickly and easily create gorgeous edge effects to complement any picture.
Also new are automatic frame rotation, which will rotate your frames to match the horizontal or vertical orientation or your images, easier to access the Frame Grid, to help you quickly find and apply the perfect finishing touch to your image, and several new “Show Me How” video tutorials, to help you get the most out of PhotoFrame Pro 3.1. And for additional customization, the choices are endless with PhotoFrame’s selection of border and edge effects such as drop shadows, bevel, glow, border and texture.

Available in early November 2007 PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition will include exclusive frame content designed by eight photographers and Adobe® Photoshop® Gurus Dave Cross, Helene Glassman, Jack Davis, Jim Divitale, Kevin Kubota, Laurie Excell, Rick Sammon and Vincent Versace.
These packages are compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and CS3 and Adobe Photoshop Elements on both Macintosh (OS X 10.4.8 and higher) and Windows (both XP and Vista).
Registered owners of the now discontinued Pro Digital Frame Bundle may request a PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition replacement DVD for $9.95 plus shipping and handling.
PhotoFrame 3.1 and PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition are available from onOne Software authorized distributors and resellers, or direct from onOne Software at http://www.onOnesoftware.com.

Features:
* Over 4000 frames & borders
* Frame Browser makes finding frames easier than ever
* Frame Preview Grid previews multiple frames at once
* Random Frame Generator automatically adds random frames
* Layer Mask Mode applies border effects directly as a layer mask
* Save your Favorite frames for fast and easy access in the future
* Perfect for wedding albums and scrapbooks
* Use any color, even a color from your image with any frame

Connected Worlds exhibition visits 9 cities in 5 continents: London, Paris, Venice, New York, San Francisco, Sidney, Capetown, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Exhibition opens at the Royal Albert Hall On October 24th and it will be open to the public between Saturday October 27th and Saturday November 3 from 11.00am – 3.00pm.

The Connected Worlds project consist of two exhibitions one ‘realworld ‘ and one ‘virtual’. The duality of this approach aims to reflect the way in which images are being shared across the world. The Virtual exhibition will open on Nokia’s Secondlife Island on October 24th 2007 and consist of a purpose built Island Gallery that marks Nokia’s entry into Secondlife – opening up the exhibition to a huge new audience.

At up to 7 meters long the images set out to challenge how we look at mobile phone imaging (shot entirely with the Nokia N95 mobile phone) and create a vibrant panoramic portrait of the elements that make each city unique.
The images by Henry Reichhold, pioneering photographer and artist, will be printed using an Epson Stylus Pro 9800 44” large format printer and UltraChrome K3 ink.

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