“The new Curve line of digital picture frames are our most affordable digital photo frames to date,” said Johannes Bockemuehl-Simon, JOBO’s CEO. “In these tough economic times, we want to offer a high quality digital frame option for budget-minded photographers who want to easily view and share their precious digital pictures without spending a lot of money.”

The new JOBO Curve 7 features an almost 7-inch color TFT LCD display with a resolution of 480×234 pixels and various aspect ratios including 4:3, 16:10 and zoom mode. The Curve 7 digital frame beautifully showcases images in full screen, as thumbnails or as a slide show. In addition, different transition effects enhance the presentation of digital images when viewed in slide show mode. Curve 7 also features rotate, zoom and delete functions.

The JOBO Curve 8 features an 8-inch color TFT LCD display with a resolution of 800×600 pixels and 4:3 aspect ratio. The Curve 8 digital frame beautifully showcases images in full screen, as thumbnails or as a slide show featuring different transition effects and adjustable time intervals to enhance the presentation of digital images. In addition to a zoom and rotate function, the Curve 8 also features a calendar and time function. All functions of the Curve 8 are easily accessible via buttons on the back of the frame or by using the included remote control.

Both Curve frames are compatible with SD and MMC storage cards. In addition, both frames feature a USB OTG interface so all USBS devices compatible with OTG such as USBS sticks, portable hard disks or digital cameras can connected directly to the picture frames to view images stored on any of those devices. Curve 7 and Curve 8 can both be positioned on a table top in either landscape or portrait format.

Both JOBO Curve models are available for (MSRP): € 59,00 (Curve 7 Black and Curve 7 White) and € 89,00 (Curve 8 Black and Curve 8 White).

The new site, edited by Ivor Matanle, provides classic camera enthusiasts with news about forthcoming auctions and camera fairs in Britain and Europe, a gallery for pictures taken with classic cameras and an impressive shop window of classic cameras for sale. Visitors to the site can put their cameras up for sale – or list wanted items – completely free of charge or commission, and can read the ‘Editor’s View’ blog on classic cameras and matters affecting their use, such as the availability of film and processing.

Come and join our fashion collage party as we prepare to open our forthcoming Summer fashion exhibition, When You’re a Boy: Men’s Fashion Styled by Simon Foxton (17 July – 4 Oct 09). Make your own individual work or contribute to a larger, group collage. Bring your own fashion cut-outs or use those available on the day. Scissors, glue and background paper provided.

All ages, family event
Free, no booking required.

An event planned as part of Children’s Art Day.

Customers are entitled to claim £50/€60 cashback on purchases of a D5000 single lens kit (camera body plus any single AF-S NIKKOR lens) and £75/€90 on a D5000 twin lens kit (camera body plus any two AF-S NIKKOR lenses).

The promotion will run from the 1st July 2009 until the 31st August 2009 (inclusive), and all claims must arrive by 30th September in order to qualify.

For more information on the promotion, and how to submit your claim, please visit: www.nikon.co.uk/cashback.

Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Refined technology, with an aquatic look
Using the AgfaPhoto DC-600uw is incredibly easy, even when snorkeling and diving. The unique red quick selection button allows for quick change from land mode to underwater mode, while the 2.4 inch display helps select what to shoot. The camera’s face tracking function automatically recognizes faces, and brings them into clear focus. With its easily distinguished glowing blue color, five-times (5X) digital zoom, 6 MP resolution, high degree of light sensitivity up to ISO 1600, and support for the most common scene modes, the new AgfaPhoto DC-600uw is the right choice for any summer vacation.

A strong partner on land too
The AgfaPhoto DC-600uw is also ready for any outdoor adventure. Whether mountain biking or playing volleyball at the beach - the camera’s robust construction protects it if accidentally dropped, and also protects it against dust and dirt. The AgfaPhoto DC-600uw weighs just 4.6 ounces, and fits easily into almost any pocket or bag.

Included with the AgfaPhoto DC-600uw is a carrying case, a carry strap, a USB cable and video cable, two AA batteries, an instruction manual, and a software CD-ROM. Additional color variants will be available in July 2009.

Visit http://www.agfaphoto.com for more information

The Spanish photographer, now based in Seattle, beat off stiff competition from some of the world’s finest environmental photographers to win the assignment on behalf of The Prince’s Rainforests Project and Sony Europe.

“Travelling to the Amazon has been an incredible experience and I have been able to capture some powerful images that show the many different elements of the rainforest – the beauty, the wildlife, the local people and also the destruction“, says Daniel. “It is has been an eye-opening journey so far and I’m looking forward to photographing the Central African and South East Asian rainforests on the next parts of my trip. I hope the photos I produce will make a strongly persuasive argument for emergency action to preserve the world’s tropical rainforests”.

The PRP, founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recognises that every year, destruction of the Earth’s rainforests releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all the world’s cars, planes and ships put together and aims to achieve consensus about how the rate of deforestation might be slowed. The PRP is working with governments, businesses and non-profit organisations around the world to find solutions to deforestation - and to find them fast - with the ambition of ‘making the trees worth more alive than dead’.  The project has also launched a global awareness campaign, asking people to sign up at www.rainforestSOS.org to put rainforests at the heart of the climate change debate.

Environmental responsibility has been a significant part of the Sony ethos for many years and the PRP partnership is just one of Sony’s many environmental initiatives. Sony Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer recently filmed a video with the PRP animated frog in support of the partnership which can be seen on the PRP website.

Sony and the PRP are delivering a stunning interactive exhibition that will combine Daniel’s new photographs with Sony technology to allow people to experience the glory of the rainforests and understand their plight. The exhibition will open at Kew Gardens, London on October 3rd 2009.

In collaboration with Phase One, high end Leaf digital camera equipment will continue to be developed in Israel and marketed under the “Leaf” brand through a global network of specialized and dedicated value added resellers.

Leaf high quality digital camera backs with up to 56 Mega pixels and superior resolution and image quality can interface to all leading medium and large format cameras.

“We are committed to exciting future developments for the Leaf brand of products through innovative engineering, worldwide marketing and customer service,” said Henrik O. Håkonsson, President and CEO, Phase One.  “Leaf customers will benefit from the many synergies with Phase One.”

“Since introducing the world’s first digital camera back in 1992, Leaf has been recognized as a worldwide leader in the professional photography market. Our extensive digital imaging and color management knowledge, combined with Phase One’s software and hardware capabilities creates a unique opportunity for the world’s leading photographers,” said Dov Kalinski, General Manager, Leaf.

About Phase One
Phase One is a leading provider of digital image capture and work flow management technology. Phase One medium format cameras, digital backs and variety of lenses open new possibilities—putting the focus back on the moment of capture. Phase One Capture One software helps streamline the capture and post-production process.  Supporting DSLR, medium- and large-format photographic equipment, Phase One products are renowned for their superior quality, flexibility and speed — enabling pro photographers to realize their most subtle and most complex visions without compromise.

Phase One is an employee-owned company based in Copenhagen with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, Cologne and Shanghai.

For more information about the products, visit the Phase One web site on www.phaseone.com.

A selected collection of entries from the competition categories; Iconic, Heritage, Wild and My Britain, captured by amateur, professional and ‘under 16’, photographers, will be exhibited at the Waterstone’s flagship store in Piccadilly, London from 6th-31st July 2009.

The overall winner of the competition is London-based amateur photographer, Frame Muller. Frame’s image -entered in the Heritage category- captures the magnificence of Leeds Castle at sundown. The photograph of the 12th Century castle was chosen by a judging panel that included world-renowned photographer Tom Ang, and will now be published on the front cover of DK Eyewitness Great Britain Guide 2010.

The successful applicant has also been awarded £100 worth of DK books, £1,500 Landmark Trust holiday voucher, £100 of PhotoBox vouchers and a PhotoBox canvas of their winning image. On accepting his prize, Frame explained that the photo was taken shortly after he was made redundant: “This photograph was taken in late February. It was the first clear crisp day with blue skies after a bleak UK winter in weeks. I was reluctantly dragged from the creature comforts of my flat and sofa to escape London and go for an afternoon excursion to the Country. After exploring the castle grounds we once again passed the magnificent vista of the river and castle made even more striking by late afternoon winter light. It was a timeless postcard scene and with “golden hour” upon us, it was a perfect moment to press the shutter and capture a great day out.”

The photographs from the 11 runners-up represent a genuine snapshot of the natural beauty and historic landmark sites that make up Britain. Ranging from the impressive, cloud-like formation of a flock of Starlings, to the iridescent reflections of Perranporth beach, the winning entries convey a diverse range of views and outlooks across Britain. The runners-up will also receive prizes from DK Eyewitness and the competition partners Photobox, the Landmark Trust and Waterstone’s.

The Best Match algorithm provides more relevant results and saves people time when searching. Seventy-eight percent of customers found it reduced search times — 20 percent of those said search times were reduced by more than 50 percent.

Vetta is a collection of top-quality iStock images hand-selected for exquisite art direction and intelligently executed concepts.

“Part of why we remain the microstock market leader is because we challenge ourselves to do two things: keep iStock’s collection the highest quality in the world, and help customers find the right files faster,” said Kelly Thompson, COO of iStockphoto. “By improving search efficiency and relevancy with Best Match 2.0 while launching the high-caliber Vetta Collection, we’re again improving the customer experience.”

Best Match 2.0
Best Match 2.0 is a new proprietary search technology. As it constantly learns from customer behaviour, the advanced algorithm returns some of the most accurate and relevant search results in the industry.

Visitors can further customize their search experience by using the Best Match Sort Slider, located in Advanced Search. Setting the Best Match Sort Slider to ‘high’ causes the search engine to prioritise files with primary subject keywords. Setting it to ‘low’ gives more prominence to other factors such as concepts and secondary subject matter in the image. A ‘high’ slider position will find exactly what a designer is searching for whereas a ‘low’ slider position will show a wider variety of files and is great for brainstorming.

“What’s even more exciting is phase two of this technology,” said Thompson. “We’ve already started collecting search data based on the country and language in which the search originated. The next version of Best Match will use this language and country data to deliver superior, locally relevant search results.”

For a deeper explanation of Best Match, visit: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=630

Vetta Collection Details
Vetta, Italian for peak, is the answer for creative professionals looking for exceptional imagery. Submitted by Exclusive iStock contributors, every Vetta image is hand-selected by our seasoned inspection team for its art direction, well-executed concept and uniqueness. On launch, Vetta will contain 35,000 images and vector illustrations meeting the collection’s strict acceptance criteria. Prices will range from £25 for small to £52 for XXXL.

Visit iStockphoto.com/vetta or simply perform a search on the site and Vetta images will appear indicated by a gold camera icon.

Courtesy of iStockphoto.com

The Environmental Photographer of the Year is open to all professional and amateur photographers worldwide. This year’s categories are Mott MacDonald’s Changing Climates; Black & Veatch’s World of Difference; Quality of Life; The Natural World; and Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (Under 21). It encourages entries that are contemporary, creative, experimental, resonant, original and beautiful.

Last year, the Environmental Photographer of the Year received over 1,400 entries and the 2009 competition has already received hundreds of entries from photographers in over 30 countries, including Hungary, Poland, Bangladesh, Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria, Pakistan, The Netherlands, Zimbabwe and the UK. Images typically examine issues such as climate change, environmental degradation and social inequity or celebrate the incredible variety and beauty that exists within our natural environment.

The judging panel is made up of some of the most respected environmental photographers in the industry, including Gary Braasch, winner of the Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, Anthony Epes and Ronnie Israel, as well as senior environmentalists including Lord Smith, the Chairman of the Environment Agency, and Nick Reeves, Executive Director of CIWEM.

Individual pieces of work will be judged on impact, creativity, composition, originality and technical abilities. Winners will share a prize fund of nearly £4,000, receive fantastic media coverage and will be displayed at the Environmental Photographer of the Year Exhibition, to  be launched at 3 Bedfordbury Gallery, Covernt Garden, London on 8th October. To enter, go to www.ciwem.org/arts/photographer.