Filters are an essential part of any photographer’s kitbag, and here’s some new ones from Hoya:

HOYA, the world-renowned optical glass manufacturer, presents an innovative high definition line of filters……..

Hoya have just unveiled a new range of HD - High Definition - filters, available in Protector, UV and Circular Polariser in sizes from 52mm through to 82mm.

These new HD filters feature 99.35% light transmission from an 8-layer anti-reflective, multi-coating which help reduce reflections off the surface of the glass, allowing you to capture more light in your photos. This HD coating also keeps the filter both water and oil repellent and scratch & stain Resistant.

Technical Specifications:

HARDENED GLASS
HD filters feature hardened optical glass that has 4 times the breaking strength in ANSI standardised testing (ANSI Z80.3 : 2001) where steel balls of varying size and weight were dropped from a height of 50 inches onto the glass.

HIGH TRANSPARENCY POLARISING FILM
The same polarising film used in the latest high definition LCD TV screens. It has 25% higher light transmission than standard polarising film used in current photographic filters.

HARDENED 8 LAYER WATERPROOF MULTI-COATING THAT IS SCRATCH & STAIN RESISTANT
Newly developed industry leading 8-layer multi-coating yields an average light transmission rate of 99.35% between 400 and 700nm (visible spectrum).

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Hoya HD filters are available immediately in:
Protector, UV and CIR-PL in standard sizes from 52mm to 82mm.
Suggested Retail Prices from £32.99 for 52mm Protector.
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Here’s your chance to do all of these things at once.  Check it out at the site here:

http://www.coffeerepublic.com

COFFEE SHOT  
The Coffee Republic photography competition

An exciting and unique photographic competition in collaboration with Digital Photographer Magazine and Park Cameras.

Coffee Republic are the oldest chain of coffee bars in the country and since 2006 we have expanded rapidly and now operate over 150 Delis and Concessions across the UK. We launched an International franchising operation in 2007. We are in the process of a complete website redevelopment. As part of this process we are seeking new images for our bar locations and to update our library of general stock images. Win £1000 of camera equipment vouchers, coffee vouchers and your images published on the Coffee  Republic website.

Digital Photographer is the UK’s fastest growing photography magazine. It delivers in-depth digital SLR camera reviews, interviews with leading digital photographers, image-editing tutorials and inspirational career-building advice for photographers who want to maximize their potential and improve their skills.
Park Cameras has been established for over 35 years and are based in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. The company is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent retailers, recently being awarded the Pixel Independent Retailer of the Year 2008 Award.
Entry
The Coffee Republic Photo Contest is open to all UK photographers, professional or amateur. (Except for employees of Coffee Republic Plc, their families or anyone else associated with this competition.)

All entrants under the age of 18, must provide a parent/guardian consent form in writing. Forms can be downloaded from the Coffee Republic website.
We are accepting applications online now. Please do not wait until the deadline - it is important you send your images (and if you need them, model releases) as soon as possible. This will ensure entrants have a better chance of their images being published on the Coffee Republic website. Images must be JPEG images and not exceed 3 megabytes each. Please compress images that are larger than this. Only colour images will be accepted. You may supply up to five images per coffee bar. One of those images must be an exterior photograph.

Multiple entries are accepted. You can enter as many different bar locations as you wish and up to a maximum of five images per bar. Each bar entry must be uploaded separately and the details filled in as requested. To find your nearest bar, download the photography competition leaflet or take a look at the bar location page on this site.

News of flash gear from Flaghead Photographic and an exhibition down the road from us in Bournemouth:

HONL PHOTO:  We have a new range of products from the USA called HONL. These are really useful accessories for portable flash units or Strobes as the Americans call them:  snoots, grids, barndoors and filters.  Have a look here:  http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/honl/honl-intro.html

QUANTUM: a new Qflash unit called the TRIO has just been announced.  This is a HOT-SHOE mounted Qflash, which has been asked for by many photographers!  It also has a build-in radio receiver and transmitter and many other new and exciting features. The TRIO is fully compatible with the Qflash 5D-R (X & T version) and will work in manual, auto & strobo with all other Qflashes.  A master controller unit called the PILOT will also be available early next year.  The TRIO will be available in December in two versions: one for Nikon and one for Canon. For more information  http://qtm.com/Trio/

EXHIBITION:  Come and see us at the ROBERT WHITE DIGITAL DAY on Saturday 15th November at the Arts Institute Bournemouth. We will have a good selection of our products there for you to see and try out. There will be many trade stands and a host of free seminars. For details http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/news.asp

You might have seen mention of this before, but Corel are making more noises about this compo now:

 Corel Announces New ‘Before and After’ Photography Competition

Win a Sony® Alpha 300 DSLR Camera worth over £400 with Corel’s Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2 ‘before & after’ competition, with 2 runner up prizes of a Agfafoto “7 digital photo frames and a box of Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2

London, Maidenhead - 21 October 2008. Corel is delighted to announce a new Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2 ‘Before and After’ competition. This summer, we want you to show us how far you can improve a photo using Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. Paint Shop Pro Photo users, photography consumers and enthusiasts alike are welcome to enter the competition and have the opportunity to win a prize - a Sony® Alpha 300 DSLR Camera.

To enter this fun new competition and have a chance to win this amazing prize, visit www.corel.co.uk/beforeandafterand follow these four simple steps:

1. Download your free 30-day trial of the award-winning Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2-Corel’s flagship digital imaging software package which provides easy-to-use, professional-quality photo editing at an affordable price

2. Go through your photos and choose the most dreadful photo that wasn’t worthy of a place in your album

3. Now, the transformation can begin. Using your downloaded trial of Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, you can edit the photo as desired. Use the Unique Learning Centre for tips on what tools to use

4. When your work of art is complete and you are happy to reveal it, simply submit the two photos - both the ‘before’ and ‘after’ image by sending them to ‘beforeandafter@corel.co.uk’.

We have also provided you with video tutorials for that extra bit of help. There are some really simple edits that you can do, such as reducing red eye, removing blemishes, whitening teeth, adding a bit of a tan or removing objects out of photos. Choose from over 500 effects or why not be more adventurous and try the Skin Smoothing feature to remove wrinkles or change the colour of something within the photo such as clothing or an object with the Colour Changer.

So, get photo-editing today and enter our competition for your chance to win.

All entries submissions must be in by Thursday 18th December 2008.

For full details and terms and conditions, please visit www.corel.co.uk/beforeandafter

So, the discussions Corel were having about selling the business have been terminated. The official line doesn’t say a lot but here it is:

Corel Corporation (NASDAQ: CREL; TSX: CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software “Corel”), today announced that discussions with a third party egarding a potential sale of Corel have ceased. These discussions
were previously announced in Corel’s press release issued Wednesday, August 20, 2008.

Corel’s Board of Directors will continue to focus on maximizing shareholder value as an independent company and will also continue to valuate all strategic alternatives as they may arise.

For a discussion of many of the risks and uncertainties pertaining to ownership of Corel shares, please refer to Corel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2007, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

How’s this for customising your wallspace - get an image turned into wallpaper. There’s a time-limited offer running right now so have a look:

Available by telephone and email only: Exclusive photowall offer for a limited period, ideal for both home and office.

OFFER AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER
Your photos can be used to turn a boring blank wall into a stunning focal point in your home, or can be made into large murals for a unique way of displaying your treasured pictures. We can turn your digital images, photographic prints and negatives or even your children’s drawings into bespoke wallpaper.

Our stunning photographic wall coverings can transform any space. Any image can be created to fit any size and space - use it to open up a small room, or to give the illusion of looking outside onto a beautiful landscape.

If you have a particular design in mind but cannot find a suitable image then we will be more than happy to help you find one - just send us an email with your idea and we will email you back with a few choices. You don’t have to use just photographic imagery, there are many great digital designs around too - from a simplistic repeat pattern to full graphic illustrations.

Offer applies to our ECO and Satin finish only and is not available from the website.
Price from just £30 + Vat per square metre for ECO and Satin at just £35 per square metre
Unit 2, Forestgate, White Lund Ind Est, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA3 3PD
Tel: 01524 888 808 | Tel: 0870 760 5881 | E-mail: info@print2group.com

Fans of the CBeebies series, and indeed parents who are looking to give their kids craft-based activities should check out this press release (though you may want to turn the volume down):

PRESS RELEASE

We just wanted to write to let you know, that our new Mister Maker Craft Kits are on sale in Asda and that the TV star, Mister Maker himself is making some TV STAR INSTORE APPEARANCES! Wo hoo!

Monday 27th October Asda Living Crown Point Leeds 1-2.30pm
Monday 27th October Asda Wakefield Superstore 4-5.30pm
Tuesday 28th October Asda Watford Supercentre 11am-12.30pm,  2pm-4.30pm

Please do feel welcome to come and bring your families down to MEET Mister Maker FROM THE CBEEBIES ART TV SERIES. He’ll be doing some one-minute makes and will be meeting children and signing the kits too!

Do make yourself known to one of the Creativity staff (we’ll be wearing badges!) and say Hi. Should be a fun couple of days!

If you like landscapes and learning about how to shoot them then have a look at this:

LEARN LANDSCAPES WITH DAVID NOTON THIS CHRISTMAS

Stuck for ideas this Christmas?  Trying to think of the perfect gift for the partner that has everything??  Well look no further… here is a trio of perfect gift ideas for any budding landscape photographer.

Learn the art of Landscape Photography from David Noton with his inspirational DVD Chasing the Light - the essential guide to landscape photography.

Chasing the Light is a 90 minute programme, from one of our best known and respected landscape and travel photographers.

During the DVD, David explores the essentials of location photography, location finding, previsualisation, understanding natural light, composition and colour. The film examines the development of a photographic vision with practical hands on demonstrations, insights and examples at a number of inspiring locations - from a misty dawn at Glastonbury to the cliffs of Lands End.

Or if a beautiful book on photography is more your thing, then how about a signed copy of David’s stunning debut book - Waiting for the Light.

Whether an experienced photographer, or just starting out - this book is a perfect gift for any photography enthusiast.

Not only does the book contain more than 150 pages of stunning images from around the globe, David’s ‘photo journals’ provide a riveting insight into the challenges of working in different environments, from deserts to rainforests, cities to mountaintops.

Developing a photographer’s vision is a journey that never ends; one that changes how you view the world.

Both David’s book and DVD embark the reader on that voyage with images from all corners of the globe, supported by practical observations, stories from behind the lens and anecdotes from a lifetime of photographic travels.

Or if it’s a stunning stocking-filler you are after, how about set of Greetings Cards - featuring David’s awe-inspiring landscape images.  There are 5 cards in each set, and four sets to collect - Environments, Tranquillity, Dawn to Dusk and Coastal.

All items are available online at www.davidnoton.com.  Chasing the Light DVD is priced at £19.99 (+P&P), signed copies of Waiting for the Light book are £22.50 (+P&P) and each set of greetings cards is £10.00 (+P&P).

And as a SPECIAL OFFER, anyone purchasing the book online at David’s website before 25th December will also receive a free set of greetings cards worth £10.00.

A pocket-sized compact with added bling for those who want a xmas prezzie with a bit more sparkle:

Limited edition Olympus Crystal camera
London, October 2008 - Bring more glamour into your life with the Olympus µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal. Based on the recently-introduced µ [mju:] 1040, this special limited edition model includes distinctive CRYSTALLIZED^TM - Swarovski Elements that can easily be put on the camera’s sliding lens barrier. The ultra-slim µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal represents a perfect fusion of cutting-edge technology and sophisticated design - and will turn heads wherever it is taken.
This limited edition camera is available now for an approximate price of £175.

With the µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal, Olympus sets a new benchmark for elegance among digital cameras. A glittering arrangement of 98 CRYSTALLIZED^TM - Swarovski Elements is included to adorn the protective sliding lens barrier. The camera’s Midnight Black colour provides a dramatic backdrop that makes the dazzling adhesive elements even more eye-catching.

But the µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal is not only a treat to look at. The 3x zoom camera delivers both style and substance. It’s just as much at home capturing the glamour at a fashion show as it is taking pictures of friends and family while on a weekend getaway. Stunning 10 Megapixel results are a cinch to attain. In addition to various scene modes, the innovative Intelligent Auto mode automatically distinguishes five of the most commonly used scenes and adjusts settings accordingly. Meanwhile, Face Detection Technology enables up to 16 people to be recognised by the camera to ensure human subjects are always perfectly depicted. The ensuing shots can then be viewed on high-contrast 6.9cm/2.7″ HyperCrystal LCD. And providing flexibility for image storage, the µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal is compatible with xD-Picture Card as well as - thanks to a bundled attachment - microSD Card.

The special edition µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal will be available from the end of October 2009 in limited quantities.

The Olympus µ [mju:] 1040 Crystal - main features:
·         Miniature 3x optical zoom (38-114mm*) in super slim metal body (just 16.5mm at its thin end) to capture everything from great scenes to exciting close-ups
·         10 Megapixels to make poster-size prints
·         The easy way to perfect images - Intelligent Auto mode detects the five most commonly used scenes and adjusts settings, focus and exposure automatically
·         Advanced Face Detection of up to 16 persons for perfectly focused and exposed faces, plus correct exposure of other image areas
·         6.9cm/2.7″ HyperCrystal LCD for excellent previews even in brilliant sunlight
·         Digital Image Stabilisation for less blur even in low light
·         TruePic III image processor for faster image handling and higher image quality
·         Liven up your memories with movie recording with sound (up to VGA resolution at 30 fps)
·         xD-Picture Card and microSD Card compatible

At last an easy decision to make this week - Pauline Little’s Where…? imagine combined great detail with mystery and shadow for an intriguing a beautifully textured image. Well done Pauline!