Time running out for Masters Applications

Photographers who want their images to be considered for the prestigious 2014 Hasselblad Masters Awards have until August 31 to get their entries in. In all there are 12 categories you can enter, and the title of Master will be awarded to the photographer judged to have submitted the best picture in that section, the criteria being creativity, composition, conceptual strength and technical skill.

New this year is an underwater category for images that have been captured using a professional housing, while the ‘Up & Coming’ category has been renamed ‘Project//21’ and is open to amateurs, students, assistants and young professionals who are 21 years old or younger.

In a big change to the format, which will see the competition open to more photographers than ever before, the decision has been made to allow entries from both medium format and 35mm-style DSLRs providing that whatever camera is used is delivering a minimum resolution of 16 megapixels. Those shooting with film are also eligible to enter, and by throwing the competition open in this way the hope is that it will encourage the largest entry ever and encourage still more of the world’s great photographers to take part.

Applicants are invited to submit three images in one or more of the following categories: Fine Art, Landscapes/Nature, Wedding/Social, Portrait, Fashion/Beauty, Editorial, Products, Architecture, General, Wildlife, Project//21 and Underwater.

To qualify for categories other than Project//21, the competition is open to all photographers who have been active professionals for at least three years.

Submissions may be captured with digital or analogue medium, large format or 35mm system. All images must be submitted digitally (including full EXIF data) regardless of capture format.

For full details on competition Rules & Regulations visit:
www.hasselblad.com/member/masters/rulesregulations

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Nikon's New COOLPIX L610 Compact Camera with Incredible Zoom Lens Makes it Easy to Capture a Family's Active, Always On-the-Go Lifestyle

The New COOLPIX L610 Provides Users with a Powerful 14x Zoom and a 16-Megapixel CMOS Sensor to Document Any Excursion with Amazing Photos and Full HD Video

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Today, Nikon Inc. introduced the new COOLPIX L610, an affordable compact digital camera featuring an impressive 14x optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens and an Easy Auto Mode to help ensure the capture of stunning photos and Full HD (1080p) video. Whether shooting on vacation in the tropical sun or capturing a night game from the stands, the 16-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor helps conquer challenging lighting conditions for picture-perfect memories.

The COOLPIX L610 offers performance and versatility not commonly found among affordable super zoom cameras. Featuring a precise autofocus system, a large 3-inch LCD monitor that provides a bright display with faithful color reproduction, and the convenience of AA-size battery support, the L610 ensures a memorable shooting experience to capture memories with great images and HD video.

“The new COOLPIX L610’s 14x zoom lens and CMOS sensor give consumers the boost they need to capture their favorite moments wherever life takes them,” said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. “Lightweight and compact, the L610 is the essential camera for any family activity.”

Versatile Performance for Everyday Adventures
Photographers can experience amazing depth and sharpness in their photos thanks to the 14x optical zoom that covers from a wide-angle 25mm to a distant 350mm (35mm format equivalent), making this an ideal camera to cover near, far and everything in between. This high-performance NIKKOR lens has two ED glass elements and lens construction consisting of 11 elements in 10 groups. For photographing close-up subjects, macro shooting is possible from as close as approximately 0.4 in/1 cm (at wide-angle setting). Additionally, optical VR image stabilization minimizes the effects of camera shake to help users create sharp, clear photos and videos in challenging light or while handheld. With a 16.0-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, image details can be beautifully reproduced even in low-light.

Easy to Capture Memories Through Photo and HD Video
To create consistently great images, Nikon’s Easy Auto Mode automatically selects from among six Scene Modes including Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Night landscape, Close-up and Backlighting to fit the most common challenging scenes. By simply framing the subject, the most appropriate Scene Mode is automatically selected according to the shooting situation. This allows the photographer to be ready for any possible occasion, whether it is a flattering portrait of a friend in front of a nighttime city skyline, or a subject that is backlit from the sun. What’s more, the COOLPIX L610 adds the convenience of easily accessible AA battery power, so at home or far away, power will always be within reach even if an outlet is not.

Furthermore, users can enjoy recording impressive movies in Full HD 1080p with stereo sound. The conveniently located Movie-Record button enables one-touch recording at anytime. To make sharing simple, the HDMI mini connector and USB/audio video connector make it quick and easy to upload videos and photos.

Price and Availability
The Nikon COOLPIX L610 will be available in September 2012 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $249.95* in a variety of colors including Red, Black and Silver. For more information about this COOLPIX camera or other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the new Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. In 2012, production of NIKKOR lenses surpassed 70 million, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following @NikonUSA.

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*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

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Camera Bits Announces the Release of Photo Mechanic: Version 5

The much-anticipated Photo Mechanic: Version 5 is released with sale pricing for upgrades and new users.

Portland, Oregon, August 6, 2012 — The photo editing and image management process just got one step closer to perfection. Camera Bits (www.CameraBits.com) announced the release of Photo Mechanic: Version 5 for sale today.

Camera Bits will offer discount pricing for the first week of sales. Legacy users can upgrade their current version for $80 (regularly $90) and new users can purchase the software for $130 (regularly $150) until the sale period ends at 11:59 p.m. PST August 13, 2012.

“Photo Mechanic: Version 5’s new additions include significantly improved metadata handling capabilities,” said Dennis Walker, CEO & Founder. “All of the major IPTC fields are now supported and user’s can now customize the dialog layout. These extensions, combined with existing batch handling capabilities, make Photo Mechanic the choice for professionals who rely on photo metadata. We’ve also taken what is already a blazingly fast workflow tool and made it even faster!”

Some other new additions to Photo Mechanic: Version 5 include auto ingest, new IPTC/XMP fields, new Preview and Contact Sheet features as well as noticeably faster JPEG image handling.

“Our goal is to make the best software on the market for easy image organization, lightning-fast efficiency and valuable metadata options. This version does all that and more,” said Walker.

This version of the software will be the foundation of their anxiously awaited, Photo Mechanic: Collection, which
will feature software add-ons including cataloging and remote editing. Additionally, the sale announcement
occurs just one month after the launch of the company’s new brand identity and complete overhaul of their
website by the East Coast communications firm, Momenta Creative.

“It’s such an exciting time for all of us at Camera Bits,” said Katie Werremeyer, Chief Business Development Officer. “First, we launched our new identity and redesigned website which gave us a fresh new look. Today, we are releasing Photo Mechanic: Version 5, which is the first part of the new collection. Next, we will be finalizing the Photo Mechanic: Collection add-ons like remote editing and cataloging. There is a lot of innovation still to come from our development team that will set the industry on it’s ear.”

New and legacy users wishing to download, try or buy Photo Mechanic: Version 5 can visit the company’s website at http://www.camerabits.com. Camera Bits’ support and sales team can be reached directly Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. For tech questions, call +1-503-547-2888. For sales questions, call at +1.503.547.2800.

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Since 1998, Camera Bits has enjoyed a unique reputation for reliability, speed and versatility in the world of professional photo editing applications. Boasting a user base of over 38,000, Photo Mechanic is the first choice of visual communications professionals around the world who depend on the application’s intelligently designed and streamlined photo editing workflow to fill the deadline needs for their clients.

Camera Bits sets itself apart by concentrating on the design of professional-class software which brings value by ease of use and speed, along with the best application user support industry-wide. Photo Mechanic is used internationally by industry leaders such as Associated Press, Getty Images, the US Armed Services, Poynter Institute and a great many prominent individual photographers in their studios and in the field.

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