Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010 highly commended images

The world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition, Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year, has revealed some of the commended images from this year’s competition.

There's five listed here, these are among the selection that will join more than 100 other prize-winning photographs, including the overall winning images, when the exhibition debuts at the Natural History Museum, London on 22 October 2010. It will then tour nationally and internationally after its launch in the capital. More than one million visitors are expected to have seen the exhibition once the tour is complete.

A carcass-eye view by Juergen Ross (Germany). Category: Behaviour: Mammals - Highly Commended. A feeding lioness is framed by the carcass of a giraffe at South Africa's Kruger National Park

Picture: Jürgen Ross / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The thoughtful baboon by Adrian Bailey (South Africa). Category: Behaviour: Mammals - Highly Commended. Each morning, thousands of Cape turtle doves flock to a trickling seep at Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, the only source of water for miles around. Birds of prey, meanwhile, line up in trees on nearby cliffs and pick off the drinking doves. This young male baboon finds one of the victims on the ground.
Picture: Adrian Bailey / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Fishing frenzy by Tomasz Racznyski (Poland). Category: Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife - Highly Commended. A black-browed albatross has just surfaced after diving for the discarded horse mackerel and is being set upon by a rabble of other birds. On a trawler in the South Pacific, fish falling from the nets as they are pulled up are an irresistible lure.
Picture: Tomasz Racznyski / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Sunset moment by Olivier Puccia (France). Category: Urban Wildlife - Highly Commended. Overlooking Ramtek in Maharashtra, western India, Hanuman langurs find the highest point from which to admire the sunset. Squeezed out of their forest homes by deforestation and the spread of human habitation, Hanuman langurs have become part of urban life in many parts of India.
Picture: Olivier Puccia / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The ant-shepherd and its little flock by Matt Cole (UK). Category: Behaviour: All Other Animals - Highly Commended. A Black Ant (Lasius niger) herding Black Bean Aphids (Aphis fabae), to 'milk' their honeydew (an ant stroking the aphids with its feelers to encourage them to excrete drops of honeydew). Taken in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire.
Picture: Matt Cole / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year


The 2010 search has now been completed, and the winning and commended images will be on show in the exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, from 22 October 2010. As a photographer I have strongly recommend you visit this exhibition, I make a point in my schedule to visit it every year and it never disappoints. You will love it. To book tickets, please follow the link here

The winning and commended images from 2009 have been published as a hardcover book;  Wildlife Photographer of Year: Portfolio 19  (Amazon US).

Top 10 iPad Photography Magazines

I have to confess, I love photography magazines, not least because I have written for the majority of them but because I love to read the content and gain inspiration from the phenomenal photographs in many of them. Now that it is so easy to read magazines on your iPad it is an even greater experience, no more searching and queuing in newsagents.

I have created a list of ten of the very best photography magazines you can currently download to read on your iPad. Of course, I had to include National Geographic for the images too and you won't be disappointed when you view them on your magical device.

This is the first photography magazine list for the iPad of its kind, so take a look and perhaps download one or two. As always, your feedback is always desired. Enjoy!

Popular Photography+

Popular Photography+ is the new digital version of the Popular Photography magazine, more beautiful, more immersive and more fun to read than ever. It's all the content from the print issue, complete re-imagined and redesigned for the iPad, with an easy navigation for exploring the issue.

October issue highlights:
Canon’s Next Star First Look at the EOS 60D: We spent a few days shooting with a pre-release version of this hot new DSLR and got the lowdown on some surprising features.
Animal Scenics Shooting wildlife doesn’t have to mean just close-ups—sometimes the landscape tells the bigger story.
The Future of Technology Edible cameras, Focus that changes after you shoot. What’s really in store for imaging technology?
Tests and Reviews The Popular Photography Test Lab gives you the goods on the newest gear. This month: Sony's Alpha 390, plus zoom lenses from Canon and Pentax.
How-Tos Find a new take on fall foliage, use a ring light for astonishingly close portraits, create easier HDR images in Adobe Photoshop CS5, and catch migrating monarchs.
Plus: In the dugout with a Major League Baseball photographer, documenting a disappearing way of life, how to pick an SD card, the essentials of sensor size, and more.

Special limited time introductory price of $2.99/Download

Digital Photographer Magazine

Launched in 2002, Digital Photographer is a monthly photography magazine, delivering indispensable, practical and hands-on shooting advice. Aimed at digital enthusiasts and professional photographers, Digital Photographer features the latest high-end kit reviews, expert interviews, practical shooting advice and image-editing tutorials to help you become a better photographer. They also showcase a selection of images from DP readers every month.

Price: $1.99/Download

Digital Camera Essentials Magazine

One of the UK’s premier Digital Camera Essentials’ guide, Digital Camera Essentials is the magazine for all your shopping and shooting needs. Every issue, Digital Camera Essentials is packed full of essential news for the beginner or enthusiast photographer. From how to shoot your best ever shots and perfect them in post-production, to in-depth and honest reviews of all the latest compacts, DSLRs, lenses, peripherals and more. Plus, all the current digital cameras are listed in our comprehensive, 25-page buyers’ guide, helping to ensure you pick the right camera for your needs.

Price: $1.99/Download

Advanced Photoshop Magazine

Advanced Photoshop is the perfect magazine for honing already great Photoshop skills. Each issue is packed full of inspiring interviews and challenging tutorials, tailor-made for the more advanced digital artist. Readers also benefit from an essential CD-ROM each issue. Whether you’re a Photoshop professional or simply aspiring to be one, Advanced Photoshop will help you perfect your art.

Price: $1.99/Download

Interview Magazine - The Calvin Klein Issue

Interview’s Fall Fashion issue boldly demonstrates that the magazine that is known for just as many other things in addition to fashion is more than capable of holding its own as a directional and authoritative voice for fashion in the international arena. With a star cast of contributors relating to fashion - including photographer Steven Meisel and designer extraordinaire Nicolas Ghesquière to name but two – the issue elaborates its vision for the coming seasons for the oh-so-important September issue. And, this vision permeates pretty much every level of the meaty content. For example, Ben Affleck’s interview with cover girl Blake Lively, is accompanied by a shoot by Craig McDean styled by Karl Templer in which Ms Lively sizzles in the latest looks by hot labels as we voyeuristically watch through the eye of a surveillance camera. The confident or attorney or the primes suspect? We may never know.

Free/Download

V Magazine for iPad – The New York Issue

The experience starts with the two covers. Shot by Mario Testino in an amusing take on the glamour within, they feature Lady Gaga with Marc Jacobs and Marina Abramovic with Tyson Ballou. Dan Colen and Aaron Young provide the artistic renditions of the signature ‘V’. World-renowned art, celebrity, music, fashion and photography; the best that NYC offers today, are all encapsulated into these two powerful images.

Inside, the star-spangled magic continues, right from the beautiful credits sequence incorporating a witty fashion shoot of amazing shoes, through to the last word on this season’s hot accessories. The issue is one that genuinely gives a 360 degree image of the city without ever lulling into being formulaic. Top superstar talent, uptown power women and the creative kids of the art and music scenes that keep the city’s creative blood oxygenated all get a turn and are all presented in fresh and inspired ways. In fact, inspiration oozes from this issue and, sadly, there’s not nearly enough space here to go into the details that would do it justice. In the arena of fashion alone, just two amazing examples include supermodel Natasha Poly shot by the maestro of Mexican psychedelic surrealism, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Karl Lagerfeld’s re-enactment of a moment of fashion history with Baptiste Giabiconi, Javier de Miguel and Lara Stone cast as Juan Ramos, Antonio Lopez and Jerry Hall, respectively. This is the September issue as something that pulses with the uplifting feel-good confidence of Odyssey’s 1977 classic ‘Native New Yorker’.

Price: $0.99/Download

Latitude Magazine

Latitude magazine is a historical record of the world as it exists on one day. On the 20th of March 2010, 41 world-class photographers located in 36 countries around the world, all photographed their immediate surrounds, capturing the daily lives of individuals, communities and workplaces in a manner that expands our understanding of the world. Now updated!

Price: $1.99/Download

National Geographic Traveler Magazine

National Geographic Traveler is the world's most widely read travel magazine. It championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture, authenticity, living like the locals, and great photography. It makes a distinction between tourism and travel, and stresses inquisitive not acquisitive trips. It employs storytelling and you-are-there photography to inspire readers to pick up and go. And, with the theme of "All Travel, All the Time," it eschews fashion and fluff in favor of articles that offer a strong sense of place, inspiring narratives that make readers take trips, and solid service information to help them plan those trips.

National Geographic Traveler magazine on the iPad takes the coverage of travel to a new level. Without the limitations of print, National Geographic Traveler magazine brings readers to destinations without leaving their living rooms.

Free/Download

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic magazine has covered “The world and all that is in it” since 1888. From ground-breaking photography to in-depth reporting of the environment, cultures, natural sciences, archaeology, geography, and much more, the monthly magazine has expanded horizons for generations. The National Geographic magazine iPad App expands this tradition with the power of digital publishing. Now, NG’s iPad App delivers the content from the print edition—enhanced with unique interactive elements in a re-designed layout optimized for reading on the iPad.

Notes
- Users will need to create a Zinio account through this application or at www.zinio.com to purchase single issues or an annual subscription.
- Featured: Allows users to preview an article from current or back issues before buying.

Free/Download

NPPA

Keep up on the latest news in news photography and visual journalism from the National Press Photographers Association, the professional organization for visual journalists around the world. Founded in 1946, NPPA is the publisher of News Photographer magazine and hosts the world's second largest annual photography contest, the Best Of Photojournalism.

 

NPPA publishes daily news from the world of visual journalism and photography, and the NPPA iPhone and iPod Touch application is a quick and elegant RSS news reader of NPPA's exclusive stories as well as an interface to NPPA's Web site, www.nppa.org.

Free/Download

Photo Professional

Photo Professional - Canon Edition, only italian photographic monthly magazine dedicated to Canon users, is now available as an iPad App. You'll be able to browse and read all our reviews, hardware test, suggestions, tips and tricks to get beautiful pictures. Turn the pages using only your finger, zoom photos and texts, rotate the screen to view two pages side by side. Special launch offer: download now PhotoProfessional.it and start reading for FREE the first 6 numbers of Photo Professional - Canon Edition in your iPad.

Free/Download

Face To Face - A New Exhibition From Brian Griffin

BJP have a great quote describing Brian Griffin, "Brian Griffin... the most unpredicable and influential British portrait photographer of the last three decades has had a profound effect on photography in the last 30 years... he creates works of art that leave the viewer mesmerised". That really sums up his work and his latest exhibition running from now until November 21, 2010 is not to be missed.

Self Portrait - Brian Griffin - 1988

The exhibition is outdoors and focues on his portraiture work. Located at Snow Hill Plaza in the heart of Birmingham's central business district. Griffin was born just a stones throw away at Birmingham Children's Hospital in 1948. The exhbition follows his journey into the world of photography: a journey of self-discovery and creative development.

The outdoor show is accompanied by two complimentary displays at a major new development, One Snow Hill. These present prints from two exhibitions originally shown at the international photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles in 2009: The Water People (2006), which tells the mythic tale of an expedition across Iceland and Team (2007), which documents the people who built the high-speed rail link to St Pancras.

Brian May, Musician - London 1990

To go to the Face To Face exhibtion website, click here

HDRsoft reveals Photomatix Pro v4

HDRsoft the developer behind Photomatix Pro has released v4 for Windows (XP/Vista/7) and Macintosh (OS10.3.9/10.4/10.5/10.6) platforms. Photomatix Pro costs US$99, while the upgrade to Photomatix Pro version 4 is free of charge for licensed users of Photomatix Pro version 3.

HDRsoft have released Photomatix Pro version 4, the industry-leading standalone program for HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo processing, designed for professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike.

Photomatix Pro merges photographs taken at varying exposure levels into a single HDR image that simultaneously reveals highlight and shadow details, with options for automatically aligning hand-held photographs and reducing ghosting artifacts, noise and chromatic aberrations.

Merged images can then be adjusted by a range of options and settings to get the look that users want -- from natural-looking results using Exposure Fusion to painterly, surreal or ultra-realistic using the Tone Mapping mode. The program also includes a plug-in for Adobe Lightroom users who want to integrate Photomatix Pro into their Lightroom workflow.

The new version adds a selective deghosting tool for effective removal of artifacts caused by movement, improved noise reduction and visualization of presets, allowing users to quickly choose between built-in presets such as 'Painterly' or 'Grunge, as well as user defined presets.

Photomatix Pro is available for Windows (XP/Vista/7) and Macintosh (OS10.3.9/10.4/10.5/10.6) platforms. One license of Photomatix Pro costs US$99. The upgrade to Photomatix Pro version 4 is free of charge for licensed users of Photomatix Pro version 3.

Further details and a free trial of the software may be found at www.hdrsoft.com.

ClearCam 1.7 iPhone App

ClearCam 1.7 is a relatively new app that's been updated and now sports support for the 4th generation iPod Touch including faster and better algorithms. Current enhancements include:

✓ Increased capture rate
✓ 17 new EXIF fields stored to the Cam Roll
- Exposure Time
- Aperature Value
- Focal Length

Quick Mode Features Include

✓ Just point and shoot!
✓ Rapidly captures multiple images
✓ Keeps the best one to save you time
✓ Saves directly to the camera roll
✓ Retains GPS/EXIF/PLACES information

Enhanced Mode Features Include

✓ Create images with 2X resolution (up to 11MP)
✓ Produce sharper images with much less noise
✓ Save images with GPS/EXIF/PLACES support

Price: $1.99/Download

Canon G11 - iPhone App Training Video

A training video that explains the basic controls of the Canon G11. This video runs 1 hour and 20 minutes in length and can help new users become proficient with their camera in a short period of time.

Price: $24.99/Download

Rick Sammon's Light It Light - iPhone App

Rick Sammon’s Light It Light! is an iPhone app that’s designed to help you make professional-quality digital SLR people pictures – without spending a small fortune on professional lighting accessories. Note: Requires iOS 4.1 and later.
The app (packed with 570 MB of info) includes video lessons. It’s called Light It Light! because the iPhone version contains all the same great Rick Sammon video lessons as the iPad version but does not have the extensive photo gallery nor Library section that is included in the iPad version, Light It!

Rick Sammon took the illustrative photographs with a range of digital SLR cameras – from entry-level to top-of-the-line models. While watching the video lessons, you’ll learn how pros photograph people indoors and outdoors, in bright light and in low light, at home and on location, and even in a studio.
In the easy-to-follow and fun video lessons, some of which were originally shot for Wiley Publishing, Rick will show you how to use reflectors, diffusers, a flash, flash accessories, basic strobe kits, basic hot-light kits and more. Rick also cover camera settings, as well as some of my photo philosophies. Although Rick often refer to specific cameras, the basic camera settings can be applied to any digital SLR.

This is a basic, or starter, app about lighting. However, as you will see, pros use many of these techniques and accessories to get great shots.
Two of the videos in this app – Top 21 People Photography Tips and Top Ten Digital Photography Tips – feature some of Rick's favorite digital SLR pictures from around the world, accompanied with how-to tips, of course!

The movies, shot by Emmy-award winner David Leveen, are divided into five sections:
Basics 33 Minutes   
Outdoors 15 Minutes
In Your Home 16 Minutes
On-Location 12 Minutes
Studio Shooting 23 Minutes
The total viewing time is over 1.5 hours.
The app was developed by Craig Ellis of Great Oak Software. In discussing the app, Craig said, “My goal with the design of Light It Light! was to make it an intuitive yet rich learning experience that showcases Rick’s favorite lessons that are embodied in beautiful videos. His lessons are fun and easy to follow where he makes learning fast – so the user experience supports that flow. I am especially proud of look and feel where iPhone users should be immediately familiar, comfortable, and productive using the app to become seasoned photographers in taking better people pictures by learning from the teachings of Rick Sammon.”
Download - iPhone Version - $1.99
Download - iPad Version - $4.99

Professional Retouching Secrets by Karl Taylor - Is This The Most Expensive iPhone Photography App?

Well, at $129.95 it's certainly on the short list. This app has been designed to teach you some of the best kept industry retouching secrets used in professional advertising images to give your photographs that highly polished look. Apparently, you will learn the essential tools and techniques step by step for light shaping, skin smoothing, shading and much, much more.
So sounds good, this is just a prelimary preview and as soon as I can, I will review this app thoroughly to let you know if it's worth the ambitious initial investment.

This application is aimed at photographers who want to improve the impact and dynamism of their portrait, fashion, beauty or product images. To get the best out of this training course you should have an understanding of the most common tools and rudimentary functions of Adobe Photoshop.

Pro Masterclass Series Subjects

- Perfect Skin Techniques
- Retaining Skin Texture
- Light Shaping and Enhancement
- Retouching Fine Detail
- Contrast and Sharpening
- Image Impact
- Burn and Dodge Layers
- Healing and Cloning
- Airbrush
- Liquefy and Warp

Application Features

- 5 hours of stunning on the go video.
- No WIFI required after initial install for playback anywhere
- Subject Search
- Photo Note Pad

To try this app for yourself, download here

'Nikon Lenses' - iPhone App

Here's a new iPhone app to hit the iTunes store, entitled 'Nikon lenses' - I was rather surprised that it wasn't called 'Nikkor lenses' as that is by what they are known but nevertheless it looks like a competent app. The app is a guide to Nikon's current lineup of F-Mount lenses used by both Nikon's digital and film SLR cameras. You can view all the lenses at once or you can view lenses in a selected category. You have the ability to sort by aperture, minimum focal length and ESP (Estimated Retail Price).

If you would like to try out this app, download it for free, here

Zacuto rolls out Z-Finder EVF

Zacuto, the US-based video accessory maker, has introduced an new 3.2-inch 16x9 aspect monitor for their existing Z-finder models. The EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) has a 800x600 resolution and boasts HDMI loop through to use with HDSLRs and a pro-level external monitor simultaneously. Although not available for sale just yet, Zacuto are taking reservations for a February 2011 delivery. The price is expected be in the region of $775. For more information, please see either the video below, or follow the link at the bottom of the post.

For more details, please follow the link.

British Storm Chaser, Roger Coulam's Electifying Weather Photographic Portfolio

Roger Coulam was born in Lincolnshire in 1965, but wound his way to the North East of England after an education in Yorkshire and then in Newcastle Upon Tyne, where he studied as an Environmental Scientist. Roger was one of the first UK photographers to capture the power and beauty of the weather, marking the way for many to follow. Much of this work was taken on film in Tornado Alley in the USA.
Not one to shy away from tornadoes, violent electrical storms or coast-battering waves to get the perfect shot, this adrenaline junkie's weather images are second to none.

M434D1 - Explosive development - Kansas, USA

He has always been fascinated in the energies and the extremes of nature, and in 2000 he visited the USA to photograph lightning and to chase storms and tornadoes. This journey led to him becoming part of a Storm Chasing Team in the States for eight years, and forming a reputation as a severe weather photographer, with his pictures becoming published worldwide.

784C4 - Tornado - Nebraska, USA

Roger turned professional in 2003, after developing his practice by supplying a wide range of clients with high quality pictures for editorial and stock use, through commissions and his own picture library.

M830B2 - Genesis - Nebraska, USA

Since 2008 he has increasingly concentrated on personal projects. These include working with found objects, camera-less and alternative photographic techniques, photo-polymer printmaking, and traditional film based and darkroom work.

921E2 - Boston, USA

M430A3 - Nebraska, USA

406A4 - Hill City, Kansas, USA

Self taught, he began to make pictures in the 1990's, on numerous trips to North West Scotland.

590C1 - Outflow dominant storm - Texas, USA

M442C2 - Nebraska, USA

M432C3 - Tornadic supercell storm - Nebraska

To see more of these amazing images and more besides, visit Roger Coulam's gallery here

Canon puts nature in focus

Canon has announced a series of photography-based events at three Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) sites around the UK in November. The events run from 9.00am until 5.00pm. A full day’s booking will cost £79. For more details including purchasing tickets for the events, please see the links in the official UK press release below.

BJP's Vision returns

The world's longest running photography magazine, BJP, has announced its 12th year of Vision, a one day programme for imaging creatives. Featuring informative seminars, portfolio reviews and exhibitors, this years event is to be held on the 19th November at the Business Design Centre Islington, London. Registration prior to the event is £10 (£15 on the day), while the fee for portfolio review sessions is £25.

For more information, please follow the link.

Let's Face It 7 - The Portraiture Award Competition

This is a wonderful competition to enter, photographers are encouraged to interpret the brief in the widest sense, portraying your subjects with emphasis on their identity as individuals. You may enter a single image or a series of up to six related images. Images can be of both people and/or animals. A private view and continuing exhibition of the winners work will be held at the Assembly Rooms in April 2011, this will be supported by a catalogue of the winning work.

Current LPA Entries - Entry Number 13247

Naga Baba, Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, India

New Canon 2010 Photography Competition - Why Do You Love Football?

If you love football, American football that is, and you love photography then why not combine the two and enter this fantastic new competition sponsored by Canon. Canon U.S.A., Inc, a leader in digital imaging, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are looking for the best youth football photos from across America. Football fans are encouraged to pick up a camera this season and show their passion for the sport through photography by entering the sixth annual “Why Do You Love Football?” photo challenge.
The nationwide amateur photo contest is divided into two divisions, Adults ages 18 and over and Teens 13-17, and consists of two categories. The category Action focuses on any image that captures football action during game play and Feature comprises any football imagery outside of game action. The winning photographer in both divisions will have the opportunity to attend Super Bowl XLV in North Texas and receive a trip to the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Celebration. The winning photos will be displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for one year.
Deadline: December 1, 2010
Entry Fee: Free

Rules

2010 "Why Do You Love Football"
"Pro Football Hall of Fame/Canon Adult and Teen Amateur Photo Challenge"
• TEEN ENTRANT – must be 13-17 years of age by 9/2/10.
• ADULT ENTRANT – must be 18 years of age and over as of 9/2/10.
• This contest is for amateur photographer only; professional photographers (see Official Rules for definition) are ineligible.
• Photos must have been taken during the 2010 football season and must depict youth football, which DOES NOT include collegiate or professional football.
• All persons reasonably identifiable in the photo must have signed a photo release form. A model release form is available from this site.
• Two categories of photo subject matter – ACTION and FEATURE. See Official Rules for full explanation.
• 28 finalists will be selected by a panel of judges as finalists (14 in each age category, 7 in each subject category). Grand Prize winners in each age group will be determined by fan voting.
• Grand Prize Winners will receive a trip for 4 to the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Celebration (8/6/11) AND a trip for 4 to the Super Bowl XLV schedule on 2/6/11 in North Texas. See Official Rules for complete prize details and restrictions.

Prizes

The grand prize winner in both the adult and teen divisions will win a trip for (4) to Super XLV in Dallas, Texas and also a trip for (4) to the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies in Canton, OH to see their winning photo unveiled at the Hall of Fame. In addition, both winners will receive a Canon EOS Rebel T2i camera with 18-55 IS lens kit, a Pixma MG8120 Photo Printer and a $500 gift certificate to the Hall of Fame Museum Store.
Secondary Prizes
First Place in each category will receive a Canon EOS Rebel T2i with 18-55 IS lens kit and Pixma MG8120 Photo Printer and a $500 gift certificate to the Hall of Fame Museum Store.
Second Place in each category will receive a Canon PowerShot SX 210 IS and Pixma MG5220 Photo Printer and a $250 gift certificate to the Hall of Fame Museum Store.
Third Place in each category will receive a Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH SD1400 IS and CP800 Photo Printer and a $100 gift certificate to the Hall of Fame Museum Store.
All honorable mentions will receive a plaque of recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Judge

Click here to register and submit your images