Mitch Dobrowner, USA, L’Iris d’Or, Professional Winner, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2012

Sony World Photography Awards 2012

L’Iris d’Or and winners announced

www.worldphoto.org

• American photographer Mitch Dobrowner wins the prestigious L’Iris d’Or Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year 2012
• Tobias Bräuning from Germany announced as overall Open winner
• William Klein receives the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award
• Asef Ali Mohammad from Middlesex University, UK, wins Student Focus Award

American photographer Mitch Dobrowner has tonight, Thursday 26 April, been announced as this year’s winner of the coveted L’Iris d’Or – the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year.

Dobrowner was presented with the award during the Sony World Photography Awards Gala ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane for his extraordinary series of images, Storms.  This is the second year in which the awards have been held in London having previously been held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. Over 112,000 images were entered into the 2012 competition from 171 countries – the largest number of entries to date.

Dobrowner said at the awards, ‘In landscape photography, there is one moment that will never be the same again. I want my images to do the speaking. That’s what photography is all about’.

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PRESS RELEASE

GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR NEW LEICA CAMERA AG HEADQUARTERS IN WETZLAR

Solms, Germany (April 26, 2012) – Leica Camera AG commenced ground-breaking on a new headquarters at the Leitz Park in Wetzlar on April 25, 2012. Once complete, the new Schanzenfeld site will mark the company’s relocation from Solms. Attending the celebration were dignitaries from Salzburg’s ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH, the majority shareholder of the company, the board of Leica Camera AG and representatives from Leitz-Park GmbH, the project’s developers, in addition to Volker Bouffier (CDU), Prime Minister of the state of Hesse, members of the media and invited guests.

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Pentax Q

“In terms of image quality, pitting the Q against the mirrorless competition is playing it against a stacked deck: it simply can’t win.“

We’ve added a new Pentax Q [QuickPrice Check] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

Imaging Resource has published their review of the Pentax Q interchangeable lens prosumer compact camera, with 12.4MP resolution (1/2.3-in. CMOS), Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Pentax Q-mount, 3.0-in. LCD (460k-dot), optional shoe mounted optical viewfinder O-VF1 available for 01 Standard Prime lens, built-in Flash, PASM, Scene Modes, RAW, In-camera HDR, Continuous Shooting 5fps, in-camera Bokeh Control Filter, Smart Effects Mode, Shutter Speeds of 1/2000 to 30 seconds plus B, Hotshoe, and Full HD 1080p Movie 1920×1080 @ 30fps in a magnesium-alloy body. There are currently 3 lenses for the Q-mount: 01 Standard Prime lens 47mm (equiv.) F1.9 with 5 aperture blades, 03 Fish-Eye lens 17.5mm (equiv.) F5.6, and 05 Toy Lens Telephoto 100mm (equiv.) F8.

Read the Pentax Q Review @ Imaging Resource.

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Pictures from sporting events can be spectacular. Most of the time, professional photographers capture those “moment in time” photos but at times, amateurs can also capture snapshots of events that pros are not there to witness. The 2012 Summer Olympics organizers cannot, it seems, give a straight answer on whether photos taken at the event can be posted on social media sites and or sold by the photographers, amateurs or pros. Photographers were angered at what seems to be a ban on posting photos that they take at the 2012 Summer Olympics onto social sites (the prohibition is printed right there on the ticket) but the organizers reversed themselves by saying that only “commercial” photography were banned. So both amateur and professional photographers cannot sell or earn any money from the pictures they take at the 2012 Olympics? Not only is this commercially crass, but it is also asinine. Imagine if companies declared that, from now on, any photos of their people, trucks, buildings, events, etc. cannot be used commercially. We simply would’t be able to report the news anymore.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

“Shoot the [Sony] HX200 near the bottom of its ISO range [and] the camera will provide you with nice images.“

We’ve added a new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V [QuickPrice Check] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

DigitalCameraReview has published their review of the Sony DSC-HX200V, a 18.2MP resolution (1/2.3-in. “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor) ultra zoom digital camera with 30x wide-angle optical zoom (27-810mm equiv.), Optical Image Stabilization, GPS, 3.0-in. LCD (921k-dot), iAuto, PASM, Continuous Shooting 10fps, EVF (201k-dot equiv.), Backlight Correction HDR, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, 3D Still Image and Sweep Panorama, Natural Flash, Background Defocus, and Full HD 1920×1080/60p Movie.

Read the Sony HX200V Review @ DigitalCameraReview.

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Fujifilm X-PRO1

“The [Fujifilm] X-Pro1 is a much better camera with better optics and better images and ergonomics than my LEICA M9.“

We’ve added another Fujifilm X-Pro1 [QuickFact Sheet] Review in our Reviews Matrix.

KenRockwell has posted their review of the Fujifilm X-PRO1, a retro rangefinder-style APS-C digital camera with 16.3 MP resolution (23.6 mm x 15.6 mm X-Trans CMOS), No optical low-pass filter, X-Mount accepting interchangeable Fujifnon XF lenses, Hybrid Multi Viewfinder (0.47-in. 1440-dot EVF), 3.0-in. (1230k-dot) LCD, Eye Sensor, PASM, One-touch RAW, In-camera RAW Converter, Selectable AF with a 49-point Metering Matrix, ISO100-25600, Continuous Shooting 6fps, Aperture Ring, Shutter Speed Dial, Exposure Compensation Dial, Motion Panorama, Film Simulation Mode, Multiplex Exposure, 4 Auto Bracketing Functions, Motion Panorama, and Full HD Movie 1920×1080 @ 24fps with stereo sound.

You can read the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Review @ KenRockwell.

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Fujifilm X-PRO1

Fujifilm has issued a firmware update that addresses the annoying chattering noise that occurs when using the camera (especially) in bright light due to the iris opening and closing constantly.

Download the firmware update at: Fujifilm.

In addition, firmware updates for the 3 available lenses must also be applied in tandem with above update:

• FUJINON XF lens: XF18mm Firmware Update Ver.1.01
• FUJINON XF lens : XF35mm Firmware Update Ver.1.01
• FUJINON XF Lens : XF60mm Firmware Update Ver.1.02

Nikon has issued a serious battery recall that could damage your camera if you keep using the defective battery.

SERVICE ADVISORY

EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Service Advisory

Nikon Inc. is asking your cooperation in connection with a voluntary recall of certain lot numbers of its Nikon Model EN-EL15 rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack can experience a short circuit causing it to overheat and possibly causing the outside casing to become deformed, posing a potential hazard to consumers. There have only been seven (7) confirmed reports of incidents of the problem worldwide, and while no injuries have taken place, Nikon Inc. has initiated this recall of the affected lot numbers as a reflection of its commitment to safety and product quality. We are asking that owners of the affected battery pack return them to Nikon Inc. for a free replacement.

The Nikon EN-EL15 battery pack is provided as a supplied accessory with the purchase of Nikon’s digital SLR D800, D800E, D7000 cameras and the Nikon 1 V1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens. It is also sold separately at retail under Nikon’s model number 27011. The EN-EL15 battery pack involved in this recall was first distributed by Nikon in March 2012 and is still being sold at retail.

This voluntary recall is limited only to those units of the Model EN-EL15 in lots E and F.

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