Welcome to the February 2011 issue of DPTips Central newsletter!

This month’s issue is packed with lots of interesting stories, industry news and tips that caught our attention in the past two months. So let’s get started…

Photography Industry News

Pentax confirms K-5 sensor issue

Following complain reports from new Pentax K-5 owners, the company has confirmed in a statement that the first shipment of its K-5 cameras "included some products with a stained image sensor". Pentax believes that the problem was caused during manufacturing - "causing [the cameras] to occasionally produce images with spots which look something like water drops, and which users cannot remove with ordinary cleaning methods."

Pentax has advised affected users to contact their local service centre to benefit from a free repair. For more details, visit Pentax Japan.

Sony A850 and A900 firmware updates available

The new firmware improves the following areas:

• Improvement in autofocus
• Extends exposure value (EV) compensation settings from ±3 EV to ±5 EV
• Exposure bracketing range has also been increased from a maximum of 4.0EV to 6.0EV
• A new menu option will allow the shuter release to be enabled, even when the camera doesn't tetect a lens

Adobe unveils Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw Update

These updates provide Raw file support for fifteen new camera models including the Nikon D7000 and Canon Powershot S95. The Lightroom 3.3 update is also available as a free download for current Lightroom 3 customers.

To download these updates visit www.adobe.com/downloads/updates
While new customers can use a special discount : 30% off Lightroom 3 with Coupon Code: BF2010

Apple's Aperture software update

Version 3.1.1 promises to improve the stability of the imaging suite and also improve compatibility with iLife 11. It is available for free download from Apple's website now. (

Photography Competitions and Exhibitions

Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year opens for entries

Bence Máté (Hungary) - Fire on the Pantanal

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year is one of the most prestigious competitions of its kind, attracting entries from professional, amateur and young photographers worldwide. With overall winners getting £10,000 and their images viewed around the world by over 2.5 million people, this competition is always won by the photographers to beat.

Bence Máté (Hungary) - Leg-work

Thomas P Peschak (South Africa/UK) - Giant beachcomber

Maurizio Biancarelli (Italy) - A wild wonder of Europe

The 2011 competition opened for entries on Jan 12th and closes on March 18th, 2011. You can view the online gallery of last year winners and enter new images for this year compeition at http://www.nhm.ac.uk .

Jodi Bieber wins 2011 World Press Photo of the Year

South African Jodi Bieber has won this year's World Press Photo, world's most prestigious photojournalism prize, for her controversial image of an injured Afghan woman.

The winning image was chosen from among 108,059 images sent by 5691 photographers. For her image, Bieber will receive a cash prize of €10,000 and a Canon EOS body and lens kit.

Image © Jodi Bieber / Institute for Artist Management for TIME.

The image made the cover of TIME magazine on 09 August 2010. Before publishing it, Time wrote: "Our cover image this week is powerful, shocking and disturbing. It is a portrait of Aisha, a shy 18-year-old Afghan woman who was sentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws. Aisha posed for the picture and says she wants the world to see the effect a Taliban resurgence would have on the women of Afghanistan, many of whom have flourished in the past few years." The image quickly found itself at the centre of a debate about it legitimacy and the way it had been used by the magazine.

Bieber's winning image, as well as other winning entries, will go on show around the world for the next year.

Man carries a shark through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, 23 September. Image © Omar Feisal, Somalia, shooting for Reuters. Feisal won the Daily Life Singles prize for this shot.

Inge Morath Award calling for entries

The Inge Morath Foundation ,in association with the Magnum Foundation, is now calling for entries for its prestigious annual award, which rewards the achievements of a female photographer under the age of 30.

The award carries a $5000 cash prize to assist a female photographer in the completion of a longterm documentary project. It is now in its eight year, and features, among its winners, photographers such as Claire Martin, Olivia Arthur, Jessica Dimmock and Mimi Chakarova.

The submission deadline is 30 April. Applicants must submit between 40 and 60 images, with a printed project description and Curriculum Vitae. For more information, visit ingemorath.org .

Photography Suppliers - Latest News

If you are looking into buying some new equipment, check out Jessops online shop :

Here are the current special offers at Adobe's store:

Save 30% on Lightroom
Save £13 on Photoshop Elements
Free shipping on offers over £350
Save up to 80% on Adobe Student Editions

ACDSee current special offers:
Save 10% on ACDsee Pro 3 - order today!
Save 30% ACDSee Photo Manager - the all in one scrapbook software!
Save 30% on Canvas 11- Your integrated solution for technical illustrations and graphics.

The Apple Online Store

has a fantastic range of EXCLUSIVE offers including: Free laser engraving, Signature Gift wrap, exclusive iPod (PRODUCT) RED, Mac customization, Free Shipping on all orders over £76 and cross border gifting! Buy a printer with a new Mac and save £60

The has a fantastic range of EXCLUSIVE offers running right now. Check them out !

Dabs.com also offer some great bargains as well as a free shipping on orders over £99.99. Check their store below:

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Thanks for your support and it just remains for us to wish you the happiest of Christmases and a prosperous New Year!

Irina & Gianfranco
-- DPTips-Central.com