Welcome to the December 2011 issue of DPTips Central newsletter!

We hope this issue of our newsletter finds you well and enjoying the winter time. As 2011 draws to its end, we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the genuine support throughout the year.

Please accept our sincere wishes for magical festive holidays and a great 2012 filled with health, abundance, professional successes and great photography. We look forward to an exceptional year together!

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

Editorial photographers contributing to Getty Images are hit by pay cuts

At the beginning of November 2011, Getty Images notified its editorial contributors to agree to new contracts that will see them receive only 35% royalties of all sales. Under current contracts that will soon expire, Getty pays photographers 50% for some sales, and 35% for others.

The agency told photographers that the new contract terms will enable Getty “to more easily modify content use across more and new license models, products, services and selling environments, including subscriptions, high-volume customer deals and new or emerging pricing, licensing and payment models.”

In effect this allows customers of the agency to pay less for images in some cases. By cutting photographers’ rates, Getty will be able to offer images at lower prices with less negative impact on its own bottom line.

One positive outcome from the new contract for the photographers is that they will now be paid in 60 days rather than 120 days.

Panasonic announces the release of 3D compact camera

The 3D world is moving ever closer to the digital camera space with the announcement of Panasonic of the release of its Lumix DNC-3D1 compact camera in time for Christmas. The camera offers two 25mm ultra wide angle lenses (35mm camera equivalent: 25-100mm) with 4x optical zoom capabilities, which allows the camera to produce 3D images and movies, as well as operate independently and record one scene at two different focal lengths. This feature can be quite exciting allowing you to take images and/or video where for example you capture a wide angle shot with one lens and a close-up with the other.

The 3D1 features a 12-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor, but can only shoot 3D images at a resolution of eight megapixels. The camera also uses a multi-process Noise Reduction feature, which applies optimum noise reduction according to the brightness of each part of the picture. According to Panasonic this allows for a ‘dramatically-clear’ low-light images, even at high-ISOs.

The Panasonic DMC-3D1 and will retail at £450/$500 and you can find more information at www.panasonic.co.uk.

Canon announces development of new-concept EOS-series digital SLR camera

The new-concept camera is currently unnamed but is believe to include Canon's new Cinema denomination and feature a 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor and record 4K video at a frame rate of 24p. Canon though points out that the 4K resolution won't be achieved across the sensor's full-frame, but, instead, cropped to an APS-H equivalent.

For more information , visit www.canon.co.uk

Nikon announces Nikon 1 system and its new range of cameras

Nikon has announced the release of what it calls a "revolutionary digital camera system," with the goal of offering still image and movie recording capabilities "without compromise," according to the firm.

There are two mirrorless cameras of offer - the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1- which sport a new Motion Snapshot (MSS) option, which "brings a photo to life in just one click." By selecting MSS, users simultaneously record a slow motion movie and still image that are then combined to create "a photo that moves and captures the story of a moment as never before - a living picture."

The V1 is intended as the higher-end model in the lineup and features a 1.4M electronic viewfinder. It also has an accessory port allowing the connection of the SB-N5 mini speedlight or GP-N100 GPS unit. Its advantage as compared to J1 model is that it can switch between mechanical and electronic shutter. Both V1 and J1 models can shoot 1080i60 or 1080p30 video and combine phase detection and contrast detection autofocus, in movie shooting or 10fps continuous bursts.

You can find more information at www.nikonusa.com .

Photography Competitions and Exhibitions

Travel Photographer of the Year Awards announce its winners

Winner of the Travel Photographer of the Year Awards © Louis Montrose

US photographer Louis Montrose was announced as the winner in the 2011 international Travel Photographer of the Year Award for his two portfolios: one documenting life in a painted village in Burkina Faso and the other depicting the Dia de los Muertos Festival in Oaxaca, Mexico.

His images, as well as a selection of images from the awards' category winners and commended photographers, will go on show at the Royal Geographical Society in London from 21 June to 19 August 2012.

Winner in the Best Single Image in Cultures & Traditions category © Philip Lee Harvey

Winner of the Portfolio - Cultures & Traditions Award © Sergey Anisimov, Russia

Winner in the Portfolio - Spirit of Adventure category © Franco Banfi

For more details, visit www.tpoty.com .

Last chance to enter International Street Photography Award

Image © Jesse Marlow , winner International Street Photography Award 2011

The second edition of the International Street Photography Award is closing soon, with photographers urged to submit their images before 05 January 2012. The winner is set to receive a £2000 cash prize as well as additional incentives totaling £10,000 in value.

For more information about the award, visit londonstreetphotographyfestival.org/awards .

Royal Photographic Society launches 155th print competition

Image © Shu-kei Kevin Fung , Cold

The Royal Photographic Society is now calling for entries for the 2012 edition of its International Print Exhibition. Amazingly the competition is the longest standing exhibition of its kind in the world and is in its 155th year. It aims to showcase a wide range of genres and styles of photography and celebrate the work of amateur and professional photographers alike.

The competition is open to all and the closing date for entries is 21 March 2012. For more information, visit www.rps.org/international-print-exhibition

The prestigious Leica Oskar Barnack Award soon to open for entries

Professional photographers wishing to take part in next year’s Leica Oskar Barnack Award will have a chance to submit their photographic projects online between 16 January and 01 March 2012.

This prestigious award is now in its 33rd year where the winner is announced in a high-profile ceremony at the Rencontres d'Arles festival in July. It will see them receive a Leica M9-P camera with lens worth more than €10,000, in addition to a cash prize of €5000.

The contest is also awarding a new or emerging photographer aged 25 and under, who will receive a Leica M9-P with a lens

For further details on how to enter, visit www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de/ .

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

Irina & Gianfranco
-- DPTips-Central.com