UK Digital Cameras Blog

Pentax has launched its own online photo gallery.

The facility will allow users of Pentax cameras around the world to exhibit and share their work online.

Already offering more than 2,500 images from more than 300 photographers, the gallery offers six languages and features users from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific Rim.

It claims to be the first product of its kind to allow photographers to “share and gain resources within an artistic community” and create an “historical, coffee table-type, book collection”.

Pentax Imaging Company vice president Ned Bunnell sadi: “Now we are taking things in a new direction with the Pentax Photo Gallery that offers 24/7/365 virtual access to the best photography captured by Pentax photographers.”

Last month, the company announced the release of two new ultra-slim digital camera models, the Pentax Optio M40 and the Pentax Optio E40, offering 8.0 megapizels and 3X optical zoom.

A new photography competition has been launched by Getty Images, with the intention of getting younger people involved in taking expressive snaps.

The age group for the competition is 13 to 18, with the opening date for entries being July 4th and the central theme focusing on issues of Identity and Community.

With the prize on offer to the winner being an internship for a day with a Getty Images photographer, entrants will need to focus on capturing images that are self-reflective in terms of where they live and their personal interaction with their community.

The contest is open until September 15th and photojournalist Tom Stoddart will be among the judges. Mr Stoddart is a renowned photographer who was given access to former prime minister Tony Blair on his election campaign back in 1997.

Founded back in 1995, Getty Images “creates and distributes the world’s best and broadest imagery collections, making them available in the most accessible and usable way - 24 hours a day, every day.”

Legendary photographer David Bailey has been announced as the judge for a photography competition being run by Currys in collaboration with Olympus and the Daily Telegraph.

Five different categories comprise the Our Lives competition. These are; Our Environment, Our Events, Our Lives in Motion, Our People and Our Places.

Winners will help themselves to a range of prizes including a signed photograph by Mr Bailey, a two-week holiday for two people and a camera kit provided by Olympus. A London photo exhibition will display the top nine photos in each category.

Over the next 13 weeks, aspiring photographers will get the chance to submit as many as 20 photos across the five categories and during this time, the Daily Telegraph along with Currys will be providing information on how to go about choosing the right scene and setting for their snap.

The closing date for the Our Lives competition is August 11th and Dave Poulter of Currys has said: “Through the lessons, reviews and technical tips offered as part of this competition and available in-store, we hope everyone really gets to grips with digital photography.”

The prestigious Scottish Widows calendar will see its photos taken by one of six young photographers next year, it has emerged.

Next year’s calendar will be the 22nd issue and all of the six snappers in the hunt to be given the assignment are under the age of 26 and are described as “up-and-coming photographic talent”.

To highlight the kudos that accompanies the Scottish Widows commission, this year’s calendar was shot by David Boni from Scotland and he has been “catapulted” into the limelights according to the financial institution.

Mike Hoban, customer and brand marketing director at Scottish Widows, stated: “Last year was a great success, but we’re expecting even greater things from this year’s results and believe that the 2008 calendar will become another ‘must-have’ item among consumers and professionals alike.”

The theme of portraiture was conjured up by Scottish Widows by way of assessing the merits of the candidates and they must, of course, use the famous widow as the focal point of the work that they submit for the calendar.