If, like me, you question how you can improve your images to make them stand out from the crowd, send them into us and have our experts offer you simply solutions and suggestions for improvement.

Each issue we take three images from one reader and have our board of experts offer tips, tricks and techniques.

What is more every reader featured wins a Kata DR-467 bag!

If this appeals drop me an email at natalie.johnson@imagine-publishing.co.uk.

Then look no further! We’re offering one lucky reader the chance to spend a day with a pro, learning how to use the new Tamron 28-300mm VR lens, then take it home for three months.

All we ask for in return are some regular blog entries and the latest images taken on the lens.

Interested? Want to know more? Then head to our forum and check out the details in the Your Reviews thread…

I was lucky enough to attend the 2008 Panasonic Optical Seminar in Monaco a couple of weeks ago, (someone has to do the hard work!) where the manufacturer talked us through their plans for the coming year, as well as introducing us to some great new products.

Up first is the slim, sexy FX37, which boasts a 25mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Leica DC lens and 5x Optical Zoom, followed by the 14.7mp FX150 (with manual controls for more advanced photographers). The new FZ28 features a 10.1mp sensor and an incredible 8x Optical Zoom, while the LX3 - with a f2.0 24mm Ultra Wide Angle Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens (try saying that when you’ve had a few!) - was the model that we were particularly interested in, and took out for a test drive.

Unfortunately, as our LX3 was a pre-production model, we’re not allowed to publish the photos we took with it, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that they were fantastic, and look out for the full review in the mag, as soon as production models become available.

It was a fab little camera to use: the lens is superb and the fact that you have three aspect ratios to pick from (4:3, 3:2 or 16:9) adds to its versatility. The 3in LCD is another noteworthy feature: it boasts a resolution of 460,000 dots and has an ambient light sensor, so the brightness of the screen is automatically adjusted according to your viewing conditions. Check the In Focus news section on the DP site for the full press release and specifications.

At the seminar, Panasonic also proudly announced that it’s currently occupying the No.1 position in the Euro 5 Compact DSC market, with 13% market share - but they’re aiming to increase this to 15% by 2009. The new products, coupled with the manufacturer’s clear ambition, leaves little doubt that the company will achieve its goals.

Another month passes and it’s time to reflect upon yet another successful reader/photographer day out, for the new DP feature: ‘Improve my DSLR Skills’.

This month we spent the day with professional freelance Wildlife and Commercial Photographer, Chas Spradbery (www.mildmonkey.co.uk), along with talented DP reader David Hemingway (http://www.missmop.eclipse.co.uk/) and his partner Jan Westhead (www.missmop.co.uk).

David is in the process of making a miraculous recovery from a serious RTA just over 18 months ago, so we needed to find somewhere with level access for him. Chas got on the case, and soon found the perfect location: the beautiful Blashford Lakes in Ellingham, Hampshire (www.hwt.org.uk/blashford_reserve.htm).

The paths are well-maintained and the setting is beautiful, with woodland and lakes teeming with wildlife. Purpose-built hides are scattered around the reserve, with feeding stations set up to attract birds and other animals. You’ll also find sheets of corrugated iron and plastic near the paths, under which grass snakes like to bask - although we weren’t lucky enough to find any - much to David’s relief!

We also paid a visit to The Otter, Owl & Wildlife Conservation Park, Marchwood, Hampshire, (www.ottersandowls.co.uk) for a spot of lunch and a wander around the park. Chas took the opportunity to demonstrate the skills required to photograph larger creatures, including the deer and wallabies that roam free in the woodland setting.

At the end of it all, David had a higher percentage of ‘keepers’ than usual, as well as a wealth of new knowledge, thanks to Chas’ expertise and teaching skills: a great day (with plenty of mickey-taking) was had by all!

Look out for more details about this day, along with some of the beautiful images David took as result of this experience in issue 73 of Digital Photographer, out on 14th August.

Imagine, the UK’s fastest-growing consumer specialist publisher, is pleased to announce the launch of the Digital Photographer of the Year Awards 2008. Working in conjunction with industry giant Fujifilm, the second DP awards will be introduced to the public in Digital Photographer 72, on sale 17 July 2008.

In the extremely competitive market, up-and-coming photographers can find it hard to get their work noticed; the Digital Photographer of the Year Awards 2008 aim to give a helping hand to talented individuals and showcase their talents. “Working in conjunction with some of the leading names in the photographic industry, our objective for these awards is to find hidden talent and expose it to the world,” explains editor, Debbi Allen. “Encompassing multiple genres of photography, the awards will showcase the high standards achieved by many enthusiasts and semi-professional photographers.”

This year’s categories will include Portrait, Landscape, Documentary, Travel, Black and White, Macro, Wildlife and Wedding, with one winner scooping the title of Digital Photographer of the Year and eight separate category winners.

All categories are open for entries from the 17 July 2008 and all categories will close to entries on 14 November. Winners will be announced in issue 78 of the magazine, on sale January 2009.

Theo Georghiades, Fujifilm’s Senior Product Manager says: “Fujifilm UK Ltd are very pleased to be sponsoring the Digital Photographer of the Year 2008.  Both Fujifilm UK Ltd and Digital Photographer share the same values in terms of quality, creativity and professionalism, and this makes the magazine an ideal partner for us to work with.”

The judging panel boasts Digital Photographer editor Debbi Allen, Imagine Publishing’s Creative Director and keen photographer Mark Kendrick, professional photographer and magazine contributor Mark Cargill and Fujifilm’s Theo Georghiades.

The overall winner will receive a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the eight category winners scooping other Fujifilm cameras, models TBC.

2006 saw Digital Photographer magazine achieve its highest-ever individual issue sales figures, and this has continued into 2007 and 2008. It is now one of Imagine’s most successful magazines. Launched as the first semi-professional digital photography magazine by Paragon Publishing in 2002, it was subsequently acquired from Highbury Entertainment by Imagine Publishing in January 2006. An immediate programme of improvements including production quality, magazine direction and investment followed, with current editor Debbi Allen taking over the magazine in August 2006.

The DP / Samsung competition from issue 71 is closing this Thursday so make sure you send your entries, along with your name, address and contact details to dphotographer@imagine-publishing.co.uk today!

Good luck!

How many of you own underwater cameras and what do you think of them? Do they do what they claim? What about the picture quality?

Tell us what you think of this summer accessory and see your thoughts, opinions and test shots printed in an upcoming issue of the magazine!

Email dphotographer@imagine-publishing.co.uk, or post a thread on our forum with your comments.

We’re keen to hear what you think about your camera, the website, the magazine and more… so please take part in our online survey.

Accessible via the homepage of the main website (www.dphotographer.co.uk) or via this link

http://www.imagine-publishing.co.uk/surveys/digitalphotographer/

It takes just a couple of minutes and provides us with essential feedback to make sure we’re providing you with the best content.

Thanks!

Ever keen to give you a better, more interactive and more exciting website, the brilliant interactive department here at Imagine Publishing have been hard at work and have added some extra features for you over the weekend.Photo Face-off is the brand new section of the website, dedicated to seeking the best of the brilliant bunch from the DP site.Every image uploaded is entered and drawn at random so that you can choose your favourite shot.It’s easy to use, hours of amusement and means you’ll get to see lots of images that were previously ‘hidden’ from you beneath the thousands of other images.Get playing!

Ask me any question about Manfrotto, Gitzo and Kata and I bet I stand a pretty good chance of answering it. “Why,” (you might ask) “Is Natalie being extra conceited today?” Well I shall tell you…

Last week I was invited by Bogen (UK distributors responsible for Kata, National Geographic, Avenger, Gitzo and Manfrotto – see www.bogenimaging.co.uk for more) to visit their factory.

Now I know this may not sound the most relishing offer for most of you, but for a geek like me this was an opportunity not to be missed. Later I was told the factory tour was at Gitzo and Manfrotto’s headquarters – based in the serene mountain town of Bassano Del Grappa, Northern Italy. That was when I realised it is actually ok to be a geek.

The factory tour was in itself very interesting. What impressed me the most was how well the tripods were constructed. First of all we were guided around the Manfrotto factories, and witnessed the delicate construction of the products. I had no idea so much construction went into each item, from design to creation of materials to assembly of product to polishing to packaging. Then we were shown the Gitzo area of production – and what a contrast! That’s not to say the Manfrotto assembly was poor – far from it – but you can certainly understand why the Gitzo range is as expensive as it is. Individual care and attention is paid to each and every tripod as though it were a newborn child. Hand assembled and polished - experts craft the equipment and it shows. It was like the difference between the construction seen in Subway (which in my opinion puts a premium on fine sandwich making) and then entering a kitchen where 8 people focus all their attention on building the one ‘perfect’ sandwich with the finest ingredients and concentrated attention to detail. Ok this is a slight tangent but it’s lunchtime and it’s the first analogy that popped into my head. I was not surprised to learn that only 150 Gitzo tripods are produced each day compared to the 6000 assembled in the Manfrotto arena.

Following this we were given an in-depth product briefing concerning the company’s latest launches. Including, their very exciting range of new carbon fibre tripods, the 190CX Carbon Fibre Tripods. Evolving the award winning 190X, Bogen revealed the latest Manfrotto tripod, made with 100% carbon fibre – the 190CX.

This new carbon model combines great stability with improved design and features such as a refined leg locking system, new angle adjustment levers, a levelling bubble (incorporated into head plate of the 190CXPRO3 and the 190CXPRO4) and highly designed levers and column components.

The 190CX guarantees a higher load capacity and an increased height but with a lighter overall weight (-20%) thanks to a completely new design which has allowed Manfrotto to lighten the components.

The 190CX family includes two PRO versions, the 3-sections 190CXPRO3 and 4-sections 190CXPRO4 and a more simplistic version for the keen enthusiast the 190CX3.

The 190CXPRO3 and 190CXPRO4 include the patented Manfrotto horizontal/vertical centre column system, carbon fibre tri-faceted centre column, magnesium top plate, lever lock and top spider die casting, levelling bubble and anti-rotation system. The 190CXPRO3 carries a retail price tag of £239.95, the 190CXPRO4 will hit shelves at £249.95 and 190CX3 is £199.95. For more information contact: www.bogenimaging.co.uk or call 01293 583300.

Here are some interesting facts you may find… well… interesting:

• Previously the company made to order, now they will make to stock.
•The 190CXPRO3 replaces the 190MF3, and the 190CXPRO4 replaces the 190MF4.
• The new range are 20% lighter than their predecessors (MF3/4 = 2kg and PRO3/4 = 1.65kg/1.68kg. Additionally the new models have a superior height gain but stack to a smaller size than their predecessors.
• Manfrotto use pull-winding or pultrusion technology to create its tripods (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pultrusion) over table rolling technology (consider to be inferior and less effective technology) which Manfrotto claims it’s competitors use in the far east.

• The carbon fibres are packed in two direction (- 8 degrees and + 8 degrees) for added strength and durabilty.
• Manfrotto representatives claimed that the brand’s product are made from 100% carbon fibre unlike many of their competitors, alleging that Velbon’s tripods incorporate 30% glass fibre, and Benro use 50-70% glass fibre.
• To find out more about the new tripods, which are available from July, visit www.bogenimaging.co.uk.

Below are some pictures from my trip to Venice where I tested the 190CXPRO4. See if you can guess which shots were taken with the tripod and which ones weren’t! No prizes - I’m afraid it’s just for fun

Until next time!

Natalie x