One year on from the devastating February 2011 earthquake that struck the Caterbury region an ‘online living memorial’ has been erected for people to tell their stories and share images of the damage and recovery.

QuakeStories is a website developed by New Zealand’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage to give anyone affected by the disaster a space to upload their own personal experiences in words and images.

Just in time for the first anniversary of the 2011 quake the website has hit 300 shared stories and images and it continues to grow; the Ministry invites anyone with photos of the affects to upload them to the memorial site.

Initially dedicated to written stories, the website has grown rapidly after introducing the photo submitting functions says the Ministry’s chief historian, Neill Atkinson.

“We have been highly impressed by the quality and emotional intensity of the stories people have been submitting to the site and we’ve already amassed a great collection of photographs from our visitors.”

Head to the website if you have images to share or a story to tell, or just take a few minutes to browse what has already been uploaded ...full story

This week Aucklanders are being treated to a free outdoor screening of the acclaimed documentary about legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Bill Cunningham New York is screening at Silo Park in the city’s newly developed Wynyard Quarter on Friday, February 24 beginning at 9pm.

The documentary follows Cunningham, now in his 80s, as he rides his Schwim bicycle around New York documenting the city’s fashion, from ritzy high society events through to street culture.

The New York Times photographer is regarded as something of a cultural anthropologist having diligently documented the trends for about 50 years. As Vogue editor Anna Wintour puts it, ‘We all get dressed for Bill’.

The film is an upbeat, honest look at the dedication and purity of purpose that has driven this artist and icon to amass a staggering body of work over his lifetime.

The screening will be preceded by the Silo Park night Markets at 5pm for a spot of boutique shopping before the film if you are so inclined.

If you plan to head down be sure to bring whatever you need to be comfortable sitting in the outdoor area and keep an eye on the ...full story

Following a series of sold-out workshops last year, photography consultant Christina Force returns to the circuit to deliver more seminars on getting your photography business up to scratch in Auckland next month.

Force, the founder of New Zealand’s first folio consultancy practice, will be taking two workshops– one on sales and marketing, the other on quoting and negotiation – at central Auckland’s Studio Lumiere on March 12.

The sales and marketing workshop will run from 9am to 1pm covering the likes how to get into an ad or design agency, how to get the most out of promotional material and how to systemise your sales visits.

Every photographer attending the morning workshop will also guided through creating a personal annual marketing plan.

The evening session on quoting and negotiating will run from 2pm to 6pm, touching on such topics as asking the right questions, putting together an estimate, writing a cover letter, follow-up techniques and writing treatments.

The Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association presents the workshops, admission to just one costs $225 for members and $275 for non-members or attend them both for $400 as a member or $500 for non-members, all excluding GST.

Places are limited so contact info@aipa.org.nz ...full story

This year’s winners of the worlds most promenant photojournalism contest have been selected and D-Photo will be bringing you online galleries of all the top scoring images.

The 55th year of the World Press Photo competition saw 101,254 images from 5,247 photographers across the world submitted; the following were chosen as some the year’s best.

World Press Photo fo the Year 

Samuel Aranda, Spain, for The New York Times. A woman holds a wounded relative during protests against president Saleh, Sanaa, Yemen, 15 October.

Aidan Sullivan, the competition’s jury chair, speaks about Aranda’s winning image:

Nature Singles

First prize: Jenny E. Ross, USA. A male polar bear climbs precariously on the face of a cliff above the ocean at Ostrova Oranskie in northern Novaya Zemlya, attempting to feed on seabird eggs. This bear was marooned on land and unable to feed on seals – its normal prey -because sea ice had melted throughout the region and receded far to the north as ...full story

This is the first post from a new blog by prominent New Zealand wildlife photographer, Trevor Penfold, originally published on January 14. Trevor will also be sharing his ongoing photographic adventures here at D-Photo as well as on his blog.

Hi and welcome to my new blog.

With the start of a new year, I thought it would be a good time to launch my new blog. It will not be a daily occurrence for a few reasons; one I’m to busy to publish something every day, and secondly I’m sure all of you are just as busy and would not find time to read it.

By visiting me here you will find inspiring images, technical details, interesting articles and be kept up to date with workshops, exhibitions and anything else I think may benefit and help you with your own photographic exploits.

So where to start? Well seeing as we are entering a new year I thought I would look back over the last 12 months and pick some of my favourite images and comment on them in order to give you some sort of insight into why I take certain Images. I’ve taken many images over this time period and its been very hard ...full story

An image of a wounded Yemini protestor being cradled by a relative in mosque-turned-field hospital has been named the World Press Photo of the Year for 2011 in the world’s most prestigious photojournalism contest.

Shot by Samuel Aranda from Spain, the photo was taken on assignment for The New York Times covering the popular uprising in Sanaa against he rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in October last year.

Contest juror Aidan Sullivan commended the image for capturing the poignant, compassionate, human side of an enormous event that is still unfolding.

“We might never know who this woman is, cradling an injured relative, but together they become a living image of the courage of ordinary people that helped create an important chapter in the history of the Middle East.”

The 55^th year of the World Press Photo contest attracted 101,254 entries from 5,247 photographers from 124 countries, which were judged by a group of 19 internationally recognized professionals.

In total 57 photographers 24 countries were awarded prizes in the contest’s nine themed categories, including Spot News, Daily Life, Sports, Arts and Entertainment, Nature and Contemporary Issues.

Check back in the coming days as we bring ...full story

Today Kodak made official the long rumoured plans to ditch its digital photography product lines and refocus effort on its printing divisions in the wake of a US bankruptcy protection filing.

During 2012 the company will cease to manufacture digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames, instead concentrating its consumer business on desktop inkjet, online and retail-based printing,

Kodak says it will continue to offer camera accessories and batteries, which are universally compatible with other brands, and honour all warranties and provide technical support for all current products.

This announcement will affect the new models Kodak announced at January’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, including the company’s first waterproof camera, rugged pocked camcorder and several wi-fi enabled compacts.

“Kodak will work closely with its retail partners to ensure an orderly transition for the benefit of consumers and our partners,” says the company.

“However, it is likely that some of the products announced at CES will not be launched.”

This announcement is part of the company’s attempt to restructure while under bankruptcy protection to become a sustainable business again.

For more on current Kodak goings on jump into our forum.