NEWSLETTER

• Canon Pro Photo Solutions 2011
• Canon telephoto lens demo kits
• Camera insurance... new issues
• Trouble at celebrity launch event
• Leica Academies
• Julian Andrews charity marathon in aid of Royal Marines Charitable Trust

Canon Pro Photo Solutions 2011

This year's Cano Pro Photo Solutions event promises to be a very busy one. The BPPA is running four seminars at the event as well as having a stand where we will be doing portfolio reviews for all-comers over the two days of the show. Canon are promising that several examples of the newly announced EOS1Dx camera body will be there (not for shooting with though) so you can get an early glimpse of the new flagship model scheduled to hit the shops in March.

Our seminar schedule is as follows:

BPPA member Dan Chung will also be making a number of appearances over the two days to talk about his work.

As always, we can do with a few extra pairs of hands to get our stand set-up and broken down and would welcome any members who would like to come along and answer questions from visitors on the stand. If you think that you can help, please email us at info@thebppa.com

More information about this year's show including the registration form can be found here. Registering in advance will mean that you get in free...

Canon telephoto lens demo kits

Nick Millen has been in touch to let us know that Canon UK now has a few of the new MkII 300mm f2.8L and 400mm f2.8L lenses available for demo and an extended test drive complete with an EOS1D Mk IV body and examples of the new 1.4x and 2x extenders.

If you are interested in trying them out loan durations will be 2-3 days and kit will be available for collection from Elstree, Reigate and by prior agreement, courier. Anyone interested should email Nick for availability nick_millen@cuk.canon.co.uk

Camera insurance... new issues

Just when we thought that we had ironed out all of the issues regarding camera insurance for press photographers, news has now reached us that at least one major underwriter is not including cover for when you are on a doorstep or when you are "working in a paparazzi style". We are talking to them about this new feat of stupidity and would like to hear from anyone who has had this new exclusion (or indeed any other new exclusions) added to their policy.

If you are renewing in the next few weeks PLEASE be very careful about any policy changes that you are asked to accept.

Trouble at celebrity launch event

We have also had reports that a planned event turned into an unprofessional and silly brawl this week. A photocall had been arranged for David Hasselhoff's arrival at the "Clintons Launch Celebrity Fastcard" event. The arrangement was to get David on the KITT car, from 'Nightrider' with some models. A relatively large group of entertainment photographers were there ready to do the photocall when, as the account that we have says, the following happened:

"The night pap's surrounded the car when he arrived. We were all in position to shoot him on or next to the car with the models already. We shouted at them to move back so we could get the picture, one photographers got very aggressive, one so much so he hit a photographer. A mass brawl followed as David, models and PR's watch on in horror. Police arrived and it was still kicking off. One photographer was arrested! All this outside the event with press, reporters, David and PRs watching on."

This is clearly a worrying turn of events and this kind of behaviour damages the reputation of press photographers - even if those involved are not professionals. If you were at the event, have any pictures or footage of it or have been at other similar events, please let us know because we are trying to work out what can be done to stop the image of our profession being dragged further into the mud. info@thebppa.com

Leica Akademies

The people behind a new series of workshops to help photographers to get more out of their Leicas have been in touch let us know about the scheme. BPPA member Edmond Terakopian will be leading some of the workshops, which have strictly limited numbers of complimentary places available. Their outline for Edmond's Leica M9 Interactive workshop says this:

"Designed for experienced digital SLR users, this hands-on workshop provides an opportunity to shoot with the Leica M9 at the company’s Mayfair-based Akademie, and see how a Leica rangefinder can benefit the photographer as a professional tool alongside – or instead of – a DSLR outfit."

To find out more visit the Leica Akademies website or email the organiser Heather Gregory at heather.gregory@leica-camera.co.uk

Julian Andrews charity marathon in aid of Royal Marines Charitable Trust

Julian will be doing half of the Royal Marines Commando Course in November (at the age of 43) to raise money for The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. He will be doing the ‘Endurance Course’ and ‘The 30-Miler’ on consecutive days. A lot of BPPA members will have worked with Marines either whilst embedded and/or alongside them in the UK at various events.

Having worked extensively in the past with The Corps he believes that it would be great to give something back to a body of men that he has always found to be utterly professional and totally accommodating when it comes to photographers. The just –giving link with details is as follows: www.justgiving.com/hard-corps/