Photography News flash

Two UK photographers are attempting to break the current world record for the largest photographic exhibition.

The project is in aid of the BBC Children in Need appeal, and photographers Mark Lees and Martin Wood, both based at the Lighthouse Studio in Bradford, plan to exhibit more than 11,000 photographs of local people. The current record was secured in Dubai, where 10,600 photographs were exhibited last year.

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ABN AMRO Capital has completed its secondary buy-out of Jessops following competition clearance from the relevant European authorities.

In a deal worth �116m, the photographic retail chain has been acquired from private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital, which backed the original management buy-in/buy-out in 1996. Jessops currently owns 238 stores and plans to open a further 26 in the next two years: there are also plans to expand across mainland Europe. The company has capitalised on the fast growing digital photographic  market, seeing the sale of digital products grow this year by 47%.
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PHOTO COMPETITION DEADLINES                                      

Sponsor: UNICEF
Award: Photo of the Year
1st Prize: Leica equipment + assignment for Geo Magazine
Deadline: 8 November 2002
Contact Details: [email protected] 

Sponsor: Spirit of Life
Award: Portrait Competition
1st Prize: Lighting Equipment
Deadline: 15 November 2002
Contact Details: http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/vision2002

Sponsor : ICI Imagedata
Award: Student Digital Photographer of the Year
1st Prize: �2,000
Deadline: 22 November 2002
Contact Details: http://www.ici-imagedata.com

Sponsor: The Independent / American Express
Award: Fashion Photographer Competition
1st Prize: �5,000
Deadline: 22 November 2002
Contact Details: http://www.independent.co.uk/fashion
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Nikon ends press adventure by joining forces with PEG

Nikon is dropping its long-running and prestigious Press Awards, and is switching its support to the Picture Editors Guild (PEG) Awards.

In a statement, both parties said they have 'merged' their activities, and Nikon will join Fujifilm, the Corporation of London and Guiness as PEG sponsors. 'The Nikon Awards have supported press photography for more than three decades, and have been held in the highest regard,' says the statement. 'However, we feel that there is the need for one,
all-encompassing awards scheme that recognizes and rewards the very best of photographic journalism in the UK and Ireland.'
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