Just a quick note to let you know that we are posting our webinars for your viewing pleasure. Our first-ever event with Seth Resnick was a big hit last week. If you missed it, just visit our Ask the Pro page and follow the instructions. There’s a lot more good info to come. So please check back often.

Fabiano Ventura is a professional photographer who specializes in environmental, landscape and geographic reportage. He is also—we’re pleased to say—a Loweprofessional who uses our gear on his expeditions to some of the most fascinating places on the planet.

Lowepro is proud to be a Technical Sponsor of Ventura’s On the Trails of the Glaciers photographic-scientific project. We’ve supplied the team with professional bags ranging from our DryZone 200 to S&F Audio Utility Bag 100. The expedition is taking place now in the Caucasus geopolitical region of Eurasia, specifically in the Svaneti region of Georgia, located on the border with Russia.

Follow Ventura and the team’s progress as they use photography to reveal how shifts in the earth’s glaciers relate to climate change.

You’re cordially invited to join us for a webinar with acclaimed photographer and digital instructor Seth Resnick. The topic: How to Organize Your Travel Images using Lowepro and Lightroom®. If you find yourself daunted by hundreds or thousands of images–with none of them catalogued–this session is perfect for you.

Our webinar takes place Wednesday, September 21 from 10am to 11am Pacific Daylight Time. For more information and to sign up, please visit our registration page. It’s time to get digitally organized!

Editor’s note: We’re pleased to share great news for the Lowepro team and our colleagues at Acme Made. Joby has joined the DayMen Group family of companies. Here’s the press release:

August 26, 2011

Petaluma, CA – DayMen Group, manufacturer and leading distributor of high-quality imaging, laptop and other electronic protective accessory brands, is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement to acquire Joby.

Joby is the San Francisco-based manufacturer of iconic photo, mobile and lighting products that inspire the creative and active lifestyle, including the award-winning GorillaPod line of flexible tripods.

“DayMen will bring its extensive distribution network and our history of building great brands to the Joby line of products,” said Gil Roberts, DayMen CEO. “DayMen and Joby are built on a shared passion for creativity, superior functionality and constant innovation. Together, we can accelerate the growth of our business and build the global presence of our Lowepro, Acme Made and Joby brands, as well as the many outstanding third-party brands we distribute around the world.”

DayMen has been distributing Joby in Canada since 2007 and Australia since 2008. Since it was founded over six years ago, Joby has grown from a start-up to a company with distribution in over 65 countries.

Forrest Baringer-Jones, Joby CEO said, “When we introduced our best-selling GorillaPod for sale in 2006 we were able to redefine the way photographers capture images. Since then, we’ve developed a number of great products to thrill our customers including new lines related to lighting and mobile accessories. The acquisition by DayMen gives Joby a great opportunity to expand both our distribution network and our product line.”

“I am incredibly proud of the team we have built, the products we have developed, and the customer and distributor relationships we have forged,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s founder. “I am excited for the tremendous opportunity DayMen has provided for Joby to continue to grow.”

Read more at the Joby blog.

One of my favorite moments during the recent LOOK3 Festival was when Martin Bell and Mary Ellen Mark took the stage at the Paramount Theater to show Prom, a movie created by the tandem. Over the course of 4 years, they went to twelve high schools in ten cities, covering a wide range of ethnic and economic groups, and interviewed the teens about life as they perceived it. Martin oversaw the filmmaking while Mary Ellen Mark captured the stills for the book. But when you watch these engaging interviews, it was clear to me that this was a marriage of art.

Mary Ellen Mark talking about “Prom” with Martin Bell standing beside her. Nick Nichols also on stage.

I don’t know how many hours they spent discussing the project at its beginning stages, or how they blended their visions once filming began, but the movie is passionate, funny, touching, unique, and superbly crafted. In a way, it was an icon for LOOK3 itself — talented people working as collaborators to create something bigger than each could do individually.

Participating and helping to sponsor events like LOOK3 is important to Lowepro. Watching the next generation of photographers learn for those who have achieved success is exciting.

Then, bringing it home, if you’re feeling stuck in your creative work, consider partnering with another artist. Who knows… you may find yourself on a stage showing something as wonderful as Prom.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro and covered the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph as part of the Lowepro sponsorship.

There’s aerial photography, then there are the images by George Steinmetz. He navigates the lightest powered aircraft in the world, a motorized paraglider, to capture pictures for National Geographic and for his personal projects. George describes how he launches the paraglider.

George Steinmetz speaking at the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville, Virginia.

“The aircraft consists of three components: the “wing” of a paraglider (similar to an aerobatic parachute), a back-pack mounted motor, and a single-seat harness that ties the three pieces together. It is launched by laying the paraglider out on the ground behind me like a kite, and with the motor idling I run forward, inflating the cells of the glider as it rises overhead. When I give it full throttle, my Fresh Breeze motor has about 175 lbs of forward thrust, which lifts me off the ground after some twenty to 100 steps, depending on altitude and wind conditions.”

On the eve of the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph, George thrilled a packed theater at the Paramount in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia with his stunning aerial pictures that he’s captured from all over the world. If you’ve never seen his work before, I urge you to visit his web site.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro and is covering the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph.

In just three short weeks, the 2011 LOOK|3 Festival of the Photograph will take place in Charlottesville, Virginia. This amazing event was founded byLoweprofessional Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, Jessica Nagle, Will Kerner and Jon Golden. A celebration created by photographers, for photographers and everyone who shares a passion for the art; it is truly a world-class experience. June 9-11 will be three days packed with excitement and activities intended to make you fall in love with photography all over again.

The Festival includes exhibits and on-stage appearances by 3 ‘legacy’ photographers: Nan Goldin, Massimo Vitale and Antonin Kratochvil. In addition, there will be outdoor screenings of work submitted by 25 artists, workshops and Masters Talks from legendary photographers like Mary Ellen Mark and Steve McCurry.

Throughout the festival, historic downtown Charlottesville will be transformed into a living gallery with images hanging from the trees and projected in storefront windows and on the sides of buildings. In an atmosphere described by Andy Grundberg of the New York Times as being ‘like Arles in the late 1970′s…’, photographers from all over the world will gather to share images, ideas and inspiration.

If this sounds like your cup of tea — you’re in luck. We have 2 tickets to give away!

What you have to do:
Just post a comment and tell us why you’d like to go and you’ll be entered in a random drawing.

What you can win:
2 Festival Passes — all-inclusive 3-day tickets that allow admittance into all featured events: INsight Conversations with Nan Goldin, Massimo Vitali, and Antonin Kratochvil; Masters Talks; reserved seating at SHOTS and WORKS in the Charlottesville Pavilion; and the Closing Party on Saturday night.

When you’ll know who won:
Winners will be announced Monday, May 23rd on our Facebook page.

Our own Derrick Story and staff videographer Josh Semolik will be on hand. Watch for them as they film the event and tape interviews. Bring along your Lowepro bag and you might get the chance to be featured on our web site!

And, of course, the fine print:
This prize does not include transportation or accommodations or anything other than the 2 Festival Passes (valued at $125 each).

Stay tuned for the announcement of our winner!

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.