Photography communities across Asia gear up for best form at Canon PhotoMarathon 2017

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 5 September 2017 - Canon today announces the lineup of Canon PhotoMarathon 2017 competition dates across Asia before the first competition commences on 9 September 2017, 0700 hour at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year, Canon celebrates 80 years of dedication to imaging solutions and competition intensity is simultaneously building up across the 16 Asian cities.

The best among photo enthusiasts in Asia will win a coveted place to the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship

The region's largest, annual photo competition brings the community of photography enthusiasts closer together while challenging them to push their boundaries and showcase their city through their own perspectives, all under time pressure. This year, the event expands to China mainland. In total, more than 22,000 photo enthusiasts from different communities are expected to showcase their photo masterpieces.

"Canon has been championing "overall wellness" for many years, advocating a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude towards life, and this project is a perfect interpretation of this philosophy. The Canon PhotoMarathon is a perfect combination of photography and sports. Participants will not only enjoy shooting, but also improve their health and help people to communicate more smoothly. For more than a decade, Canon PhotoMarathon has been gaining popularity in Asia, and it continues to attract more and more participants. This year also marks the Canon Group's 80^th anniversary. As we launch this activity in 16 Asian cities, we hope to create happiness and delight to everyone," said Howard Ozawa, President of Canon Asia Marketing Group.

Apart from attractive category prizes, all the Best of Show winners from each competition will win an exclusive spot in the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship held in 2018, which is valued at more than US$5,000. The Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship will see these winners from across Asia converge on an all-expenses paid trip (destination to be advised next year) that promises awe-inspiring scenery for any photography buff. Apart from the chance to explore various facets of photography under the tutelage of a professional photographer, the event will also involve further theme challenges which be a test of mettle to select the champion among winners.

The Endurance Race requiring more than Shutter Speed

Beyond a showcase of creativity, Canon PhotoMarathon heightens the excitement element through time pressure and endurance. Participants have to demonstrate a unique perspective in picture composition according to assigned themes within a short span of time. In true competition style, crossing the finishing line entails composure to perform under time pressure and the tenacity to last a grueling full-day marathon.

15 years of Cultivating Photography Culture

Canon believes that photography has the powerful ability to transcend differences to convey touching everyday narratives. Inspired to bring communities even closer together through the cultivation of photography culture, the very first Canon PhotoMarathon was conceptualised in 2003, and the inaugural competition was held in Singapore.

Since then, photography culture has proliferated. In 15 years, the event has grown in geographic reach to become ever more inclusive, bringing together varied photography communities all under one roof.

The annual event now includes parallel competitions around the region including Brunei, Cambodia, China Mainland, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Get set to go

After the first competition of 2017 kicks off in Kuala Lumpur, Canon PhotoMarathon will also take place in the following locations:

To view the gallery of past winning images and for more information on Canon PhotoMarathon and the PhotoMarathon Asia Championship, please visit https://photomarathon.canon-asia.com/2017/regional/en

About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other regions including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of close to 300 companies and employs close to 200,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits more than 8% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is consistently one of the top few companies to earn the most number of patents over the last 20 years. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

More information is available at www.canon.com.sg. 

Fact Sheet

Canon PhotoMarathon

Fun facts about participants (data applicable up to 2016)

Canon PhotoMarathon attracts a wide audience from young students to the silver generation.

Most senior to date:                               78 years old (from India)

Most junior to date:                                4 years old (from Vietnam)

Average age of participants:                   30 years old

Total number of competitions to date:     141 competitions all over Asia

Total number of participants to date:       More than 155,000

Snapshot of Timeline across Asia

How the contest works

The Canon PhotoMarathon is the largest photography event in the Asia region. A one-day photography competition that runs from 6 to 9 hours (duration varies by each local competition), perseverance and the ability to work under time pressure are essential requisites for completion of the Canon PhotoMarathon. 

Participants are require to capture images according to various Competition Themes unveiled on competition day at specific times. Participants will have a few hours to submit their best interpretation of the assigned theme before the next theme is unveiled.

Canon applies a no-editing policy, which means that only in-camera processing is allowed for submitted entries to qualify for consideration.

How are photos judged?

For each theme, photos are judged by a panel of judges according to the relevance to theme and the creative interpretation to the theme.

The Best of Show (BOS) prize is awarded to the participant deemed by the judges to have performed the best across all Competition Themes. The Best of Show winner will also win a coveted spot and all-expenses paid trip to the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship.

The Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship will take place in 2018. The destination will be advised at a later time.