The whole City is your studio 7,000 photographers take to the streets at Canon PhotoMarathon 2017

October 29, 2017
vi-lang Xem Tiếng Việt

Canon this weekend will make Saigon its Studio as 7,000 residents of the nation’s largest city descend up district 1, cameras in hand, for the 12th annual Canon PhotoMarathon.  Kicking off at District 1’s Hoa Lu Stadium on Sunday October 29, this is the second of 2017’s PhotoMarathons, following a Danang event three weeks ago, before Hanoi completes the year next weekend.

With a Canon-army of bright red-shirts a metaphor for Ho Chi Minh City’s morning heat, a 6 am start will propel the 7,000 contestants on to their city-wide photographic landscape as they race against the clock to collect creative images from their town.

This year’s PhotoMarathon is also the finale to the imaging leader’s inaugural Canon Expo, a four day celebration of the company’s 15th anniversary in Vietnam, 20th anniversary with local distributor Le Bao Minh, and 80th birthday worldwide.

“This year, the number of participants in HCMC has reached 7,000 and that nearly doubles the number in 2016. This figure is not only the most impressive in 12 year history of Canon PhotoMarathon but also the result from unstoppable effort of Canon Marketing Vietnam”. Mr. Hiroshi Yokota – General Director of Canon Marketing Vietnam stated that “HCMC is the most vibrant city in Vietnam and everything is moving constantly so young people have numerous chances to approach and select a variety of trends. Despite of 12-year of history, Canon PhotoMarathon is still ‘hot’, remains its attraction and creates an await ‘playground’ for young photography fans. We are very proud because the contest is not only about exploring, introducing new talents but also a lever to lift their career into new stage.”

“Following a successful staging in Danang, the PhotoMarathon ‘comes home’ to Ho Chi Minh City this weekend, the site where we held Vietnam’s first PhotoMarathon back in 2005,” said Mr. Hiroshi Yokota – Chief Executive Officer of Canon Marketing Vietnam.  “We have just under 7,000 registrants so far for this weekend’s event – nearly double that of last year, and a record for the event.  It really highlights how much Ho Chi Minh City has embraced our event as part of its annual calendar.  The dynamic southern city provides the perfect photographers’ playground for young camera enthusiasts, and can provide a tremendous springboard toward their photographic dreams.”

The contest retains the day-long format that has made it so popular in years past, keeping the topics of the assignments a closely guarded secret until the last minute, presenting a time-sensitive challenge that tests contestants creativity as they vie to submit attractive images ahead of tight deadlines.

Judges for 2017 are famed photographers Hai Thanh and Hai Dong, who will also make themselves available for tips in street and portrait photography. Their practical guidance can be put into use just moments later as contestants take to the streets to see what they can capture.  The day is capped off by an array of music stars, dancers and performers, bringing a festival feel to the event.

The 2017 PhotoMarathon features two new categories for participants as Canon allows drones or flycams for the first time, and opens its contest up to online contestants for the first time.

Allowing drones to enter means that contestants are able to use digital cameras of any brand or style other than mobile phones, while online entrants are kept up to date with the day’s themes via the Canon Vietnam fanpage before submitting their entries along with their names and contact details (phone/email) to canonvietnamtv@gmail.com within the allowed time and with “Canon PhotoMarathon online_Name of the assignment” in the subject line. Winners will be chosen by Canon and announced on the company’s Fanpage on 15 November 2017.  Terms and conditions for the online contest can be viewed at www.canon.com.vn/PhotoMarathon.

The contest is open to Vietnamese nationals and foreigners with valid legal residence in Vietnam.  Winners will be determined by Canon and its panel of judges.

All fees contributed to the competition will be transferred to “Vì thế hệ tương lai” (For future generations) fund to build schools for underprivileged students, ensuring photographers become a meaningful bridge to build a better life for communities here.

With the total prize value up to 1.4 billion VND. Canon PhotoMarathon 2017 will be the largest photo competition ever to be held in Vietnam, including:

Prizes for Canon PhotoMarathon 2017 (Applied for each city)

  • Special prize (for each city): 1 Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera (body), 1 Canon PIXMA Pro 100 printer
  • First prize (for each topic): 1 Canon EOS 77D camera + EF-S18-55mm IS STM lens, 1 PIXMA TS8070 printer
  • Second prize (for each topic): 1 Canon EOS 800D camera + EF-S18-55mm IS STM lens, 1 PIXMA G2000 printer
  • Third prize (for each topic): 1 Canon EOS M6 camera + EF-15-45mm IS STM lens, 1 PIXMA MG3670 photo printer

Prizes for Canon PhotoMarathon 2017 Online Contest (apply to each city)

  • 1 Grand Prize: 01 Canon EOS M10 kit 15-45mm
  • 3 Consolation prizes: 1 kit of camera bag, photographer jacket, photography guidelines and Mobifone card worth 500.000 VND.

In addition, the winner of the official contest in each city will represent Vietnam in the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship in Japan to compete with 16 regional champions with the opportunity to win the awards of up to $5,000.

The results of the Canon PhotoMarathon contest in Ho Chi Minh City will be updated in a press release later within the day of the event.

Following Ho Chi Minh City, the Canon PhotoMarathon will have its final contest in Hanoi on November 5, 2017. Candidates who have not joined Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City can still register for Canon PhotoMarathon Hanoi at: www.canon.com.vn/PhotoMarathon.