Canon PhotoMarathon 2025 showcases visual stories for SG60

The 19th edition of Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, one of Singapore’s highly anticipated photography events, welcomed over 600 photography enthusiasts. Organised by Canon Singapore, it was themed One Click, One Vibe and aims to promote photography as a vital visual arts form by celebrating innovation, storytelling and artistic expression through the lens. 

This year’s competition saw submissions across three mystery themes – Home, Vintage and Vibe(s) – unveiled at intervals during the day. Participants raced across the island, conceptualising, shooting and submitting each photo within a two-hour window per theme for a chance to win Canon products worth around S$50,000 in total. 

“As Singapore’s photography scene continues to evolve, we understand what photography enthusiasts need and endeavour to continue supporting them in telling their creative stories. Canon PhotoMarathon has grown from a competition into a vibrant showcase of creativity, diversity and technical excellence that fuels the photography community in Singapore. 

"One of the themes this year reflects the values of SG60 and serves as a reminder of the everyday lives and spirit of the people in Singapore,” said Andrew Koh, Senior VP and Head of Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.

Mark Teo, a Commercial and Action Sports Photographer and a third-time judge of the Canon PhotoMarathon shared: “It is always inspiring to see how different people interpret the same theme. Each year, the standard just keeps rising. This year’s themes were trickier, prompting participants to think outside the box in order to differentiate themselves from the crowd. Clean composition, good lighting and clear relevance to the theme really made the winning entries stand out.” 

Canon Singapore has also continued its partnership with APSN, a social service agency that provides special education, vocational training and employment support services for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. Through this collaboration, Canon seeks to unite individuals through photography — a universal art form that knows no boundaries. 

This year was no different as students from APSN were invited to participate in the student categories. This is reflective of Canon’s philosophy of kyosei (共生) – living and working together for the common good, and empowering individuals of all abilities to excel in harmony.

“Beyond encouraging students to express their creativity and build confidence, the Canon PhotoMarathon reflects our school’s values – I Can, I Want, I Will – and motivates them to believe in themselves. Most importantly, the event fosters inclusivity by empowering individuals with special needs to become active contributors of society. Through platforms like this, we not only showcase their talents but also inspire the broader community to celebrate their achievements,” said Muhammad Faris, CCA Arts Coordinator, APSN Delta Senior School. 

The Canon PhotoMarathon 2025 winners: 

	Open categories	Student categories
Theme 1: Home	1st prize: Kenneth Chia 2nd prize: Dongli Zhang 3rd prize: Samuel Sze	1st prize: Ryan Yeo 2nd prize: Chen Xi Teo 3rd prize: Isaac Sin
Theme 2: Vintage	1st prize: Ahmad Iskandar Abdullah 2nd prize: Irfan Djorhanaen 3rd prize: Mohd Safuan Salahudin	1st prize: Keller Seah 2nd prize: Dionne Pang 3rd prize: Alvaro Vincent Wijaya
Theme 3: Vibe(s)	1st prize: Hui Min Lee 2nd prize: Rita Chang 3rd prize: Farha Patel	1st prize: Rewan Teh 2nd prize: Bryant Bong 3rd prize: Keller Seah

Wayne Kwan, an educator who has joined over 11 editions said: “I first participated in the Canon PhotoMarathon in 2012. Photography is my way of capturing memories, and I enjoy the thrill of the hunt for unique angles. This year is extra special as my wife and son have joined me in this year’s PhotoMarathon, turning this event into a meaningful family experience built upon our shared love for the hobby.”

De Long Goh, 58 years old, engineer and long-time participant of 10 years, shared, “Every year brings something new, reconnecting with friends, exploring different subjects and challenging myself to think creatively about what to shoot. Some themes can be difficult to interpret, but that is exactly what makes the event so rewarding – it pushes me to improve my photography skills every year.”  

Home Open category first prize winner:

Source: Canon. The winning picture in the Open category for the theme Home.

Kenneth Chia, 39 years old, engineer and first prize winner of the Open category for the Home theme said: “I was very surprised to win the first prize, and my hands are still shaking. When I think of home, I think of my 17-month son and all the things that I treasure the most. 

Once the theme was announced, I went back to my HDB flat to capture what was most important to me. My kid is home. This image of my child was taken against the flag which embodies Home, a symbol of our shared identity.”

Aaron Low, Photo Director and one of the judges said: “The Canon PhotoMarathon really brings the community together by forming lasting bonds through a shared passion for photography. To me, the most important part of photography is storytelling, and a strong photo should convey a clear message that resonates with many. Composition and the overall impact of the image, beyond technical details, are crucial. The winning photos comprised these elements and turned out outstanding.” 

Celestia Tan, Fashion Photographer and also a judge said: “Canon PhotoMarathon offers a unique platform for photography enthusiasts to explore, experiment and have fun. For me, the true magic of photography lies in capturing a moment and bringing a vision to life. The second theme, Vintage, was probably the most challenging for participants, where many adopted a literal interpretation due to the time constraints. The most exciting part of this competition is seeing how participants interpreted these themes, capturing diverse stories and unique perspectives through the lens.”

Launched in 2003, the Canon PhotoMarathon is designed to inspire and provoke creative expression by pushing participants to think beyond conventional boundaries. With mystery themes, tight timelines and an open invitation to all levels of photographers, participants race against the clock in a test of creativity and quick thinking to capture fresh, unique perspectives that bring each theme to life.  

The themes encourage photographers to explore new ideas, experiment with different techniques to tell stories. This fosters a vibrant community where creativity flourishes, and diverse voices come together to redefine the art of photography.

Beyond Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, photographers can engage in a range of Canon-led activities aimed at nurturing Singapore’s photography scene. Activities include immersive workshops and guided shoots that offer valuable opportunities for both emerging and experienced photographers to sharpen their skills, expand their creative horizons and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals to elevate standards of photographic excellence in Singapore. 

Canon PhotoMarathon in-person, in Singapore

Canon Singapore has announced the return of the Canon PhotoMarathon five years on from the last in-person occasion. The event returns on 28 September 2024 with the theme Every Lens, Every Age.

Canon explained that this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon is all about celebrating diversity and creativity in every shot.

With two-hour submission windows for each theme, the competition promises to challenge participants to think on their feet and push their creative boundaries.

“We’re thrilled to see the Canon PhotoMarathon return, and we can’t wait to witness the creativity that emerges from this event. It’s not just about taking photos; it’s about preserving moments, telling stories, and connecting with a community that shares a love for capturing the world through a lens. If you have a love for photography, make this #yourCanonEventSG,” said Andrew Koh, VP and Head of Singapore Operations Group, Canon Singapore. 

Source: Canon. Canon PhotoMarathon poster.

Participants have the chance to win prizes worth a total of S$47,000, with the top three prizes in both the Open and Student categories featuring Canon’s latest photography gear. In the Open category, the grand prize is the EOS R6 Mark II Kit paired with a PIXMA TS8370a printer—with a combined value of over S$4,000. In the Student category, young photographers will stand a chance to win an EOS R8 Kit with a PIXMA E4570 printer, valued at more than S$2,500, as the first prize. 

Details

Registration is open at https://www.yourcanonevent.sg/

Sony World Photography Awards 2022 opens for submissions

Submissions for the 15th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards are now open. Entry is free.

Source: Sony World Photography Awards. Copyright: © Majid Hojjati, Iran, Winner, Professional, Landscape, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards. Series name: Silent Neighborhoods.

Series description: Everything in life is made up of impressions from the past and whatever befalls us today. The fabric which took one form yesterday takes on a new form now. All creatures still fight for their survival. Nature is the battlefield. The forces of the world are as they have ever been; the waves of the sea, storms, the earth itself. But ultimately it is humanity, marching everywhere, claiming everything, proving to the world that it will endure. We strove to live, to take and to control, before even knowing what to call ourselves. We think we will last forever so we hunt, build, wear clothes and consume, changing our ideas and our tools over the years but never changing our ways. We chased after more and more and something was always left behind. Homes were abandoned, chairs left empty and clothes unworn, even the buttons of a shirt were lost. We have raced to eternity, knowing life is fleeting, leaving the lights on behind us as if to say that once upon a time we were alive. Here are the silent neighbourhoods: those places free of the presence of humanity. The noise of their silence can be heard everywhere – but here in these places we are condemned to hear nothing.

Created by the World Photography Organisation, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the best contemporary photography from the past year, and provide exposure as well as opportunity to photographers worldwide.

There are four categories:

- Professional, outstanding bodies of work between five to 10 images across 10 categories;

- Open, rewarding the world’s best single images across 10 categories,

- Youth, a monthly brief for those aged 12-19, and

- Student, for photography students.

A National Awards programme will also reward local photographic talent.

All category winners of the Professional, Open, Youth and Student competitions will receive digital imaging equipment from Sony. In addition, cash prizes of US$25,000 will be presented to the Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 to the Open Photographer of the Year. All winning and shortlisted photographers’ works will be exhibited at the annual Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London and will then be toured internationally. Winning images will also be published in the annual Awards’ book.

Details:

Deadlines for submission are:

Professional: 13 January 2022, 13:00 GMT

Open: 6 January 2022, 13:00 GMT

Student: 30 November 2021, 13:00 GMT

Youth: Monthly competitions with a changing theme running to 31 December, 2021

Get full competition and categories descriptions.

View 2021 finalists.

The Avani world's most Instagrammable hotels in APME

Avani Hotels & Resorts has curated a list of its most Instagrammable hotels, many of which are in the APME region:

Avani+ Samui Resort in Thailand

A marble white infinity pool and private villa pools are positioned to best capture the setting sun. Phang Ka Bay, provides an alternative backdrop.

Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel

Look for the rooftop infinity pool that sits above Bangkok’s skyline.

Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort

Target giant limestone features, or its rooftop infinity pool.

Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel in Laos

Heritage architecture in the background and centuries-old banyan trees surround this hotel's pool.

Avani Quy Nhon Resort on Vietnam’s south-central coast

An arcade of wooden arcs in the lobby frame a central water feature, swimming pool, bay, sky and mountains.

FCC Angkor by Avani in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Go for a poolside photoshoot early in the morning, when the sky and the water are bathed in delicate colours. 

 

Source: Avani Hotels & Resorts. From @wonguy974 - the FCC Angkor by Avani.

Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites

Explore the minimalist pool deck with the the city’s futuristic skyline in the background - including the iconic Burj Al Arab.

Explore:

View more pictures of the hotels.

OPPO announces photography exhibition in Singapore

Smart device provider OPPO has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X3 Pro, championing colour and rich, visual experiences as their takeaways from the new family.

OPPO’s 10-bit Full-path Colour Management System offers a billion-colour point of view, so photos and videos are more vibrant and true-to-life.

OPPO has also announced its first-ever photography exhibition, Painting With Light, in conjunction with the smartphone launch. 

Held at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore from 10 April to 16 May 2021, the exhibition will showcase works captured using the 10-bit colour depth of the Find X3 Pro by local photographers Wilfred Lim, Venus Oh, Kimberly Kiong and Adele Chan.

Working with these photographers takes OPPO’s long-term commitment of supporting creatives through the brand’s OPPO Maker initiative a step further. OPPO previously collaborated with film-makers and musiciansfor its Reno series. This is the first time the company has extended to the Find series.

Painting With Light explores the use of angles in photography, at an aerial, macro and eye-level. Lim shared, “As a photographer, working with colours has always been important to me and I’m always looking for ways to bring out colours in the best way possible in my photographs.

"It is an honour to have been selected as one of the photographers working with OPPO Singapore on this #AwakenColour campaign and to showcase the different colours of Singapore at the ‘Painting With Light’ exhibition. 

Source: OPPO. A work by Lim.

“Using the new OPPO Find X3 Pro has been revolutionary for my works. The colours of the photos that I have captured using the phone are not only vibrant and crisp, but true to what we see in real life – definitely awakening our senses to a wider range of colours.”

Painting with Light also features works from the community. In early March, OPPO allowed the public to sign up for an opportunity to trial the OPPO Find X3 Pro and discover the colour palettes of Singapore. Pictures from selected participants will be part of the exhibition as well.

Dylan Yu, Marketing Director, OPPO Singapore said, “At OPPO, we’re always looking into ways we can provide users with state-of-the-art experiences and with the Find X3 Pro, we’re excited to bring users on a billion colour journey. Through the consumer trial, we hope to empower our users to #AwakenColour and create moments of beauty that can be shared with the wider community."

OPPO separately announced the 2121 Future Photography Project, a photography campaign that invites OPPO users from around the world to send a message to the future, with image-led stories that they believe will resonate 100 years from now.

Derek Sun, Global Senior Director, Brand and PR, OPPO called the project "a time capsule of memories, moments and emotions frozen in time from 2021" during the global virtual launch of the Find X3 Pro.

"We want people to experience their history - our present - in vibrant, intense, detail," he explained.

The 2121 Future Photography Project encourages people to share their everyday moments, the people around them, their space, places or natural environment, or plants and animals that mean a lot to them. It is a callout to capture the good things and special moments in life, and to always hope for a better future, OPPO said.

The campaign will take place on Instagram from April. People are encouraged to share a single or multiple photos about nature and humanity tagged with #dearfuture2121, and stand to win prizes.

OPPO will select 200 photos and stories to feature on its global website. A team of professional photographers will choose 50 winning sets of images at the end of June.

Hashtags: #AwakenColour, #dearfuture2121, #shotonOPPO

OPPO lists nine tips for taking better photos

Source: OPPO. Manage shutter speed,
a night view of the Dubai skyline.
Shot by Jolie on the OPPO
Reno4 Pro 5G.

OPPO has come up with photography tips in conjunction with the launch of its new Reno4 Pro 5G smartphone. Boasting a quad rear camera including a Sony 12 MP Ultra Night wide-angle video lens and beautification capabilities the flagship variant of the Reno4 Series is designed to enable amazing captures in challenging low-light, backlight or bright light conditions.

UAE-based Pixelville Photographer Jumana Jolie collaborated with OPPO to share her top nine tricks for capturing memories using a good camera smartphone:

1.  Frame the shot

Use the rule of thirds to frame the elements in a shot for more visually captivating photographs. Using the Reno4 Pro 5G's camera, imagine your image is divided into a nine-square grid with horizontal and vertical lines. Position the subject along any of the lines or an intersection of the lines and leave the other two-thirds of the frame relatively open. This off-centre positioning prompts the viewer's eye to sweep the entire photograph.

2.  Create a sense of depth

Capturing a panoramic view in a room is easy with the OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G's Sony IMX708 wide-angle lenses. Always consider placing a person or object in the foreground to give a sense of scale and highlight the depth of the room.

3.  Don't use flash

Forget about flash if you are indoors in cosy lighting. For night or low-light shots, work in your smartphone's pro mode and increase the ISO of the camera. The higher the ISO, the faster the camera sees the scene with the available light. Ultra Dark Mode on OPPO's Reno4 Pro 5G is triggered automatically when taking a photo in a dimly-lit environment thanks to the smartphone's triple laser detection auto-focus (LDAF) rear camera. OPPO's Reno4 Pro 5G auto focuses in low light conditions faster, by 142%.

4.  Let there be light

Allow more light into your shot by increasing the aperture and capture the natural beauty of the colours and décor of the season. With a steady focus, your subjects and the lights will pop, while leaving the background in shadow, resulting a beautifully balanced photo. The OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G can do this and more, due to its triple rear camera including a 48 MP main camera, 12 MP Ultra Night wide-angle video lens and a 13 MP telephoto lens that supports 5x hybrid optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom. In addition, the 32 MP selfie beauty camera, powered by AI Portrait and Ultra Steady Video algorithms, enables outstanding selfies.

5.  Try HDR mode

For group shots and landscapes, turn on the phone's High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode. This allows the camera to take multiple shots at different exposures and merge them together to get the best detail in both the brightest as well as darkest areas of the shot. Using OPPO's latest HDR video algorithm, the Reno4 Pro 5G can adjust the exposure based on the lighting to achieve a wider dynamic range while taking a photo. OPPO's latest smartphone can also record every detail in a portrait even if the subject is backlit, or in high contrast scenes like sunrise and sunset while transitioning naturally between highlights and shadows.

6.  Manage Shutter Speed

When walking through a festive market with brightly lit displays of stationary reindeers, snowmen and Santa, slow your shutter speed and allow more exposure time, capturing the full beauty of the light display. The triple-camera setup in the Reno4 Pro 5G enables you to take high-quality photos and videos without concerning about motion blur, lighting, or distance.

7.  Close quarters

Keep your subject close to the camera. Staying close to the subject will increase the blur in parts of the image that are out of focus (bokeh), thus capturing your subject in full detail. Supported by Reno4 Pro 5G's rear triple camera, the Ultra Dark Mode is triggered automatically when taking a photo in a dimly-lit environment. The camera automatically brightens the dark environment, so photos are clearer, even when there is just 1 lux of light.

8.  A full frame

Fill your frame with everything that you are trying to capture, including some negative space or reflective surfaces. Shiny surfaces improve photos by softly reflecting the lights, so choose appropriate props. OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G's Sony ultra-wide angle makes sure everything fits within your frame.

9.  Stay steady

Use the support of the wall behind you or balance your phone hand with your other hand to make sure you stay still long enough take a blur-free shot. Alternatively, use the phone's timer and set it down on a table or a pile of books. OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G's Ultra Steady 3.0 brings superior electronic image stabilisation to your shots; and the camera will automatically choose the proper exposure.

Other OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G feature highlights include Ultra-Steady Mode, Smart Slow Motion and Cinematic Mode.

The Reno4 series is design-led. There are three variants headlined by the Reno4 Pro 5G, followed by the Reno4 Pro and Reno4. All three phones boast the Reno series' aesthetic of a slim and light build, AMOLED screens, fast charging, and the latest and best in camera technology. The series also boasts unique night portrait and night wide-angle video features that encourage users to explore their creativity.

- The starter Reno4 model has exclusive artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features and comes in three colours including the exclusive Nebula Purple. It has a price tag of AED1,499.

- The Reno4 Pro adds extended functionality with 256 GB storage and super-fast charging in 36 minutes. It also has a 3D curved Borderless Sense display for a more elegant feel and is available for AED1,999.

- The Reno4 Pro 5G brings next-gen connectivity at 5G speeds. Thin and light, the premium model has a curved 3D screen and a patented diamond-cutting Reno Glow technique applied to its Galactic Blue chassis. The OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G is available at key retailers and e-commerce platforms across the UAE, priced at AED 2,499.

Sony Singapore names Grand Prize winner for Alpha Creators Contest 3.0

Source: Sony. Sim Zhe Yong won the third Alpha Creators Contest in Singapore.

Sony Electronics has concluded the third Alpha Creators Contest in Singapore, awarding its Grand Prize to Sim ZheYong, an Assistant Architect, for his #SonyBeTheChange photo-series, titled A Second Look.

The photography competition, which saw more than 1,252 entries cumulates in an in-store photography exhibition at the Sony Store at 313@Somerset, running till 3 January 2021. More than 100 shortlisted photographs and stories will also feature in a virtual gallery exhibition.

“The Sony Alpha Creators contest was introduced as a platform for both aspiring and professional photographers to advance photographic culture and develop their passions. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for everyone, and we wanted to empower Singaporeans with the opportunity to express their creativity and share their stories of change during this time,” said Nathaniel Neo, Head, Digital Imaging Marketing, Sony Electronics Singapore.

"I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to be a part of the Sony Alpha Creators contest. It would be great if there were more opportunities like this for aspiring Singaporean storytellers to push the boundaries of photography and challenge the perceptions and expectations of the audience,” said Sim Zhe Yong, Winner, Sony Alpha Creators 3.0.

Sim's images, shot on the Sony Alpha 7C, Sony’s latest compact full-frame camera, showcases a side of Singapore that that often goes unnoticed. A Second Look showcases the struggles of people who are 'fighting' for different things in life. For his photo series, Sim took a step back to better understand who he was shooting and what was happening around him. Each interaction gave him a snippet of life from the subjects' perspective. This enlightening experience redefined his photography journey as he was able to approach and see things differently, instead of taking everything at face value.

Semi-finalists (Yean Chin, Lawrence Tam, Izhar Razali) took home S$1,000 in cash while the Grand Winner also received a Sony Alpha 7 III or choice of Sony product worth S$2,500.

The Sony Alpha 7C is the world’s smallest and lightest* full-frame body. It combines Sony’s full-frame image quality, advanced autofocus (AF) capabilities and versatile video shooting functions in a compact design. The new camera features a 24.2 MP (approximately effective) 35 mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine, offering high sensitivity, outstanding resolution, a 15-stop wide dynamic range and high-speed image data processing.

*Among full-frame interchangeable-lens digital cameras with an optical in-body image stabilisation mechanisms, as of September 2020. Sony survey.

OPPO enables Singaporeans to #UncoverTheUltimate experience

Global smart device provider OPPO last week unveiled its latest suite of smartphones which see the brand’s first 5G offering, the Find X2 Pro 5G, and an addition to its creative Reno series, the Reno3.

The unveiling comes off the back of the brand’s global online launch of the Find X2 series on March 6. Boasting a 120 Hz QHD AMOLED screen, the fastest 65 W SuperVOOC Flash Charge 2.0 technology, and powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, the Find X2 Pro delivers an upgraded wholistic photography and video experience.

In addition, OPPO Singapore’s 1st 5G offering is equipped with the Ultra Vision Camera System, featuring a combination of a 48 MP wide-angle lens, 48 MP ultrawide-angle lens and a 13 MP periscope telephoto camera that allows for the phone’s 10x hybrid zoom and 60x digital zoom capabilities.

Combined with the customised IMX689 sensor exclusively created by Sony, the phone’s All Pixel Omni-directional phase detection autofocus (PDAF) technology achieves 100% pixel focusing and makes it the first smartphone to support 12-bit photo capture.

“OPPO is dedicated to delivering the best products to enhance the lives of our users,” shared Moon Yue, CEO, OPPO Singapore. “With the Find X2 Pro we are looking to provide users with a wholistic 5G experience that we believe will set a new standard for flagship smartphones.”

Source: OPPO. The Reno3 Series has two models.

The Reno3 Series comprises the Reno3 and the Reno3 Pro. Powered by the all new ColorOS 7, the Reno3 features a 44 MP front camera while the Reno3 Pro packs OPPO’s latest technology advances and outstanding photography into the world’s first 44 MP + 2 MP Dual Punch-hole Super AMOLED display. The sensors for a punch-hole camera resides in a hole that has been created in the display, which is considered less distracting for users than creating a notch that disrupts the rectangular outline of a display.

The Reno3 is ideal for anyone looking to capture great images under any lighting condition. It has a 48 MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera, 8 MP Ultra Wide-Angle lens that captures 109-degree images, 13 MP Telephoto lens, and 2 MP Mono lens.

The Reno3 Pro runs on MediaTek’s Helio P95, a chipset with an artificial intelligence (AI) processing engine for 4G smartphones. Premium photography experiences that can be enjoyed include enhanced portrait photography, fast secure facial recognition and full-body movement tracking.

The Reno3 Pro also comes with a 64 MP Zoom Quadcam which includes a 64 MP Ultra-clear Main Camera, 13 MP Telephoto Lens, 8 MP Ultra Wide-Angle lens and 2 MP Mono Lens. Both phones feature Optical-Flow Sub-Pixel Registration which matches and calibrates the sub-pixels on different frames to generate a lower-pixel original image with more information. With Subpixel Interpolation, the original image is then transformed into a high-resolution image of up to 108 MP.

In the front, the Reno 3’s 44 MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera and Reno3 Pro’s 44 MP+2 MP Dual Punch-hole technology deliver high-definition, natural selfies. OPPO has added Ultra Night Mode in the front cameras. Ultra Night Selfie Mode guarantees facial clarity and brightness in dim light. Reno3 Pro’s dual lens bokeh also enables better image matting and background gradients for selfies.

As with its predecessors, the Reno3 series also features Ultra Dark Mode, 5x Hybrid Zoom, 20x Digital Zoom as well as Ultra Steady Video 2.0.

Details:

• The Find X2 Pro 5G comes in Black (Ceramic) and Orange (Vegan Leather) with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB ROM. It costs S$1,699. The phone will be available for preorder  till 27 March on OPPO’s Shopee Flagship Store and at all OPPO Concept Stores.

• Customers who preorder the Find X2 will receive a NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Lumio Coffee Machine worth SS$219, a pair of OPPO Enco Free Headphones worth SS$189.

• The phone will be available islandwide from 28 March at Singtel, StarHub and M1 stores, OPPO Concept Stores, OPPO Shopee and Lazada Flagship Stores. It is covered by OPPO’s international warranty.

• The Reno3 will be available in Midnight Black and Sky White with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM. It costs S$499. The phone will be available islandwide from 28 March.

• The Reno3 Pro will come in Auroral Blue and Midnight Black with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB ROM and will be available from 10 April.

• OPPO will be conducting a trade-in programme for OPPO users as well as select phone brands that will see discounts of up to S$1,000 for selected models. More information can be found at OPPO’s Facebook Page (@oppo).

• As part of its efforts to enable Singaporeans to #UncoverTheUltimate Experience, OPPO will be conducting the #UncoverTheUltimate Consumer Trial that will see Singaporeans have the chance to try before they buy.

Hashtag: #UncoverTheUltimate

Shoot better pictures with Sony's GPVPT2BT wireless shooting grip

Sony has announced the new GPVPT2BT wireless shooting grip. The new grip offers optimum stability and comfort combined with cable-free connectivity and a reliable dust- and moisture-resistant design*.

Source: Sony. The GP-VPT2BT with Alpha 6600 (α6600) and SELP1650.

Compatible with a variety of Sony’s latest digital cameras**, the GP-VPT2BT connects via Bluetooth, allowing users to aim and shoot without interfering cables or exposed inputs. The new grip includes a tilt feature that allows for flexible vertical angle adjustment as well as the ability to switch from normal to self-shooting mode with ease.

Additionally, its adjustment wheel can be loosened or tightened to accommodate cameras of different sizes and weights. The grip also includes a flip button, indicator light and lock switch, and can be quickly changed into a tripod by simply expanding the bottom portion, enabling stable, handsfree shooting.


GP-VPT2BT with Alpha 7III and SEL35F18F

Details:

The GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip will be available at selected Sony Stores, Sony Centres and Sony authorised dealers from end-January 2020.

*Not guaranteed to be 100% dust- and moisture-proof. 

**Compatible with α9 II, α9, α7R IV, α7R III, α7 III, α6600, α6400, α6100, RX100 VII, and RX0 II. Firmware must be updated on cameras to ensure compatibility.

HUAWEI P30 sells out on first day in Singapore

The HUAWEI P30 Series made its debut at VivoCity in Singapore yesterday, where the phone was sold out by noon. Hundreds were in line to buy the the latest flagship in Huawei's photography-first smartphone family, with the first in line queuing as early as 9 pm the day before.

Since its global launch in France last week, the Huawei P30 Series had become known for its integrated Leica Quad Camera, a world’s first, with industry-leading zoom capabilities and low-light performance.

Yvelyn Tey was first in line with get fiance to buy the phone. She will be using a Huawei smartphone for the first time.

She said, “I started to know about Huawei since its launch of its previous Mate 20 Series and I have heard great reviews of the phone ever since. My fiancé has also been raving to me about the cameras on Huawei. I often use my phone to take photos so having a good camera is really key for me. When I heard about the night mode of the P30 Series, I was very impressed.”

Next in line was another couple, Valerie Kang and her boyfriend camped overnight for the Huawei P30 Series. “When we saw how the Mate 20 Series was sold out so quickly last year, we decided to arrive early last night to be safe so that we can get our P30 Pro together,” said Kang.

“We have never used a Huawei before and we are very excited to use the camera because of the good reviews that we have read online.”
Francis Toh, decided to switch to Huawei after being convinced by his wife, Mrs Amy Toh, who has used the Huawei Mate 10 and P20 Pro. He said, “When I compared the images taken from my phone and my wife’s, I was very amazed with the detail and the difference was very obvious. I decided to follow the updates for the latest Huawei products so that I can plan my purchase ahead. I think what really makes the P30 Pro stand out for me is the low-light photography and zoom capabilities that no other phone has ever introduced.”

The Huawei P30 Pro was also lauded among the crowd for its 50x digital zoom capabilities that can capture objects on camera as far as approximately 580 m away, a breakthrough for the smartphone industry.

“Innovative technologies have always been the hallmark of our brand. The new Huawei P30 Series features outstanding camera upgrades ahead of its time that will enable more freedom and room for creativity among users to capture the best moments in life,” said Xu Chengfei, MD of Huawei Consumer Business Group Singapore.

“The response at our public launch today has exceeded our expectations and is testament to consumers’ confidence in our line of smartphones. The Huawei P30 Series is our best-seller yet and we look forward to providing our customers with more quality and innovative products.”

The Huawei P30 Pro tops the charts in DxOMark’s Photo and Video categories with an all-time high score of 112 and 97 points respectively.

Further adding to Huawei’s smartphone photography credentials, the Huawei P30 Pro was recently recognised by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) as Best Photo Smartphone. The crowning jewel of the HUAWEI P30 Pro rests in its world’s first Leica Quad Camera that is equipped with a revolutionary RYYB colour filter array, empowering photography enthusiasts to capture stunning images even in the dark.

Source: Huawei. The queues to buy the HUAWEI P30 in Singapore.

In 2018, global sales revenue for Huawei's consumer business reached RMB348.9 billion, up 45.1% year-on-year. In Singapore, Huawei has doubled its sales from the previous year. Huawei also emerged in the list of top five brands in the YouGov Brand Index for most improved brand sentiment in 2018.

Details:

The HUAWEI P30 Series is available in Singapore at all Huawei Concept Stores, local telecommunication operators, authorised mobile retailers, selected consumer electronic stores and online marketplaces.

Those who purchase the HUAWEI P30 Series will be entitled to a two-year warranty and enjoy premium services under the HICARE PRESTIGE package which includes:

●       One year door-to-door repair pick-up and delivery service

●       Two years warranty

●       Three months screen insurance*

*Terms and conditions apply.

Entries for Sony World Photography Awards 2019 to close January 2019

Photographers worldwide have under a month left to enter the 12th annual Sony World Photography Awards’ Professional, Open and Youth competitions, which are one of the most important fixtures on the global photographic calendar. The awards recognise the best contemporary photography from the past year and celebrate a wide variety of photographic genres. 

Scott Gray, CEO and founder of the World Photography Organisation commented: “Each year, the Sony World Photography Awards uncovers emerging photographic talent and gives established artists a global audience for their work. I look forward to seeing the entries and our esteemed judges’ selection.”

Submitted by photographers from around the world, the images cover a wide variety of topics taken from the 10 categories of the Open Competition, which is judged on a single image. Prizes include US$25,000 for the Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 for the overall Open competition winner.

Portuguese photographer Edgar Martins, who won in both the 2009 and 2018 Sony World Photography Awards said: “The media response to the awards was overwhelming, with extensive press and TV coverage all over the world. Apart from providing my work a huge international platform it has also brought my images to the consciousness of collectors, curators, galleries and museums… As a direct result of being part of the Sony World Photography Awards, my work was acquired by several private and public collections.”

British photographer Amanda Harman won the Professional Competition’s Still Life category in 2014, and her series A Fluid Landscape was shortlisted in the Professional Landscape category in 2018. Harman said, “Taking part in the Sony World Photography Awards has led to great things for me. I feel that being shortlisted for the 2018 awards - and receiving a book deal - for a series that I took with the Sony camera that I won at the 2014 awards has nicely completed a circle.

"The awards have undoubtedly helped me in my career, and I am excited for the next steps.”

British artist Alys Tomlinson won Photographer of the Year, which has led to her being represented by HackelBury Fine Art. "It has been fantastic to gain representation by a prestigious contemporary photography gallery and to see my work exhibited with them at fairs across the world. Adding to this, since winning the award I've also found a publisher for the series, and my book is due to be published by GOST Books in spring 2019," she shared.

The World Photography Organisation is a global platform for photography initiatives. Working across up to 180 countries, its aim is to raise the level of conversation around photography by celebrating the best imagery and photographers on the planet. The organisation hosts a year-round portfolio of events including the Sony World Photography Awards, the world's largest photography competition, and PHOTOFAIRS, international art fairs dedicated to photography around the world.

Sony Imaging Products & Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation that is responsible for its imaging products and solutions businesses, from consumer camera, solutions with a focus on broadcast- and professional-use products, to the medical business.

Details:

Open to all, submissions to these global and prestigious awards are free to enter. There are four categories, of which only one may be chosen:

Professional - Recognising outstanding bodies of work (closes January 11, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Open - Rewarding the world’s best single images (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Youth - Best single images by photographers aged 12-19 (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Student - For photography students worldwide (submissions closed)
Key dates

• February 5, 2019 - Open and Youth shortlists

• February 26, 2019 - Open and National Awards winners

• March, 2019 - Outstanding Contribution to Photography revealed

• April 2, 2019 - Professional and Student shortlists

• April 17, 2019 - Photographer of the Year, Professional category winners and overall Open, Youth and Student winners

All category winners will receive the latest Sony digital imaging equipment and the overall competition plus Professional category winners will be flown to London, UK to attend the Sony World Photography Awards dinner on April 17, 2019. The awards’ winning and shortlisted images will be exhibited in London. Running April 18 – May 6 2019, the exhibition will also include exclusive new works by the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award, to be announced March 2019. 

Canon PhotoMarathon XVI 2018 winners announced

The winners for the 16^th  Canon PhotoMarathon XVI 2018 in Singapore have been announced.

The region’s largest annual photo competition challenges photography enthusiasts to push their boundaries in photography skills, all under time pressure. A new ‘dusk’ challenge has enabled participants to capture a mix of both day and night scenes as well.

The winners are:

Source: Canon. Winning entry for Best Of Show - Student for the Glow category.

Best Of Show - Student

Timothy John Low Wen, Nanyang Polytechnic

Source: Canon. Winning entry for Best Of Show - Open for the Solitude category.

Best Of Show - Open

Azril Azam Bin Abdul Rahim

Source: Canon. ORBIGUD was the Team Category Winner.

Team Category Winner

ORBIGUD

School Challenge Winner

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Theme 1: Solitude

Student Category

1st Myo Thi Ha Kyaw, Nanyang Technological University

2nd Evita Lee Ann Hwee, Christ Church Secondary School

3rd Ong Yi Feng Jayden, Edgefield Secondary School

Open Category

1st Aht Yomyai

2nd Zhang Dongli

3rd Ahmad Iskandar Bin Abdullah

Theme 2: Simplicity

Student Category

1st Jessie Chia, National University Of Singapore

2nd Timothy John Low Wen, Nanyang Polytechnic

3rd Teo Xu Kai, Temasek Polytechnic

Open Category

1st Ong Kah Hong

2nd Azril Azam Bin Abdul Rahim

3rd Siyuan Ma

Source: Canon. Winning entry for the Canon Challenge Winner category.

Canon Challenge Winner

Shrirang Rajaram Nirgun

Theme 3: Glow

Student Category

1st Lester Thomas Daniel, Singapore Polytechnic

2nd Mikaela Gn, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

3rd Benjamin Tay Tze Min, Hwa Chong Institution

Open Category

1st Nursanto Soeradi Somo

2nd Gerdie Hutomo

3rd Mai Hung Son

Chase light from day to night on 28 July in Singapore

Source: Canon. The Canon PhotoMarathon XVI will feature day-to-night assignments.

Back for its 16th year, the Canon PhotoMarathon XVI is slated for 28 July in Singapore. This year, Canon is taking a step further by giving back to the community and also introducing new elements in the competition format.

In line with Canon’s ongoing support of the local sporting scene, Canon recently announced a partnership with Olympian Joseph Schooling. In support of Canon PhotoMarathon which seeks to inspire and bring the photography community closer, Schooling will be at the event to unveil one of the competition themes.

Kyosei (共生), which means "living and working together for the common good", lies at the heart of Canon’s corporate philosophy. In the spirit of this belief, all registration fees collected from Canon PhotoMarathon this year will be donated to The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF), a community project to fund school-going children from low-income families.

“This year, we would like to encourage the photography community to test their creative mettle and at the same time, contribute back to the community,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Domestic Operations, Canon Singapore.

“Canon PhotoMarathon is not just a competition of photography skills and creativity, it is also a test of one’s endurance and stamina. With Joseph Schooling present at this year’s competition, we hope that participants will be inspired by his tenacity and rigour to achieve big dreams, much like how he attained Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal.”

True to its name, Canon PhotoMarathon is a blend of photography and sports. Both mental and physical endurance are required for the full-day competition. While the format of the competition remains the same with three competition themes announced at intervals throughout the event, this year’s event will kick off at a later timing of 11am. 

This allows photographers working on the third and last theme to take advantage of a mix of day and night lighting when they put their photography skills and creativity to the test.

The ‘dusk’ challenge will be announced at 5pm and the closing submission time for this final theme will be at 8pm. Sunset is typically after 7pm.

Details:

Register

Participants will have three hours from the announcement to submit a photo which demonstrates a unique perspective in picture composition according to the assigned theme. Adding an additional element of surprise to the mix, participants will have a say in voting for one of the competition themes this year.

There will be a total of more than S$50,000 worth of Canon products to be won. In addition, all registered participants will stand a chance to win a pair of Lufthansa air tickets to Munich, Germany in the lucky draw segment.

Apart from category prizes, the Best of Show winners from the Open and Student categories will win an exclusive spot each in the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship held in 2019, which is valued at more than US$5,000. 

The all-expenses paid trip will bring participants on an exclusive scenic journey to explore various facets of photography under the tutelage of a professional photographer. The championship will involve further theme challenges to select the champion among winners.

In addition, a charity sale of limited edition prints, specially curated by The Straits Times photo desk and The Schooling Company, will be held from 20 to 26 July via shop.canon.com.sg/charity.All proceeds will be donated to the STSPMF.

The Huawei nova 2i: a four-camera mid-range phone

Source: Huawei website. The nova 2i has a 5.9" FullView display. 

Huawei has launched the Huawei nova 2i, a 4G LTE midrange phone targeted at selfie-loving consumers that comes with four cameras, two in front and two at the rear.

Four-camera phones are unusual for the mid-range tier, said Clement Wong, Director of Global Product Marketing for the Huawei Consumer Business Group, explaining that Huawei wants to put its innovative technologies into the hands of more consumers. "The focus is on the battery consumption, the camera.. to have a great experience," he said.

The phone, running on a 16nm octacore Kirin 659 chipset, offers both performance and style, and includes a "pretty borderless" bezel-less 5.9" FHD display in a body meant for a 5.5" screen. Dual front cameras of 13 megapixels (f/2.0) and 2 megapixels respectively, as well as rear cameras of 16 megapixels and 2 megapixels respectively offer more versatility for photographers.

A portrait mode produces natural bokeh effects - just tap anywhere on the screen to assign the focus and blur the background. A "live" photo feature - available for both selfies and the rear camera- enriches images with 2 seconds of video. Huawei's camera technology also allows users to "refocus", changing the focus for an image after they have shot the image, resulting in different depth-of-field effects.

Algorithms ensure that selfies in poor lighting look better. There is even a selfie toning flash with a light intensity control to give a uniform, soft lighting for ideal selfies, and Snapchat-style overlays for images.

Interested?

The nova 2i is available in the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, in Aurora Blue, Graphite Black and Prestige Gold. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, and runs on the Android 7-based Emotion UI (EMUI) 5.1 operating system. The ROM can be expanded to 128GB through a microSD card.

Watch the video introducing the Nova 2i

Hashtag: #华为OPENDAY

Note: This report includes information provided under embargo during a Huawei-hosted visit to China. The company sponsored accommodation and travel costs.

AC works launches Korean versions of free stock image websites

Source: AC works. Screen capture of illustAC.

AC works, which already has over 2.3 million users in Japan, is now expanding internationally. The company has launched the Korean version of its flagship stock image websites photoAC, illustAC and silhouetteAC. 

Traditionally, the stock image industry imposed a number of restrictions on the use of a stock image, charging each time the image is used for different purposes. Stock images and the vector files that govern their shapes often cost money, for example. Once an image is purchased, it can typically be used in limited circumstances, for example once in an advertising campaign for a specific website. Royalties may need to be paid each time the image appears. Recognisable people featured in an image must sign a model release to allow the image to be used freely, under any circumstances. Images may also come with other stipulations, such as who they may be credited to, whether they can be edited, or if they can be used in commercial settings.

AC works has cut through the complexity with the three sites, which offer free high-quality images and vectors which can be downloaded and used for commercial purposes, with no credit title required. PhotoAC has acquired all rights from photographers and models so that there are no image rights to worry about. IllustAC and silhouetteAC also offer editable AI/EPS format vector files for free. AC works further dispenses with account registration or requiring an app to use the services. Images can be downloaded with a single click, the company said.

The company plans to expand its content portfolio, and aims to reach more than 20 million users worldwide by 2020.

The Huawei P10 Plus could well replace a digital SLR camera

Chen introduced accessories that complement the Huawei P10 Plus.

Richard Chen, fashion and beauty Photographer and Leica Akademie Instructor, says the Huawei P10 Plus smartphone is literally like carrying a big camera in a small phone.

At a Huawei P10 Plus Masterclass in Singapore, Chen shared that he works with large Leica cameras professionally, and is increasingly finding that the mobile cameras on the Huawei P10 Plus more than deliver when it comes to personal photography.

"If I'm exploring I actually don't bring the (conventional digital) camera nowadays," he said.
"I'm starting to use it as the main camera. With a smaller camera you can walk farther. You sweat less."

Chen has put the smartphone through its paces in the five months that he has had it, bringing it on trips to Australia and Hong Kong, concluding that the Huawei P10 Plus is able to achieve what a large camera can do in a smartphone form factor. "The P10 Plus is doing some things that all my previous phones cannot do," he said, sharing that he has owned high end Nokia Windows phones and various Samsung handsets in the past. For example:

Well-designed interface, with a fine level of control

The Huawei P10 Plus camera offers the same ease of use with a Leica DSLR camera, and even uses the same font for the interface, Chen said.

Swiping left and right when the camera is activated provides quick access to additional modes functions. Swiping upwards activates the 'pro' mode, allowing manual adjustments to the image such as white balance and aperture size. The top part of the camera screen features an icon for dual-lens capabilities, which uses a dual lens system to offer the soft bokeh* effects previously only seen in professional SLR lenses. 

"I like the (interface; it has) all the controls that I want for the different modes that I want," he said.

Excellent panoramas

Featured photo: Richard Chen, Huawei P10 Plus Masterclass. The sun does not cause the area around it to be significantly overexposed. The red patch in the centre comes from a red spotlight that was in the Leica gallery, and isn't part of the original image from Chen.

The Huawei P10 Plus beats an SLR camera when it comes to panoramas, stitching handheld pictures together seamlessly. Chen pointed out that his 6,000 x 4,000 pixel resolution images do not have areas which are clearly brighter, a typical challenge for cameras when part of a panorama has a light source like the sun in it.

In contrast, getting the same shot with a physical camera would require more post-production effort such as manual adjustment to make each each perspective of the panorama consistent before stitching them together in editing software. Getting the panorama in the first place would be less convenient as the tripod and camera equipment would be bulkier and heavier, and need to be transported to the location, Chen explained.

Monochrome mastery

A dedicated monochrome sensor picks up areas of subtle brightness. "Leica is the only brand that can do monochrome and get away with it," Chen observed. With the Huawei P10 Plus he noted that "pixel for pixel it performs better than the colour sensor."

The graininess seen in pictures taken with vintage monochrome film cameras can also be reproduced on the Huawei P10 Plus.

Neon lighting reproduction

Featured photo: Richard Chen, Huawei P10 Plus Masterclass. Excellent reproduction for neon lighting. 

Typically, focusing on neon lighting results in images where the colours of the neon lights turning white and washing out the surrounding colours and details. This is not the case with the Huawei P10 Plus, Chen said, with the neon colours very well preserved, allowing the surrounding colours and details to come through.

Beautiful colour representation

Chen said colours are reproduced well. "The reds are rock solid. Certain cameras will represent red as an orangy red or a magenta red," he explained. "I like it because it's very faithful."

Preservation of details in high-contrast photography

The Huawei P10 Plus also earned praise for faithful colour representation in situations where there are extremely bright and extremely dark areas at the same time. When presented with such a setting, a digital camera will typically end up with either turning the bright part totally white or the dark part totally black. The silhouette effect for subjects standing in front of a sunlit window are a typical consequence. The Huawei P10 Plus is intelligent enough to avoid such situations. In HDR landscape shots that Chen tried, the smartphone preserved the details and colours of bright skies as well as the colours and textures of darker cliffs.

“The fun thing is that it's on automatic,” Chen said, explaining that a conventional digital camera in auto mode would typically not guarantee such results.

Light painting mode

In a live demonstration, a volunteer moved from right to left holding a light strip to show how the Huawei P10 Plus can register the light trails in real time, without washing out the image. The white pedestal that the cameras are on in the foreground would have reflected so much light for a traditional camera that it would have washed out the entire image, Chen said.

Chen described the Huawei P10 Plus' light painting mode, which comes with four sub-modes, as 'amazing'. The light trails effect can be achieved with a conventional digital camera, but can only be reviewed after the entire light painting sequence is completed, whereas the smartphone will show the action in real time. The Huawei P10 Plus also handles the light affecting the image differently. A conventional digital camera would absorb more light from brighter areas over a long exposure, potentially overexposing brighter areas in a picture, whereas the smartphone is less sensitive to bright areas which are stationary, resulting in a darker background that shows off the light trails beautifully.

Malleability

The smartphone is also capable of producing images which can be edited with a high degree of flexibility. Chen explained that with the technology used today, a picture with more neutral parameters can be adjusted upwards or downwards easily, whereas a picture with parameters already skewed towards the high or low end cannot be adjusted as much towards the middle.

The Huawei P10 Plus features the Leica Dual Camera 2.0 Pro Edition, which carries two SUMMILUX-H lenses with a larger aperture (f/1.8) as well as 20 megapixel and 12 megapixel sensors. The collaboration with Leica has enabled 4K-resolution images, excellent optical image stabilisation, as well as superior low-light photography.

Huawei has also added 3D facial detection, dynamic illumination, and natural portrait enhancements to the bundled software.

The two challenges with phones, storage and battery life, are not an issue with the Huawei P10 Plus, Chen said. The phone comes with 128 GB of internal memory that is expandable with another 256 GB with a micro SD card, and has lasted through six hours of photography in his experience.

Chen suggests getting a rubber/foam lined tripod adapter to secure the phone to a tripod, as well as a Manfrotto mini table top tripod which will fit a wide range of situations.

"The biggest advantage your phone used to have over the camera was the social connectivity but now you're able to combine both," Chen summarised. "What is attractive to me for the Huawei P10 Plus is the big-camera functionality, the ability to have the fine controls and then you have the social linkage, so it's become one-stop. You don't need separate devices."

Source: Huawei. This infographic shows how the Huawei P10 Plus is like carrying a studio in your pocket.

Interested?

Check out Chen's Instagram

*Bokeh refers to the out-of-focus backgrounds in pictures where a subject in clear focus in the foreground. The most desired type of bokeh is 'soft bokeh' where objects in the background have soft, blurred edges. 'Hard bokeh' on the other hand describes situations where objects in the background are blurred, but still retain crisp outlines which distract the eye.