This year 2018 is going to be the 16thyear while this would be my 8thyear participating in the PhotoMarathon in Singapore! Taking place on 28thJuly 2018 is  Canon PhotoMarathon XVI, register now and be a part of a PhotoMarathon for the Community!

I made my maiden debut competing in Canon PhotoMarathon in the year 2008, followed by 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. From the links, you can read my personal stories during my years of participation, including the various unique, interesting and challenging Canon PhotoMarathon themes during my seven years of participation!

Looking back at my different years of participation, they were some good memories, participating together with friends and taking photographs together in groups for the submission of the competition themes. There were also times when I shot alone, a time whereby I am able to challenge and push myself in the areas of photography creativity, shooting a photography theme under a limited timeline and pressure during the Canon PhotoMarathon competition format. Even though I never won anything during my years of participation, it had always been fulfiling and fun, observing other photographers point of view, how they compose and shoot their photographs based on the same competition themes.

No doubt this is a photography competition with very attractive prizes to be won, Canon PhotoMarathon had always been a fun community event in Singapore for photographers to gather, have fun, catch up, challenge themselves in a fun yet photography challenging competition. Over the past few years, I had seen the organisers making improvements and changes, this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon 2018 looks to be something special and refreshing, with a new competition format and also giving back to the community.

What makes Canon PhotoMarathon Singapore 2018 XVI special and different this year? Did you read about my earlier article on Canon Singapore announcement on their two sports sponsorship agreements, someone very special is going to make an appearance!

Who is coming down? Now, let me share more information below:

Back for its 16th year, Canon PhotoMarathon XVI is slated on 28 July at Suntec City Convention Hall 401-402, from 9am to 10pm. This year, Canon is taking a step further by giving back to the community and also introducing exciting new elements such as a ‘dusk’ challenge in the competition format.

In line with Canon’s ongoing support of the local sporting scene, Canon has recently announced a partnership with Joseph Schooling, who will be present at the Canon PhotoMarathon XVI. Canon has also pledged to donate all event registration fees collected to The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF), a community project to fund school-going childrenfrom 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 Mr. 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.” 

Chase the Light, Day to Night

True to its name, Canon PhotoMarathon is a blend of photography and sports. For participants to cross the finishing line, 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, this year’s event will kick off at a later timing of 11am with the announcement of the first theme. For the first time, Theme 3 will incorporate a ‘dusk’ challenge, which will be announced at 5pm and the closing submission time for this final theme will be at 8pm. This will enable participants to capture a dynamic mix of both day and night scenes, putting their photography skills and creativity to the test.

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.

Top prizes for artistic creativity

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 in the lucky draw segment.

Apart from attractive 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 journey of awe-inspiring scenery, 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. 

Collaboration with Joseph Schooling

In support of Canon PhotoMarathon which seeks to inspire and bring the photography community closer, Joseph will be at the event to unveil one of the competition themes.

Synonymous to sports, which rallies our community closer together, photography has the powerful ability to transcend differences and connect people from all walks of life.

Giving Back for the Common Good

Kyosei, 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 STSPMF. This is a community project started by The Straits Times in 2000, to provide pocket money to children from low income families to help them with school-related expenses.

In addition, a charity sales 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 and all proceeds will be donated to STSPMF.

Personal Thoughts

Canon PhotoMarathon 2018 is just a few weeks away, time to rally and gather your fellow photographer friends to register together, come on down on 28thJuly 2018 and be a part of Canon PhotoMarathon for the Community!

It’s not just about photography competition, wanting to win the attractive prizes, this is also about community and giving back, the photography community and the Singapore community coming together and being together through the fun and love of photography.

I am going for my no. 8thCanon PhotoMarathon, it’s not so much of a photography competition for me, this is more of a photography community, networking with fellow professionals and gathering of old photography friends, making new photography friends, having fun and giving back to the Singapore community.

Let’s all join in and be a part of A (photo) Marathon for the Community!

Canon PhotoMarathon Singapore 2018 (XVI) key information

Website: http://www.canon.com.sg/photomarathon/

Date: 28th July 2018

Time: 9:00am to 9:00pm

Location: Suntec City Convention Centre Hall 401-402

* Information and photographs courtesy of Canon Singapore and Ogilvy *

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