Originally launched in 2008, the pioneering initiative brings together some of the world’s best photographers and videographers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to collaborate with Canon and share its passion for visual storytelling.
With the largest ever intake, now featuring a total of 115 Ambassadors across EMEA, this is Canon’s most exciting and diverse programme to date. Among them are 17 incredible young photographers including Ksenia Kuleshova and Michele Spatari, alumni of the Canon Student Programme and Young Photographer Award winners.
In the most competitive selection process yet, an esteemed panel of 13 judges reviewed nominations for more than 450 photographers and evaluated over 20,000 images – covering news, documentary, wildlife, weddings, portraits, sports and more. Celebrating visual storytelling, and stories that resonate, the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme brings together the best of the best within the imaging industry.
Susie Donaldson, ITCG European Marketing Director for Canon EMEA said: “The Ambassador Programme is our opportunity to work with an amazing group of bold and inspirational individuals in the photo, video and print industry in EMEA. With this refresh we are enabling and empowering photographers and filmmakers with unique perspectives from across the region, supporting them with the tools to tell those stories that matter.
“We’re always evolving the Programme to seek out and welcome photographers and filmmakers from a multitude of genres and all backgrounds across age, gender and race. This year we’ve significantly increased the number of Ambassadors under the age of 30 from two to 17, which shows the remarkable range of talent within the industry and our commitment to nurturing creatives through our student programmes as their career progresses. With this latest intake we hope to pave the way for the next generation of visual storytellers, with a fresh new perspective to the Programme.”
Joining the Programme in 2020 from the UK:
Evgenia Arbugaeva - A National Geographic Society Storytelling Fellow whose work has been exhibited internationally, Evgenia's atmospheric photography mainly focuses on the landscapes and people of her native Republic of Yakutia in Russia.
Laura El-Tantawy - A British-Egyptian photographer based in London and Cairo, Laura has produced a series of long-term documentary projects that are both lyrical and socially engaged. She was a 2020 recipient of the prestigious W. Eugene Smith Grant. Her work has been exhibited and published internationally, including in The New Yorker, National Geographic, Time and Le Monde.
Lucia Griggi - A National Geographic Traveller 2012 award winner, Lucia is an expedition, wildlife and travel photographer who can be found exploring our last frontiers. She specialises in polar regions, including underwater and aerial photography.
Molly Darlington - Shooting sport as a photographer for Action Images/Reuters and based in the UK, Molly has covered major footballing events. She studied photography at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating with a first-class honours degree.
For more information and the full list of Canon EMEA Ambassadors, please visit the Ambassador Programme Hub here: https://www.canon.co.uk/pro/ambassadors/