Canon Australia and New Zealand announces “Canon Champions”

Expanding its imaging community across Australia and New Zealand, Canon launches a tiered advocacy program encompassing Masters, Ambassadors and Creators

Row 1, left to right: Canon Masters – Richard I’Anson, Sean Scott, Darren Jew, Tania Niwa
Row 1, left to right: Canon Masters – Phil Hillyard, Jackie Rankin, Daniel Linnet, Emily Abay
Row 1, left to right: Canon Masters – Kelly Brown, Mike Langford, Virginia Woolf, Dave May
Row 1, left to right: Canon Masters – Paul Blackmore, Sacha Stejko, Mark Horsburgh & Canon Ambassador Alisha Lovrich
Row 1, left to right: Canon Ambassadors – Jarrad Seng, Bonnie Cee, James Simmons, Kate Cornish

Sydney, AUSTRALIA - 28 October 2021: Canon Australia and New Zealand today announces Canon Champions, talented image-makers chosen to represent the brand, who stand by Canon’s products to help bring their creative vision to life.

Designed to inspire and support industry professionals and the next generation of content creators, Canon Champions recognise three skill levels: Masters, Ambassadors and Creators. To help galvanise professionals to achieve more in their field, Canon selected 15 Masters from across the region, all of which are world class image creators who have perfected their craft and offer vision, insight and experience. The five Ambassadors are innovative creatives who Canon believes will encourage upcoming image-makers to hone their skills. Canon also works closely with Canon Creators, skilled content makers who loan Canon products through its outreach program¹ and embrace the versatility of the gear to champion creativity and engage diverse online audiences.

Canon Master Emily Abay, is an in-demand fashion photographer known for using natural light to infuse her images with sensuality, earning her enviable assignments with top fashion brands across the globe. Learning her craft in the analogue age, she has a sublime understanding of the nature of light and is able to anticipate its movement and effects on a subject at any moment in time, a skill that instantly elevates any shot.

Speaking of her experience using Canon gear, Emily Abay says, “On my travels Canon helps me feel secure, knowing if there’s a fleeting moment of pristine light, I’m ready to capture something special in seconds.” Emily continues, “One of the fantastic benefits of being a Canon Master, is the opportunity to trial new gear and collaborate on new product launches and campaigns.”

The Master’s program kicks off with Emily Abay, Phil Hillyard and Mark Horsburgh road-testing the newly announced EOS R3 with their first impressions and content going live next month.

Australian Masters include: Portrait and Newborn photographer, Kelly Brown; Nature photographer, Darren Jew; Documentary Travel photographer, Richard I’Anson, Sports and Portrait photographer, Phil Hillyard; Motorsport photographer, Mark Horsburgh; Commercial Photographer, Daniel Linnet; Travel & Landscape photographer, Sean Scott; Cinematographer Dave May; Fashion & Editorial photographer, Emily Abay; Landscape & Editorial photographer, Paul Blackmore and Australia and New Zealand Commercial, Portrait & Fine Art photographer, Tania Niwa. New Zealand’s Masters include Landscape, Art & Creative photographer, Jackie Ranken; Landscape & Travel photographer, Mike Langford; Advertising Photographer, Sacha Stejko and Press & Storyteller, Virginia Woolf.

Australia’s Bonnie Cee and New Zealand’s Alisha Lovrich will join Canon Ambassadors Jarrad Seng, Kate Cornish, and James Simmons, three talented Australian photographers and videographers announced earlier this year. All five Ambassadors are currently collaborating with Canon on developing their own unique passion projects which will be released over the coming year, kicking off with an incredibly moving and thought-provoking body of work produced by Jarrad Seng.

The imaging work of these Ambassadors couldn’t be more diverse, yet they all have two things in common – their pursuit of personal truth, and their choice to use Canon products to unleash it.

Creative, mentor and entrepreneur, Bonnie Cee is a professional stills and motion shooter and founder of the innovative Colourtone app. Testament to her talents, her recent short film ‘Run with Me’ has been critically acclaimed on the international film circuit.

Commenting on her Canon camera of choice, Bonnie Cee says, “The Dual Gain Sensor on my EOS C300 Mark III gives an amazing dynamic range. The RAW file type makes colour grading so flexible, while the colour science renders beautiful skin tones.” Bonnie continues, “I am delighted to be a Canon Ambassador and look forward to collaborating with the brand on my next project.”

Nina Spannari, General Manager – Marketing and Customer Experience, Canon Australia says: “We are thrilled to announce our new Masters and Ambassadors who, along with Creators, form our Canon Champions advocacy program. Representing every skill level and some of Australia and New Zealand’s most talented image-makers, Canon created the program to support our industry professionals and the next generation of content creators. As Canon Champions they solely trust our products to bring their creative vision to life, and equally, we’re champions of their work, collaborating with them on product campaigns and passion projects to help them reach an even wider audience, and in turn inspire content creators to take their creative journey to the next level.”

For more information on the Canon Champions visit: Canon Champions 

¹ For Canon loan gear enquiries, please email stories@canon.com.au with links to your social account(s), the gear you are interested in testing, and the content you plan to capture. Loans are subject to availability and suitability, and are for a two week period.