The EOS Young Photographer Awards

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL AND CANON LAUNCH THE EOS YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER AWARDS
First place wins a Canon EOS DSLR camera, EF lens, and a chance to attend a prestigious National Geographic Photography Expedition in the US.

SINGAPORE, 28 MARCH 2013 – National Geographic Channel and Canon Singapore Pte Ltd announced today the launch of the EOS Young Photographer Awards contest in Singapore. This coveted award will be presented to the photographer with the best photograph submitted to the region-wide contest, along with a grand prize that include a Canon EOS 60D DSLR camera with an 18-55mm IS II lens and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a National Geographic Photography Expedition where the winner will travel together with a National Geographic Photographer as an active participant on the trail, with countless opportunities to be surrounded by natural, cultural and social wonders which can be captured in photographs.

The heart of this inaugural region-wide EOS Young Photographer Awards initiative between Canon and the National Geographic Channel is to inspire youths across Asia to take an active interest in the creative arts and know more about the science of photography. Through this contest, both organizations hope to encourage the young generation to discover and pursue their passion in photography. In addition to the Young Photographer Awards competition, there will also be a seminar given by Joe Riis, an esteemed photographer from the National Geographic who will be sharing his photography experiences and provide some tips for photography enthusiasts.

The contest calls all aspiring young shutterbugs between the ages of 13 and 25 in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia to submit their best photographs under the theme of “A Celebration of Colour.” In addition to the grand prize, the 1st and 2nd runner-up prizes are also extremely attractive. They include a Canon EOS 650D digital SLR camera with an 18-55mm IS II lens for the 1st runner-up and a Canon EOS 1100D digital SLR camera with an 18-55mm IS II lens for the 2nd runner-up – top of the line tools to help aspiring photographers develop their skills and bring them a step closer to realising their dreams as a professional photographer.

The winner of the top three prizes will be determined by a panel of experts from both Canon and the National Geographic Channel. In addition to the main contest, there will also be an award based on peer-judging. From 9 April 2013 to 3 June 2013, there will be a special colour theme posted on the CanonYPA website (www.celebrationofcolour.com) every two weeks. Contestants who submit a creative photograph based on that colour will be eligible to win a prize which will be determined by the number of ‘likes’ the photographer garnered. At the close of the contest, the entry with the most ‘likes’ overall, regardless of colour, will win the Voter’s Choice Award.

“Canon has always been dedicated to supporting young aspiring photographers,” said Kikegawa Shigeru, Director, Regional ICP Sales and Marketing Division, Consumer Imaging and Information Products Group, Canon Singapore Pte Ltd. “We are really excited to launch the search for the next EOS Young Photographer in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.”

“National Geographic Channel is renowned for its visual story-telling and the one of the best ways to keep this art and science progressing is to invest in the next generation of photographers,” said Simeon Dawes, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales & Partnerships, Asia Pacific and Middle East at FOX International Channels. “We are proud to be supporting the EOS Young Photographer Awards and look forward to inspiring creativity throughout Southeast Asia.”

The Canon EOS Young Photographer Awards is open from 28 March to 3 June 2013. Participants may upload their entries to http://www.celebrationofcolour.com and visit the website for more details on the contest.

A summary of the awards and prizes as follows:

About National Geographic Channels International

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) inspires viewers through its smart, innovative programming that questions what we know, how we view the world and what drives us forward. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Ventures and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its six channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music.

Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S., which is a joint venture of NGV and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in more than 440 million homes globally and in 38 languages.

For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.