Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com), in partnership with Nation Media Group, recently released a coffee table book that captures the spirit of adventure by exhibiting the action shot by eminent African sports photographers.
The book honors the craft of sports photography and notable African sports photographers who have made significant contributions to the promotion of sporting events on the continent by capturing the excitement of the competition with their Canon cameras.
Sports and action photography have always been difficult to master because viewers anticipate the same kind of gripping experience that they would get from viewing the show or game live.
It takes a combination of a highly talented photographer who understands just when to click and shoot, as well as an extraordinary camera that is designed for speed photography, to capture the aesthetic experience of the show or game in a single image.
To practice the discipline of action photography, when a millisecond could make a huge impact, one without the other is simply insufficient.
“Canon has supported sports photographers’ efforts to capture the quick motions that take place on the ground in a single image that can inspire the same delight, excitement, and thrill for decades.
Amine Djouahra, Director of Sales and Marketing, Canon Central and North Africa, explained Canon’s vision behind launching the coffee table book. “Canon’s newly launched coffee-table book is an endeavor to highlight this relentless spirit of Kenyan photographers who have brought to life much-popular sports events like the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally while exploring the future of action photography through Canon’s revolutionary imaging technology,” he said.
A freeze-frame of famous scenes
The world of sports photography is a snapshot of legendary moments that are frozen in time.
When I started visiting racing events in and around 2016 with my entry level Canon 1200D camera, my passion for action & sports photography was strengthened.
I was completely intrigued by the world of the WRC Safari rally, and I wanted to capture it in my images so that other people may share my excitement, fear, and adventure.
It is imperative to have the proper equipment on hand when attempting to capture such quickly moving elements on the screen. Canon’s exceptional auto-focus technology really puts you ahead in the game.
Alvin Kibet, a 26-year-old action and sports photographer who is also an astral aerial drone pilot and GIS analyst, claims that even his first DSLR, the Canon 1200D, brilliantly got some images of automobiles speeding by with clouds of dust collecting around.
The photographer has utilized a number of Canon cameras from the renowned EOS series to chronicle his love and passion for adventure.
He has been an avid fan of photographing sports cars in racing contests and rallies.
Putting speed and agility into a person
Anwar Sidi, a Kenyan photographer, gained popularity after his first image of the East African Safari Rally was printed on the front pages of national newspapers twenty-nine years ago.
He has spent more than two decades working as a professional racing photographer.
In response to a question on his passion for action photography, he states, “Capturing the roaring force of race vehicles in all their grandeur and magnificence is in itself an amazing experience.
And in order to achieve that, you need to have access to the best technology a camera has to offer.
Canon has stood for the photographer’s dream of encapsulating that excitement, wonder, and drama into one frame over the years.
With each new model in the early EOS years, Canon’s autofocus system improved, which encouraged more photographers to genuinely enter the realm of sports photography because they could now accomplish it.
In the beginning, you could recognize a Canon camera by its characteristic white lenses from a distance.
Although the design has changed, the fantastic EOS range’s heritage has not.
Anwar Sidi’s work has appeared in numerous prestigious publications and websites, including Auto Sport, Rally Sport, Motoring News, Rally Course, Bulletin, Reuters, and AP.
using visual narratives to celebrate Africa and its people
Mwangi Kirubi believes that using a visual medium to tell a story is still a crucial aspect of spreading awareness and delivering messages.
Mwangi, a well-known photographer who has won prizes for his work in both photography and filmmaking, wants to use photography as a means of communicating ideas.
In addition to our stunning landscapes and extensive natural heritage, Africa offers some of the top racing competitions in the world, which serve as a true showcase for the talent that abounds on the continent.
As a photographer, it is my duty and responsibility to document this amazing event, and in order to do so, I must have a reliable companion, a camera.
Only modern capabilities like advanced intelligent autofocus, built-in image stabilization, and motive detection that may transform a nice shot into a hair-raising one can let you to capture a fleeting moment in a matter of microseconds, said Mwangi.
Photographers can shoot breathtaking photographs at 45 megapixels and up to 20 frames per second with Canon’s newly released EOS R5 cameras, as well as 12-bit, 8K RAW movies that look like they were shot in a movie theater.
Sports photography is a result of innovative technology combined with intuitive understanding.
Sila Kiplagat, a Nairobi, Kenya-based award-winning photojournalist with eight years of expertise, has spent years documenting illustrious sporting events like the WRC.
“Sports photography would not have existed if we didn’t have the cutting-edge technology we do today from businesses like Canon that allows us to properly convey words like thrill and adventure,” he continues.
It takes a lot of effort behind the scenes to evoke such intense feeling simply with a snapshot.
I have used the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II a lot. It has a full-frame 20.2MP CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 6+ image processors, which enable quick continuous shooting rates of up to 16 frames per second in live view, 14 frames per second with full-time AF and AE, and a wider sensitivity range of ISO 50–19600.
Using the same equipment, I have been able to take some timeless photos that will give you goosebumps and take you right to the action.
Such is the influence of sports photography, and it is amazing that we have cutting-edge technology to share it with the public.
Canon has also established a specialized service for professional and semi-professional photographers and videographers who use Canon products called Canon Professional Services in an effort to further the art of sports photography and inspire aspiring photographers (CPS).
The CPS programs seek to empower and assist professional photographers to find the next big thing in photography and transform an ordinary photo into an unforgettable one.
Among the many advantages provided to our CPS Members in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are quick kit service and repairs, inspirational events and experiences, and unique discounts (EMEA).