An inspirational camera workshop aligned with Earth Day 2023 hosted by Canon South Africa
Aligned with the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day this year, Canon hosted an interactive camera workshop to address the importance of photography in nature and wildlife conservation, at an Earth Day 2023 Conservation Through Photography event. The workshop consisted of a demonstration of basic camera operations, followed by a game drive in the Dinokeng Game Reserve, where budding wildlife photographers could put their new knowledge to the test.
The local production company, Beat of Africa Productions (Pty) Ltd., partnered with Canon at the event. The company aims to spread awareness about wildlife conservation through film and photography. They create content based on endangered wildlife, tell intriguing stories about how people co-exist with nature, and explore the challenges that come with conservation.
“We’re very pleased to partner with Beat of Africa,” said Arethur Molefe, Corporate and Marketing Communications Manager at Canon. “We’re grateful for their hand in reminding us of the importance of capturing our beautiful planet.” Discussing the theme of the day, Invest in Our Planet, Molefe noted that wildlife conservation isn’t a new phenomenon but something our ancestors highlighted in their own way.
“Africans have long been wildlife conservationists; possibly without realising it. Through cave paintings and tribe totems, we emphasised our co-existence with wildlife, documenting nature in art and cultural expression. Today, we pay homage to our ancestors by honouring wildlife in a more tech-savvy way,” he said.
Founder and managing member of Beat of Africa Productions, Sewela Mutileni, commented on the day. “To celebrate Earth Day 2023, I invited a small group to join me on a photography safari to see nature through my eyes. My avid love for nature and wildlife led me to start a production company that takes wildlife content from concept to reality. We’re passionate about capturing the beauty of Africa from an African perspective, exposing people to wildlife, and encouraging biodiverse conservation,” she said.
At the event, each attendee was sponsored with a Canon camera to use while capturing wildlife moments on safari. These included the Canon R, Canon 850d, Canon 750d, Canon 2000d, Canon 650d and the Canon EOS R models – the last being the showstopper of the day. The EOS R model is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 30.3-megapixel sensor, ISO performance, Dual Pixel CMOS AF and the new RF lens. This combination of high-performance optics and a pioneering lens mount form a truly creative camera that pushes the frontiers of photography and filmmaking.
Voicing her appreciation for Canon’s support and technical assistance, Sewela concluded, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Canon on this initiative. The skills acquired today will improve how our attendees capture precious wildlife moments and, in turn, endorse our mission to spread awareness through conversation. We look forward to future collaborations with Canon.”