Cameras, Cologne . . . and Kolsch
Every two years photography brands and enthusiasts from around the globe descend on Cologne to visit the number one imaging show, photokina, which is where you would have found the Canon team this week. After months of planning and preparation the team jetted off on Sunday afternoon and with feet firmly on the ground in Cologne, headed straight off to set up the venue for Canon’s press conference, where over 400 attendees would arrive the next afternoon. After a quick run through it was early to bed before the big day arrived.
With the Cologne anthem to spur us along, the next morning was full of product set-up and presentation rehearsals, but before we knew it the press had arrived and it was time for the press conference. After the journalists were treated to a first glimpse of Canon’s newest DSLR, compact cameras, cloud service Project 1709 and printers in the conference, they headed up to the beautiful Rheinterrassen, where they had hands on time with the products themselves. Drinks and food flowed throughout the afternoon, while guests visited the bespoke 25 years of EOS gallery, ate the enormous EOS birthday cake, and enjoyed the views as the sun set over the impressive cathedral and Rhine river. As the night came to a close, it was only right for the team to celebrate a successful event with Cologne’s own specialty beer, Kölsch!
The photokina show doors opened the following morning, and it was time for the crowds to visit Canon’s biggest-ever stand, where they could experience the latest products and celebrate photography’s power to connect through a range of interactive experiences. Meanwhile, the team was busy conducting back-to-back interviews with Canon’s product specialists and Europe’s top-tier photography, technology and national press. Interviews carried on throughout the week, with coverage appearing every day throughout the show – check out DP Review’s stand report here – but in the evening it was time for some R&R (with a couple more Kölschs here and there!).
Thursday evening quickly arrived and it was time to say goodbye to Cologne and photokina once again and head back to London, where we’re already looking forward to 2014!
