Canon Gets Snap Happy in Croatia
In May, the Canon Europe team jetted off to beautiful Croatia to launch Canon’s latest innovation in lens technology, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM – a seriously impressive telephoto zoom lens. We invited 18 press from across Europe to join us in sunny Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes National Park to put the new superzoom to the test.
Following a briefing with sports and action photographer and Canon Ambassador Richard Walch, and Canon Explorer and wildlife photographer Danny Green media were taken on two contrasting shooting experiences. First up was a nature and landscape session in World Heritage site Plitvice Lakes National Park – this stunning park features sixteen inter-connecting waterfalls and pools and is home to a host of wildlife.
The Lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight. Guided by Danny, press were tasked with capturing the moving water and distinct subjects as they were taken on a guided tour of the Park by the local rangers.
Following this, press we given exclusive access to Željava Underground Airbase – an abandoned military base on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under Plješevica Mountain. It was the largest underground airport and military airbase in the former Yugoslavia, and one of the biggest in Europe. Press were taken on a guided tour of this cavernous low and no-light building, partially destroyed as the government tried to blow it up after the war. Media were really challenged here as the lighting conditions were incredibly tough.
Journalists also took part in two additional shooting session under the expert guidance of Richard. Firstly capturing a model inside a vintage aircraft abandoned at the Base’s entrance in a totally unique fashion shoot; and secondly snapping the action on the runway as a Croatian national athlete performed moves on a pommel horse in front of the mountainous landscape.
An exhausting but incredibly rewarding trip – and the coverage has already started rolling in. Well done team Canon!
