Kiwi Chris McLennan wins National Geographicphotography award

One of New Zealand’s most internationally recognised photographers has scooped first place inthe Outdoor Sports and Activities category of the 2009 National Geographic Traveller PDN GreatOutdoors photography competition.Chris McLennan, originally from Riversdale in Southland, found out about his success over emailwhile he was on location in Alaska photographing grizzly bears.

“I didn’t hear the news directly because I had been on the move around Europe and Alaska for sixweeks,” says Chris. “The competition attracted over a thousand of professional entries fromaround the world so I was very humbled to win the coveted title.”The image which won Chris the title, ‘The Lost World’, was taken at Waitomo Caves in the NorthIsland on a Canon EOS-1Ds MKIII camera with a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens.“95 per cent of my work is now done off shore for travel, adventure and tourism clients, so I wasthrilled the image that won the competition is so quintessentially kiwi,” says Chris.Born and raised in Southland, Chris started his photographic career in Queenstown, building aclient base before expanding into Australia and the South Pacific. Chris is now regularlycommissioned to work all over the world with recent shoots in Alaska, Belgium, Egypt, India,Romania and Greece. Over the course of his career he has worked in some of the most beautifuland remote places on earth.“Having an international client base has given me innumerable opportunities to bring some of themost beautiful destinations on earth to life for thousands of people,” says Chris, who is typically onlocation up to 30 weeks of the year.

“It can be challenging to be away from home so often but the satisfaction I get from the finishedproduct is immeasurable,” says Chris.Canon products make up the entirety of Chris’s kit. “Canon cameras and lenses are perfectlysuited to what I do and consistently produce the highest quality images,” he says.Chris travels with two Canon EOS-1Ds MKIII cameras and a range of Canon lenses, from a EF15mm fisheye through to the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM.“We were extremely happy to hear of Chris’s success in the National Geographic Traveller PhotoContest,” says Rochelle Mora, Brand Manager – Imaging, Consumer Activities, Canon NewZealand. “His work is testament to the fact that New Zealand produces some of the most talentedphotographers in the world, which may be helped by the exquisite scenery on our doorstep,” shesays.As well as the outdoor photography Chris specialises in, he is also working on a pictorial book thatteaches people how to get the most out of their digital cameras.“

People will learn more easily how to use a camera by seeing a pictorial demonstration thanreading a manual where important information can often be overlooked. With the proliferation ofdigital cameras now, people want to learn how to get the most from their device and I am luckyenough to have the experience to share,” says Chris. EndsEndsEndsEnds About CanonAbout CanonAbout CanonAbout CanonCanon New Zealand is a leading provider of advanced, simple-to-use imaging solutions forbusinesses and consumers. Canon has ranked among the top-three US patent recipients for thepast 15 years, and had global revenues of around $US39 billion in 2007. Canon New Zealand alsooperates Canon Finance New Zealand, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wantingleasing or finance services. For more information, visit www.canon.co.nz