The “Ethiopia, Land of Champions” Olympic Games-themed exhibition offers an artistic exploration of sports through photography and other artistic expressions such as street art, virtual reality, poetry, and music. The diverse artistic mediums create a subtle dialogue between Greek mythology, the Olympic spirit, and the interplay of shadow and light, highlighting the boundaries of human achievement.

The exhibition features contributions from six French and Ethiopian photographers who captured the magic and diversity of sports movements, showcasing both amateur and professional athletes in moments of pure grace.

More than just an exhibition, this event is an ode to Ethiopian champions and the Olympic spirit that transcends borders, inspiring everyone to push their own limits.

The photography exhibition at the Alliance Ethio-Française is open from Tuesday to Sunday, until September 30th.

The Canon Academy Juniors programme (www.Canon-CNA.com) believes in teaching our youth to empower them and give them confidence by fostering a new hobby and developing their creative skills; The programme, offers two classes tailored to different age groups (8-12 and 13-16) which provide kids and teens with hands-on photography skills.

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is thrilled to announce a partnership with Greenwood House School in Lagos, Nigeria, through it’s Canon Academy Juniors Programme. This collaborative initiative aims to inspire and empower young learners by igniting their passion for photography through engaging and interactive sessions led by certified Canon trainers.

Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director at Canon Central and North Africa shared his excitement regarding the collaboration, remarking, “Our partnership with Greenwood House School through the Canon Academy Juniors Programmes is a testament to our commitment to nurturing creativity and talent. These workshops provide a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to discover a new hobby, develop their creative skills, and forge a lifelong love for photography. 

“This collaboration aligns seamlessly with both organisations’ missions to provide quality education to individuals and develop creative skills. We are confident that these workshops will equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to unlock their creative potential to further explore the photography field.”  

What makes this collaboration truly unique is the direct hosting of two photography workshops on the premises of Greenwood House School. This approach facilitates seamless integration of the programme into the school environment, promoting a collaborative learning experience.  

Rashad adds further, “Education plays a vital role in fulfilling Canon’s values of creating a strong, knowledgeable, and inspired community where there is a shared passion for photography, videography, and printing. Our approach to education on the African continent aligns with Canon’s corporate philosophy, Kyosei, which is a Japanese concept meaning, living and working together for the common good. Through our educational programmes we bring to life our commitment to sustainability, how we work together, and our desire to create an environment for everyone to thrive and grow.” 

The workshops were specifically tailored for two distinct age groups: 8-12 years old and 13-16 years old, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate and fitting for all participants. Each cycle of the programme consisted of four sessions which spanned from May 4th to May 25th and from June 1st to June 22nd.

The young participants engaged in practical training sessions and learnt important skills such as how the camera works, and basic camera modes, while gaining confidence to take photos. They also learnt about framing, landscape, portraits, visual storytelling, and much more. It was an excellent opportunity for the participants to explore a new creative hobby and gain valuable skills that could help them in the future.  

The culmination of the workshops will be celebrated through a captivating photo exhibition at the school, where the best works of the participating students will be showcased, highlighting their creativity and achievements.  

Mr. R. Cilliers, Principal, Greenwood House School: “We are ecstatic to join hands with Canon in introducing the Canon Academy Juniors Programme at the school. This partnership promises an exhilarating journey for our learners, offering them an enriching experience in the world of photography. We are eager to witness the transformative impact that this experience will have on their confidence, creativity, and passion for photography.” 

Greenwood House School, situated in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, is recognized for its commitment to excellence in primary education. Catering to children aged 3 months to 10 years old, it offers classes from Creche to Primary, embracing diversity of cultural and religious backgrounds. Its dedication to quality education has garnered respect within Nigeria’s educational landscape.

Click here to learn more about Canon Academy Juniors: https://apo-opa.co/3L66Bpz  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/4colKib) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

This is a sponsored article on behalf of The Courtauld Gallery.

Children playing in a bombed-out Bermondsey building. Teddy Girls striking a pose at Battersea Funfair. A teen jiving on a now-demolished street in North Kensington. These are just some of the subjects immortalised in the work of self-taught British photographer Roger Mayne. This summer, you’ve got the chance to see 60 of his images — some of which have never been on public display before — at The Courtauld Gallery’s first ever photography exhibition.

Roger Mayne: Youth reassesses the photographer’s importance, through the lens of his black and white photographs of children and young people. Many of these were taken during the late 1950s and early 1960s in London, including the work for which he is perhaps best known: his documentation of children in Southam Street, which was later demolished as part of a slum clearance programme.

The exhibition — and its accompanying catalogue — casts Roger Mayne as a key figure in the emergence of documentary photography as an art form in post-war Britain. On top of his iconic street photography, though, The Courtauld Gallery will also be displaying an almost entirely unknown collection of images from later in his career, including shots of his own family taken in Dorset, and on his honeymoon in Spain (curator Jane Alison put the exhibition together in close collaboration with Mayne’s daughter, Katkin Tremayne).

Roger Mayne: Youth is at The Courtauld in Somerset House now, running until 1 September 2024. Your ticket includes entry to both the exhibition and the gallery’s permanent collection, where you’ll find paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts ranging from the Renaissance through to the 20th century. The gallery’s remarkable group of  Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings are especially worth a look, with world-famous works like Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies Bergère, and Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh, as well as the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK.

On top of all that, it’s a fantastic chance to see The Courtauld’s temporary display Vanessa Bell: A Pioneer of Modern Art, which features the Bloomsbury Group artist’s masterpiece A Conversation, alongside other paintings, a woodcut and bold, abstract textile designs. Be sure to also check out Henry Moore: Shadows on the Wall while you’re here, too. This temporary exhibition showcases haunting sketches made by sculptor Henry Moore, inspired by the scenes of Londoners seeking refuge in Underground stations during the Blitz.

Both are sticking around until the early autumn and are included with your ticket price— coupled with Roger Mayne: Youth, they comprise The Courtauld’s fantastic Summer of Art programme. Book your tickets today.

Roger Mayne: Youth is at The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House (Strand) until 1 September. Tickets here.

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Barbara Leon’s Lens Captures Mysteries Below the SurfaceWhat lurks beneath the lily pads? Underwater photographer Barbara Leon knows. The Gardiner resident grew up exploring nature and was certified in scuba diving at age 15. Escaping pandemic stress, she was drawn to the mystery of the aquatic underworld more recently.

“This all started when the pandemic hit. As many others experienced, I was feeling isolated and unconnected. Going beneath the water became my escape from the craziness of the world above. It was so much more than a new place to photograph. It was a sanctuary imbued with life and beauty and mysterious connections,” she says. 

Sprite, Barbara Leon, photograph, Dundas Bay, Alaska, 2021  
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Sprite, Barbara Leon, photograph, Dundas Bay, Alaska, 2021

Having worked as a podiatrist for 30 years, Leon seeks to merge science and art in her photography. “I have always been fascinated by photographing the natural world. The scientist in me wants to see the inner, nitty-gritty of things. The artist in me wants to see, and reveal, light, form, and connections that occur in nature. It’s the hidden beauty in everyday things that captivates me,” she says. 

Using a waterproof Olympus TG-6 camera to navigate challenging photographic conditions such as murky water and low light, she captures sights seldom seen by most humans. Leon’s perspective looks up toward the surface, and often she’s not alone. 

Wayward, Barbara Leon, photograph, Round Lake, Rhinebeck, 2021  
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Wayward, Barbara Leon, photograph, Round Lake, Rhinebeck, 2021

“While kayaking in the pristine waters of Alaska, I came upon this luminous jellyfish. As I got closer, it quickly plunged out of view. I had the photographer’s adrenaline rush of wanting to capture this incredible creature, but realized the jellyfish surely perceived me as a threat. I sat quietly and saw it appear again right next to me. I started shooting and, miraculously, this creature started swimming and diving around me. I can’t say why, but just as the jellyfish perceived I wasn’t a threat, I also didn’t feel threatened by it. We spent one mesmerizing hour together. I was not wearing a glove, and the water was frigid. I didn’t get stung, and I didn’t get frostbite!” she says. 

Leon’s underwater photographs comprise her first solo show, “Sub-merged,” at the Muse, a new multi-arts venue in Rosendale from June 12 through August 11. An opening reception will be held on July 12 from 5 to 9pm. 

An OF creator is facing a fierce backlash from her subs today after being accused of using one of the best real estate photographers to trick her subs. 

Flattering angles are the norm in the OF game but real estate photographers take it to a sickening new level. 

We spoke to one of her simps who said he couldn’t believe he’s spending $3.99 a month on an optical illusion. Adding,

“I really thought me and her giant booty had a connection. Turns out that was all based on trickery. It all came out when she accidentally posted a photo with a watermark. A significant mistake on her part!”

Judging by her photos, it looked like you could fit a family of 4 on that juicy fruity, in reality, it was probably more suitable for a bachelor and his cat. A Classic real estate trick.

We spoke to another simp who said he forgave her queen and was happy living a lie given she’d rejected all 450 of his requests to take her out on a romantic dinner to Hogs Breath Cafe in Kelmscott. He told The Times,

“How do real estate photographers do it? I thought I was working with a 3 car garage but it turns out you’d need to be careful backing a Barina up in there. Not that she’d ever allow my passionate brake lights anywhere near her house. I’m a bit lost in this metaphor now”

We spoke to the OF creator who conceded she’d taken camera trickery a step too far but at least she wasn’t using AI editing like some other models. Adding,

“If you stood at the same angle you’d see the same. So in this day and age that’s about as honest as you can get. I think a lot of simps don’t realise they are buying shares in Kleenex over AI edited or even fully fabricated images these days. Am I really the villain here?”

When she puts it like that. Perhaps not. 

Fair bump, play on Ms Top 1%.