8 finalists fought their way through to the last stage of the competition in Vienna. Of these, 4 were recognised as the winners of The Assignment. Their prize was to embark on the photographic experience of a lifetime. You can follow their adventures and see the results of their work here:
Portrait
United Kingdom
The Assignment: Ivan Hoo, a 22-year old Cambridge University student, dreams of becoming a professional fashion photographer.
For The Assignment, Ivan is attending London Fashion week (15-19 September) to document the experiences of an up-and-coming designer.
Shooting on his new EOS 450D, Ivan will have at his disposal the ultra wide angle zoom Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens as well as the professional lightweight zoom, the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.
Sport
Czech Republic
The Assignment: David Bernard from the Czech Republic has wanted to become a professional photographer for years. This part-time fireman is fascinated by under-represented sports, so he is travelling to Iceland to cover the Swamp Football Cup. Armed with his new EOS 450D, David will primarily be shooting using a long-range Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM zoom lens – the choice of the professionals.
Macro
France
The Assignment: Frenchman Alain Laboile specialises in macro photography. His Assignment entails flying to the Kakamega Rainforest, Kenya, home to approximately 160 species of tree and shrub as well as 370 types of bird. Amid this teeming wildlife, Alain will encounter many unique opportunities for one-of-a-kind shots. Using his EOS 450D, Alain’s kit will consist of the ultra wide-angle EF 17-40mm f/4L USM zoom lens, the high performance telephoto zoom EF 70-200mm f/4L USM, and a specialist ring light.
Landscape
Germany
The Assignment: Dave Derbis will travel to the Reykjanes peninsula, a volcanic system lying at the South Western rim of Iceland. His assignment will combine both his passion for photography and trial biking. Travelling by bike, Dave is tasked with capturing the stunning volcanoes, lava fields and sulphur springs of this otherworldly ‘fire and ice’ terrain. He will test his new Canon EOS 450D to the limit, using a long-range EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM zoom and the lightweight EF 17-40mm f/4L USM.