"Canon Get Closer" Campaign Brings The Past To The Present In Penang

It was a fun filled trip last weekend when a whole bunch of bloggers and media flew to Penang to witness the unveiling of the "Canon Get Closer" Campaign. So what exactly is the campaign and where can you find the locations to enjoy the flash triggered "Canon Get Closer" projectors? Read on below.

"Canon Get Closer" Campaign Brings The Past To The Present In Penang

Travel back in time for a moment and see Penang for what it really was without leaving the present. Then take a quick picture of that original façade in its quaint form as proof you saw history revealed before your eyes. 

Walking along the historical streets of Penang towards Sekeping Victoria where the launch event was held

Noticed an interesting mural en route

The launch for the "Canon Get Closer" was held at a rather interesting venue, Sekeping Victoria which had a very unique decor, emitting a rustic feel at every corner. It was my first time over to Sekeping Victoria, but from what I gathered, they have these boutique hotels in various other parts of Malaysia as well. Check out some of the photos I managed to capture of the environment in Sekeping Victoria below.

Sekeping Victoria

The venue, before the start of the "Canon Get Closer" launch

Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is bringing to the Pearl of the Orient the “Canon Get Closer” initiative, a chance for locals as well as tourists to get a closer look, through the eye of the camera lense and discover the secret behind Penang’s lure and why it has been such a quintasential destination for centuries. 

A bird's eye view from the rooms at the 2nd floor of Sekeping Victoria

Enter Sekeping Victoria, and be transported to the past

The “Canon Get Closer” campaign is designed to bring the love of photography to the next level, primarily by enriching tourist hotspots with its own existing historical heritage. Canon has done this by opening virtual windows into the historic past of those hotspots by way of augmented reality – projections of the hotspot’s original façade and state.

Flash-triggered “Canon Get Closer” projectors have been strategically placed all over Penang where tourists flock and locals hang out. When a passers-by take pictures of the heritage sites, the camera’s flash will trigger a momentary projection of that particular site, but in its historic form.

Canon Get Closer projectors have been strategically placed all over Penang 

While the campaign employs Canon’s cutting-edge technology, the entire experience will bring both the local Penang-ites and tourists closer to the heart of Penang – its rich cultural and historical background which made Penang what it is today.

Mr. Wataru Nishioka, President and CEO of Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd giving the opening speech

“Photography is the most beautiful form of history-archiving. It allows us to capture precious memories that will last for years after the experience has expired. It keeps that healthy presence of the past while moving into the future”, explains Mr. Wataru Nishioka, President and CEO of Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. 

Flash triggered images from "Canon Get Closer" projectors is a novelty to be enjoyed by Penangites today

The models at the launch event

Mr. Wataru explained that Penang’s status as one of UNESCO’s Heritage sites made it an obvious choice for this campaign.

“However, over the years, these historical sights have dimmed into obscurity. A tourists could be standing on a goldmine of history, but is completely oblivious to it. Seeing that extravagant waste, we came out with a campaign that will not only pique the curiosity of tourists, it will also bring a breath of fresh air to the entire experience by allowing them to immerse in the essence of the past for that brief moment”, he said.

Mr Wataru at the launch

Adding on to Mr. Wataru’s vision, Mr. Donny Ling, Director - Imaging Communication Product Division, Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. remarked, “It’s not the product specs or the complexity of the equipment. It is about the good old joy of photography which can be celebrated alone or with a wider audience. It’s not the hardware and technology because we already have that, but it’s the software that we’re after. The sheer joy of shooting, framing, composing, and capturing a moment in time, from our eyes. That’s the philosophy of Canon, where we believe in letting our pictures and technology to do the talking.”

And it's launched!

I hope I did not confuse you with a bunch of words. In a nutshell this campaign witnesses the launch of these very cool front projection "Canon Get Closer" projectors which will project a rather nice historical image triggered by the flash of your camera. Placed at strategic historical spots around Penang, tourists and locals alike will be able to snap a photo and enjoy the technology behind this marvel. A rather novelty idea, and a noble one at that, to increase the love for photography. Kudos Canon for this!

A closer look at the "Canon Get Closer" flash triggered projector

The “Canon Get Closer” Campaign will run from 28th February until 28th March 2015, at selected iconic and tourist locations around Penang (refer table below). The Canon Get Closer Projection Team will be at all locations from 5:00pm – 10:00pm at the  following locations

Excited passers-by taking pictures at Fort Conwallis using the "Canon Get Closer" projectors

The second part of this campaign is a photo contest opened to all consumers – locals and tourist alike. All one has to do is visit (all 8) the weekly locations and snap a picture with the canon history projection, caption these photos with your own related history, Visit/Like  the Canon Camera Malaysia Facebook page and upload your photograph(s) for a chance to win Canon cameras up to RM20,000.00. 

For more information about the campaign, the eight (8) locations and the contest, please visit https://www.facebook.com/canoncameramsia.

Just me, at Sekeping Victoria, lending my support to the awesome "Canon Get Closer" Campaign

 “Again, this goes beyond Canon being more than a camera – it’s about capturing and making new memories. And today, thanks to Canon’s Imaging Technology, we can not only refresh our memories but share them with others too”, shares Mr. Wataru. The “Canon Get Closer” campaign is also recognized and endorsed by The Penang State Tourism Board. 

So if you're in Penang, and have not yet checked out the locations listed on the table above, be sure to check them out. What do you know, you could be walking away with RM20,000 worth of Canon cameras should you win their contest!