From resilience to solitude and hope to gratitude, prolific photographers from Canon EMEA’s Ambassador Programme share the images that tell the emotional story of this pivotal year

This unique year in pictures documents not just what we have seen but highlights the roller coaster of emotions experienced across the globe throughout this turbulent year. Through the lens of 19 world-leading photographers including award-winning commercial and wildlife photographer, Clement Kiragu, Paris-based portrait photographer, Guia Besana, and two-time Pulitzer winning photojournalist, Muhammed Muheisen, we see a multitude of emotions. From the resilience in the face of adversity shown by the bride and groom at their micro-wedding (captured by Sanjay Jogia), to the feeling of contemplative solitude while sitting in front of the historical site of Mada'in Saleh during these challenging times (captured by Tasneem Alsultan), and the love shown by a carer who lived onsite to lessen the chances of bringing the virus into the care home (captured by Eddie Keogh) - against a difficult and challenging backdrop, the sense of humanity and hope these images depict is clear.  

The Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme brings together some of the world’s best photographers and videographers from across EMEA to celebrate visual storytelling and share stories that resonate. In November 2020, more than 50 new ambassadors joined the programme – the biggest expansion in the initiative’s 12-year history - taking the total number of Canon Ambassadors to over 100.

Commenting on the images, Susie Donaldson, ITCG European Marketing Director for Canon EMEA said: “When words fail us, there is no better way to express our emotions than through the power of imagery. Canon’s fantastic group of Ambassadors have perfectly captured the highs and lows we’ve collectively experienced during 2020 through this selection of powerful images.”