Forget your typical events and holiday destinations like Christmas light-ups or yet another shopping trip. If you’re planning a year end getaway, opt for something a little different this year; something definitely worth immortalising on film (or your Instagram account).

 

The Pushkar Camel Festival 

EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, ISO200, 105mm, f/8, 1/400sec by Jassi Oberai

One of the biggest events in India, the Pushkar Fair is India’s largest tribal gathering that happens in mid-November. Held in Rajasthan, the fair features performances by musicians and dancers from the Thar Desert, cattle traders, shopkeepers, merchants and artisans. This is definitely not your typical run-of-the-mill experiences, with plenty to see and do over the 5 days the fair is held.

Shooting street portraits from a distance or under low-light conditions?
Check out the Compact and Lightweight 24-105mm STM Model and see how it can help you.

 

Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Light 

EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, ISO1250, 24mm, f/8, 0.6sec by Jay

We’re all familiar with the magnificent Niagara Falls, but here’s your chance to see it in a different light – literally! From November to the end of January annually, the Niagara Falls is illuminated with more than 125 animated displays, offering a dramatic perspective that is both dazzling to look at and to shoot! Held in Ontario, the festival also offers an outdoor ice skating rink and spectacular fireworks shows.

 

Angkor Wat International Half-Marathon 

EOS 7D, EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, ISO100, 15mm, f/7.1, 1/60sec by Brian Fagan

Whether you’re into workouts or not, the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon is definitely worth checking out if you’re into landscape or sports photography – where else in the world will you get to capture great action shots with a UNESCO World Heritage site as your backdrop? Held in December, the annual race started in 1996 with the intention to raise relief for the victims of antipersonnel mines in Cambodia and garner support for the ban on the manufacturing and inhumane use of these weapons.

For fast scenes and a scene this magnificent, you’ll probably want an EOS 7D Mark II for its high-continuous shooting and a 65 all-cross Auto Focus (AF) system.

 

Whale Watching In Maui 

EOS 7D, EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens, ISO320, 160mm, f/7.1, 1/1250sec by NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

This December, go on an exciting marine wildlife adventure off the coast of Maui and experience one of the last remaining great migrations of the animal kingdom. Witness the majesty that is the annual Winter migration of the North Pacific Humpback Whales as they make their way past the crystalline shores of Hawaii. There are plenty of tour companies that will take you close up to these magnificent beasts, but we recommend opting for those that donate portions of the proceeds to whale research and conservation.

Always be ready to capture these moments with EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, with its brilliant AF speed and incredible range of zoom designed for sports and action.

 

The Junkanoo Parade 

EOS 5D Mark III, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens, ISO5000, 16mm, f/4, 1/1250sec by Erik Kruthoff
Tuba players in the annual all-night Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade in Nassau, The Bahamas. Junkanoo is a carnivalesque tradition with West African roots. Unlike New Orleans' Mardi Gras or Rio's Carnival, Junkanoo remains virtually tourist free and offers a truly authentic Bahamian experience.

Escape cold winters and soak up some sun in the Bahamas! While you’re there, make sure you’re around for their famed Junkanoo Parade, a celebration of dance and music that parades through the streets of Nassau. Think goatskin drums and cowbells making up some of the instruments you’ll hear, incredibly imaginative handmade costumes and dance troupes of up to 1,000 people making merry on the streets. Now that’s a sight worth capturing.

The EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens is perfect when you’re in tight spaces, such as the Junkanoo Parade, thanks to its ultra-wide angle of 16mm that allows you to get close to your subject yet capture everything in the frame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are some events that you'll definitely take your camera with you? Tell us!

 

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