Arresting shots spread worldwide
KISSING COUPLE, RICHARD LAM, 2011
On June 15, 2011, rioting broke out in Vancouver, Canada, after the city’s Canucks ice hockey team lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. Among the night’s chaotic scenes, the most attention-grabbing picture seemed to show a couple passionately kissing in the road.
The image went viral and was tweeted around the world. However, it wasn’t actually a moment of romantic abandon. Alexandra Thomas had been knocked down by riot police and was dazed; her concerned boyfriend Scott Jones was comforting her with a kiss.
A year later, it was reported that the couple had moved to Jones’ native Australia. A print of the image, given by Richard Lam, was hanging proudly on their bedroom wall..
Innovations and advances
The Fuji FinePix Real 3D W1, the first digital stereo camera produced by a major manufacturer, went on sale in 2009. It incorporated two 10MP CCD sensors, two 35-105mm zoom lenses and allowed simultaneous 3D and 2D capture. The system included a digital picture viewer, which allowed you to see stereoscopic images without 3D glasses.
In 2010, Canon announced it had developed the world’s largest CMOS image sensor. It measured 202 x 205mm, around 40 times the size of a full-frame sensor, and could capture images with as little as one hundreth the amount of light needed for a professional digital SLR.
And it was goodbye to… Kodachrome film, which Kodak discontinued in 2009.