Anime photoshoot featuring Zeiss new lens causes backlash; Zeiss apologizes
Jul 8, 2019
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
Share:
Earlier this year, Zeiss announced the Otus 100mm f/1.4 lens and it was promoted at Anime Fest in Brno (Czech) this May. After the event, the company tweeted a few photos of a model holding the lens, wearing a Disney-inspired Ariel (as in, The Little Mermaid) costume. However, there was such a backlash from the community, that Zeiss had to issue an apology to everyone who found the photos offensive.
On 28 June current year, Zeiss tweeted:
“Recently, the visitors of #animefest2019 in Brno (Czech) had the chance to test our #ZEISS lenses. Ariel didn’t hesitate and chose our new #ZEISSOtus 1.4/100!Photographer: Creative Wolves, model: Katka Kavanová”
Recently, the visitors of #animefest2019 in Brno (Czech) had the chance to test our #ZEISS lenses. Ariel didn't hesitate and chose our new #ZEISSOtus 1.4/100!
photographer: Creative Wolves, model: Katka Kavanová pic.twitter.com/H5OrZR62c6— ZEISS Camera Lenses (@ZEISSLenses) June 28, 2019
As you can see, the photos show “Ariel” looking at the lens with affection, and there’s a BTS shot of the photographer who was taking photos of her. Judging from the comments, I think that Zeiss achieved the opposite effect of what it was hoping for.
Most of the comments come from people who feel “disappointed” and “disgusted” by the photos. Many of them have called out Zeiss for “using” women to sell products, wondering “what decade we live in.” Some comments point to the fact that Ariel didn’t really choose the lens, considering that it isn’t attached to any sort of camera body. Some of them go as far as to claim that photos like this are “what have help[ed] make [their] life as a female professional photographer harder for the last 30 years.” On the other hand, there are also those who don’t see the problem, but they’re in the minority.
If Ariel chose it, maybe have her use it with a camera rather than make her sit like a prop.
— Chirag Wakaskar (@chiragwakaskar) June 29, 2019
They didn't think this through. This whole ad is just wrong… Plus, if Ariel really chose the lens, why isn't it attached to any sort of camera body?
— PJ misses enhypen :C ²⁹ ⁰² (@pjdejesus) July 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/Trev044/status/1145280357090115584
The mainly angry comments poured in for three days. And then, Zeiss issued an apology:
“Dear Community, We apologize for any offense caused by this post as part of an anime event. We have listened to your feedback and take your comments very seriously. Thank you for your engagement on such an important topic.”
Dear Community,
We apologize for any offense caused by this post as part of an anime event. We have listened to your feedback and take your comments very seriously. Thank you for your engagement on such an important topic.— ZEISS Camera Lenses (@ZEISSLenses) July 1, 2019
I personally think that using women to sell any sort of stuff is wrong and ridiculous. However, in this particular case, I don’t see such a major problem. Are the photos cringeworthy? Sure they are, at least in my opinion. But here’s why I don’t think people should be offended by them to such a huge extent.
First, there is a photographer trying out the lens, he’s even shown in one of the photos. Katka Kavanová, or “Ariel,” is a model, not a photographer. So, why would she mount the lens onto a camera and use it? And second, as one Twitter user points out, Kavanová is totally “in character.” If you’ve seen the movie, you’d know that Ariel can’t possibly know what a lens or camera is. I mean, she used a fork to comb her hair, why on Earth would she know how to use a camera lens?
She’s just doing what we does. Look at her Instagram. She enjoys being portraid like this.
And, she’s in character. Ariel doesn’t know what a lens or camera is.
Similar could be said of the photographer.
Huge amount of virtue signaling and fallout culture on display here.— Helge Frisenette (@Frisenette) July 1, 2019
The bottom line is that Zeiss could have thought this through a bit better. In other words, if they really wanted to Tweet photos of “Ariel” holding a lens, maybe all this fuss could have been avoided by paying more attention to the wording. From what I saw on Twitter, some users seem to have the same opinion.
What do you think?
[image credits: Zeiss]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
Related Posts
Rihanna posts photoshopped photos of Queen Elizabeth II, causes backlash from fans
500px threatens to ban an artist after featuring him as “Photoshop Master” on its own blog
Vogue Italia “helps the environment” by featuring no photos in its latest issue
Sony apologises for “misunderstanding” after backlash over July 7th product launch date
Join the Discussion
DIYP Comment Policy
Be nice, be on-topic, no personal information or flames.
66 responses to “Anime photoshoot featuring Zeiss new lens causes backlash; Zeiss apologizes”
What I think? That people should stop being offended or butthurt by literally ANYTHING!
Too many imbeciles with too much time (and internet) on their hands…
to many buthurt idiots with to much free time that don’t have anything better to get offended by…
Eh? That’s offensive? How?
LMAOL !!! WoW! Nowadays everything is offensive!
Yet the real offense goes by unchecked! ??
The real question, would you see the same outrage if it was a bare chested man or kittens?
Yann Poirier very good point. A few male nipples and a kitten walking across his shoulders whilst caressing his lens would not be considered narcissistic.
Just read that back. Not exactly the right words …???
I think “who cares?” people are so dumb rather than take the opportunity to do the thing you thought should have been done … you get bent because the person responsible didn’t do it the way you would have?
What are the odds the people complaining can’t even afford a Zeiss lens?
People need to lighten the fuck up!! That’s a cool shoot. Nowadays you never know what “offends” people. Quite ridiculous!
People are ridiculous.
What? They were at an Anime fest and used a cosplay model. Come on people, lighten up!
The perpetually offended cult strikes again.
Ignore EVERY ONE of those virtue signaling hypocrisy laced buffoons. They are just mad they weren’t there and just want attention. They would 100% have loved shoot a cosplay model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceS_jkKjIgo
Well, that’s a fault of the art director. Quite obviously you’d have to exaggerate the outfit of a model that is reflecting a fantasy figure. Currently it could easily be interpreted as a narcissistic approach to advertising. If the art director had done its job , the photo would probably not be as controversial…
Kryn Sporry its not contraversial. Its a model admiring a lense.. If you see it as a cock then thats your fucking problem
Clayton Glover im assuming that with “your fucking problem” you mean “their fucking problem “.
I’m perfectly ok with it. I’m not insulted at all. Nice image. No problem for me. What I meant to say is that I can understand how over sensitive millennials Male a big deal out of this. I’m not saying I agree or approve of that point of view.
Much ado about nothing!!!
Literally nothing wrong with a single picture here other than being generally not creative. Bunch of nonsense from over sensitive idiots finding something new to be offended by.
Grow up people, if your mind goes somewhere Then that’s you, there’s nothing wrong with the ad
I find nothing wrong with the whole concept.
Jesus christ.. I just want to kill myself. This world is no longer worth living in. For fucks sake does every GODAMNED have to be a controversy? Every fucking thing is offensive. People just cannot shut the fuck up and mind their own business. Offended? Then poke your damn eyes out.
Not everything is Sexist Racist..etc..etc. This world sucks.. Lol
Thanks Obama!!
People love to complain for the sake of complaining.
These aren’t advertising shots as the complainers state, they are clearly (as outlined in the original post) some behind the scenes snapshots of an anime model who happened to pass the stand and posed for a quick shot with a lens… nothing more.
So what if the lens isn’t attached to a camera, the model happens to be female, or whatever other ‘issue’ people can concoct…
It’s like people are desperate to show others how fragile they are, that everything offends them.
oh, come on people!
Half of the complainers can’t even afford a Zeiss lens
People do not realize that Ariel is the male photographer and Katka is the model? Really? FYI, ususlly for a female the name Arielle is spelled with an ‘E’ at the end.
Anyway, does not look like anything of a problem to me. If it was a man would it be any different?
Dumb Dumb Dumb
Wait so they were disgusted by the photos? But its a fucking Anime convention, try telling some woman in cosplay she is demeaning herself, she will prob respond ” Fuck you its freedom!”
Really????????
I’m not sure what is wrong with this it must be cause the new Ariel is black and this one is not
Think Zeies should just do a reshoot this time of a MaN modeling the lens??? personally I dont see nothing wrong with it, people just wanna complain and be offended for the sake of it! We too easy to offend and at the same time too insensitive to other things!
Until companies start taking a stand against such lunacy and PC appropriation, this stuff will continue. They only listen to those with big mouths and until people with big wallets walk away, this is going to get worse.
People being offended by these photos really need to re-evaluate their lives.
And Zeiss are a bunch of idiots for apologising for any offence caused.
They apologized now and they get all “woke” points you guys! We should give them our money now!
– Literally No One
Grow the hell up you stupid ass femenist. What the hell is wrong with your heads I found this not even near offensive if you wanted to ever get on someone using women to sell products what about Hardee’s a few years ago. Give me a break you idiotic femenist need your pathetic heads checked. I pray to God my girls don’t have friends that think like all of you dumbasses. The photo is beautiful. So is the model. Maybe they are representing the new upcoming mermaid from Disney that they completley fucked. The girl is beautiful who is going to play ariel it’s not supposed to be that way and for those who say the people that are not happy with the casting of little mermaid is racist you’re idiots it’s not a race thing you’re making it a race thing quit just quit. It’s not the old times anymore. …
its a product shoot who cares lol if this type of thing affects you it may be time to talk to a professional counselor
Justin Prim you are talking about 90 percent of the internet population. They are bothered by everything.
I am offended by that comment and have reported it.
Neither offensive nor cringe worthy. People need to get over being offended at everything.
This is stupid. Zeiss did nothing wrong. It’s a beautiful model holding a lens. That model got paid good to model for this ad and she agreed to do it. This “feminism” shit is really silencing the voices of individual women who hope to make the choices they want to make as adults. The voices of all these “concerned” people are damaging the liberties of others because they’re uncomfortable with something they have no say about or insight on. Time to move on as a society and grow to just deal with the fact that things aren’t always how we want them to be.
jesusrollerbladingchrist, people. The list of shit to REALLY worry about is phenomenally long…and I don’t think this is on it.
I have a question for people offended by this.
Do… do ya remember the freaking movie????
https://youtu.be/SXKlJuO07eM
feminazis…..why the fuck do companies care for those dumbasses? theyll never buy anything from you anyway. they cant cuz they so broke.
Zeiss need to shoot another ad with Prince Eric holding a teenie teenie weenie pancake lens on his crotch just like Ariel is holding a big phallus shaped object near hers to suggest she is happy to invite a phallus near her privates. Do it Zeiss! I would love to see that ad!
How is a camera lens a phallus shaped object?
Do you hide all the eggplants and zucchini in the store in case you get aroused?
I do agree that they should reshoot it with a topless guy and see if it gets the same reaction.
One of the many reasons I just couldn’t get into Twitter. The puerile virtue signaling, grandstanding, and whining is too irksome to stomach.
A fair criticism of the photography itself: not that good.
In the cartoon movie, she was amazed at a thingy mabobber, “fork” and combed her hair with it. This was simply a cosplay character substituting a lens for the fork and playing the part. Get over it, I can’t believe conversations like this are common these days.
Wow. Didn’t expect this flame to happend. Just wow.
It is getting ridiculous. I hope it soon reaches the point when everyone is offended and nobody cares :D
I bet that this “offended” have never been to this kind of fest before!
Never apologise to Twitter retards. Never.
I find the color of the lens is offensive
You, sir, owe me a new keyboard. I spit tea all over this one. You win the Interwebz for today.
That’s right, why does it always have to be black or white, what about a grey lens so we don’t offend anybody?? Would THAT be possible? That would be a huge problem for people who believe that things can only be black or white.
Take a stand man take a stand!!
they posted them to twitter, it’s the home of the offended.
The photos themselves are just lame.really nothing special.
OMG. It is for a Anime event. Perfect choice. Those who are offended should stand up and unwad their panties.
Too much haters and total lack of sense of humor.
I really don’t see what all the uproar is about. The photo itself is pretty uninspired and lame IMO. What is it they find so offensive?? Lol. People are so easily offended nowadays. I mean really!!
What I think? THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
What if we told you the model picked her own outfit herself and she loved how she looks ?? Why are you people commenting on her choice and decision ?? The person commenting about how she is just holding the lens looking amazed obviously have never even seen the movie.
Thank you for creating a situation for those with no life, to complain they are offended. From pseudo-feminist , to zealots, to basement dwellers… you’ve given them a perceived relevance for their bubble-life 15 minutes.
I’m mostly offended that they chose Ariel from Disney to advertise to an anime community. That’s like doing a Jedi photoshoot for a Star Trek convention. Will all Trekkies hate it? No. But it’s clearly not the same audience.
IKR
Firstly it’s an anime convention, secondly the lens is probably going to be mainly used to shoot portraits of women.
She isn’t exactly scantily clad or nude