Two days after entering the random drawing at NAB 2017, award-winning photojournalist and cinematographer Lance Murphey received a message: he had won a MK18-55mm T2.9 lens.

Two things made Lance Murphey stop at Fujifilm’s NAB booth: first he was impeded by the large crowd listening to noted DP Philip Bloom, second he was intrigued by the lightweight form factor of the Fujinon MK18-55mm zoom Bloom was holding. He was glad he stopped then,  because he had the chance to see the imagery the lens produced. Because he was here, he entered the random drawing and went his way.

Two days later, after entering a random drawing during Bloom’s presentation, the three-time Emmy-award winning DP and two-time Scripps Howard photographer of the year, was the proud winner of an MK18-55mm T2.9 lens.

“No one was more surprised than me when I got back to Boulder and received a text that I’d won the single most exciting new product at NAB this year,” said Murphey.

Primarily a one-man band and stills shooter who works with corporate clients, major media outlets and magazines, Murphey attributes his career as a newspaper photojournalist as shaping his shooting style: “I’m driven to create projects that open people’s minds and that encourage positive actions to transform our world. The gift of this incredible lens felt like a sign that I should redouble my efforts telling the untold stories of struggle, economic inequality and environmental impact in this world. I’m incredibly grateful to Fujifilm for this gift.”

Murphey just finished a video on an aspiring female horse jockey for TIME magazine and wrapped several shoots about diabetes for UNIVISION (. He’s currently in development on projects about refugees, girl power and environmental issues.

“I’m beyond excited to have a wide to medium-range, parfocal Cine lens like the MK18-55,” he added. “This will replace a set of heavy DSLR primes that I carry everywhere and constantly switch between, for different focal lengths, even on documentary shoots. It will also replace the convenient, but heavy breathing, kit lens. My initial tests with the lens have blown me away in terms of image quality, usability and weight. I’ve already determined I need to start saving for the MK 50-135mm to replace my other set of primes.”

Murphey recently switched to a Sony PXW-FS5 Super 35 4K Camera. For his aerial cinematography work covering large music festivals and events, he uses DJI Inspire1 and Phantom4 Pro drones.