To promote a new camera, Nikon enlisted 32 photographers from Asia, Africa and the Middle East to try it out and tell their stories on the company’s website.

But Nikon couldn’t — or didn’t — find any women to participate. All 32 were men.

It was a baffling oversight to many female photographers, who have no shortage of challenges finding opportunities in a notoriously male-dominated industry. In photojournalism, for example, women are underrepresented in staff jobs, awards, front-page placements and on conference panels, among other areas.

Still, the Nikon slight had people wondering: Not a single woman? Not one?

Nikon’s explanation, posted in a not-quite-apologetic statement on its Asia-focused Twitter account, cited a lack of “better participation from female photographers.”

“Unfortunately, the female photographers we had invited for this meet were unable to attend, and we acknowledge that we had not put enough of a focus on this area,” the company said.