Dubai: Salma Ali Al Suwaidi, the Emirati photographer, has been named the recipient of the ‘Photography Content Creator’ Award by the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA).
The award, part of HIPA’s 13th season focused on ‘Sustainability,’ comes with a USD $50,000 prize.
This award recognizes individuals such as editors, publishers, bloggers, promoters, influential researchers, and creative innovators who have contributed meaningfully to the photography world, bringing valuable insights and creativity.
Winners for the 13th Season will be officially announced in the coming days, with all recipients celebrated at a grand ceremony scheduled for November 12, 2024, at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HIPA, expressed his happiness at the presence of Emirati female innovators who are breaking barriers and making history through their outstanding achievements.
Al Owais praised Salma Al Suwaidi’s accomplishment as a holistic one, reflecting artistic, national, scientific and environmental significance. Al Owais also noted that these pioneering figures serve as an inspiring model for future generations, embodying the potential to achieve the extraordinary.
Ali Khalifa Bin Thalith, Secretary General of HIPA, expressed his congratulations to Emirati photographer Salma Ali Al Suwaidi, recognizing her dedication to studying and documenting the wildlife and bird species of the UAE. Bin Thalith emphasized that Salma’s book, a significant national achievement, is an essential research reference, providing valuable insights into the natural world.
Bin Thalith explained that the ‘Photography Content Creator’ Award was created to honor those whose photographic contributions enrich the cultural and artistic landscape, benefiting photographers, researchers, and art enthusiasts.
Salma’s book ‘Common Birds and Their Nests in the United Arab Emirates’ is considered as a pioneering artistic project and a significant scientific resource to many other fields. It has earned high praise from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who described its author as ‘a passionate photographer whose dedication has led her to explore nature and document the avian life of the UAE’.
Bin Thalith concluded that, “One of HIPA’s main goals is to support and honor national talent while inspiring the public to follow their example. Founded by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HIPA seeks to elevate UAE’s creative visual artists in the global photography industry. Salma Al Suwaidi perfectly represents this mission and the achievements it aims to inspire.”
Salma Al Suwaidi expressed that receiving HIPA’s Photography Content Creator Award carries deep personal significance, as it honors both skill and the unique value photographers bring to their field.
Salma praised HIPA’s in-depth research on her work and encouraged fellow photographers to pursue their passion with purpose. She advised them to add elements of investigation, science, or unique storytelling to their visuals to create lasting impact, going beyond pure aesthetics for genuine depth and value.