Dubai: UAE’s Government Media Office has partnered with the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards (HIPA) to launch the World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition.
Held on the sidelines of the second season of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign, the contest expects to familiarize residents and tourists with the activities available in winter in the country all while exploring diversity of its touristic and recreational attractions, the beauty of its natural landscapes, and the hospitality of its people.
THE COMPETITON
The competition will highlight the UAE’s entertainment, culture and natural landmarks, and promote the variety of its tourism activities. It will also celebrate the country’s creativity behind the lens by inviting people to capture the natural landscapes and diverse wildlife of the UAE.
The contest will feature two main categories;
One Photo
Open to everyone, the category has five subcategories namely, Desert, Sea, Mountains, Valleys, and Emirates from Above.
Portfolio
Open only for professional photographers, the category has four subcategories namely, Emirates in Your Eyes, Emirates Wilderness, Faces from Emirates, and Street Life in Emirates.
The participants must be at least 18 years of age. Submissions of the photos can be done through the online registration page on HIPA’s website (hyperlink to: www.hipa.ae).
The competition which begins on the 20th of December 2021 will run till 20th January 2022, concluding with an award ceremony for the winners.
PRIZE MONEY
The total prize money of the contest is $68064.25 (AED250,000) where $1,905.80 (AED7,000) each will be handed over to the winners of the five subcategories under One Photo. Winner of four subcategories under Portfolio will receive $13,612.85 (AED50,000) each.
Participants in the One Photo category are also expected to share their photo on their Instagram account with the campaign’s official hashtag: #WorldsCoolestWinter.
The UAE’s natural, touristic and cultural landmarks inspire viewers to see them through a new lens. The World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition, which is being organized in collaboration with HIPA, will capture the magnificence of these landmarks and put them centre stage. It will also familiarize residents and visitors from abroad with the beauty that the UAE holds.
Ms. Alia Al Hammadi, Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, remarked while commenting on the competition.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary-General of HIPA, stated that, “Photographs strongly influence emotion and spark excitement, meaning they can make a significant impression on any audience. We are delighted to manage the World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition, and strongly support the photography community here in the UAE, including hobbyists and professionals, to play a role in promoting UAE winter culture and tourism. I look forward to seeing their skills and talent competing for the prizes and also the experience and knowledge they have gained along the way.”
Each submission will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of expert judges with international awards for creative photography and photojournalism.
The expert panel includes Mr. John Stanmeyer, an American World Press Photo of the Year winning photojournalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, Ms. Barbara Davidson from Canada.