DUBAI (WAM)
H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, honoured winners of the 12th edition of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) at its annual awards ceremony held at the Dubai Opera.
The event was attended by various dignitaries and members of the photography community.
Ali bin Thalith, Secretary General of HIPA, extended his gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Patron of HIPA, for his support for both HIPA and the art of photography. "This year, we pay tribute to the concept of 'Diversity,' which is a hallmark of life on our planet. The Award seeks to deepen our appreciation and understanding of the remarkable diversity inherent in nature,” he said.
Bin Thalith further said, “Diversity was one of the key founding values of the UAE, which gave rise to a unique Emirati ethos marked by inclusiveness and tolerance.”
Commending the outstanding Emirati and Arab photographic talent featured in the Awards, he highlighted the notable achievements of Emirati photographers, such as Fatima AlMosa who won the Emerging Person in Photography Award and Abdalla Albuqaish who secured third place in the ‘Diversity’ category. “These accomplishments exemplify HIPA's vision and commitment to fostering excellence in the photography industry. The UAE’s growing presence in international creative photography is a source of pride for all of us," he said.
The Secretary General of HIPA also hailed the achievements of other Arab photographers highlighting the triple Kuwaiti victory, the commendable achievements of Saudi Arabia and Oman, and the Palestinian presence among the Award winners. "We have seen Arab creative photography touching new heights of excellence in recent years. Notably, 40 percent of Award winners hail from Arab countries, signifying the growing profile of photographers from the region on the global stage." While Kuwait secured three awards, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman each clinched two awards.
At the ceremony, Ali bin Thalith unveiled the theme for the upcoming season: ‘Sustainability’.
Grand Prize
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid honoured Massimo Giorgetta from Italy, who won the US$120,000 Grand Prize for his photo documenting a mysterious sea creature from the Jellyfish Tunicate family covered with other marine creatures.
Special Awards
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid honoured Special Award winners with the ‘Photography Appreciation Award’. Dutch photographer Frans Lanting was honoured for his outstanding contribution to photography in the fields of nature and the environment.
The ‘Photography Content Creator Award’ was awarded to American photographer Margaret Steber, described by National Geographic magazine in 2013 as a ‘visionary’. She is a fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and has worked for Newsweek and the Associated Press. Her photographs are displayed in several prestigious institutions in the world, including the US Library of Congress.
The ‘Emerging Person in Photography Award’ was presented to Emirati photographer Fatima AlMosa, in appreciation of her outstanding work. Her photographs feature a visual methodology that relies on black and white, away from the distraction of colours. Fatima is dedicated to expressing creativity by capturing the essence of the past, commemorating history, and highlighting the heritage of previous generations, including their culture and way of life. Through her work, she aims to share her culture while emphasising the values of harmony and coexistence.
Diversity Awards
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid also honoured the winners of ‘Diversity’ Awards. Imre Potyó from Hungary secured the first place, while Mohammed Al Bahar Rawas from the Sultanate of Oman was placed second. Abdalla Albuqaish from the UAE won the third spot and Mohammed Yousef AlKandari from Kuwait took fourth place, while the fifth place went to his compatriot Mohammed AlQattan.
The award ceremony was also attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi; Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of Dubai’s Community Development Authority; and His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library.
General Awards
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability (UICCA), honoured the winners of the General Awards in both Colour and Black White categories. Aleksandr Chehonin from the Russian Federation was placed first in the General – Colour category while Bader Ali Hussain from Kuwait came second and Indian photographer Hermis Valiyandiyil came third.
In the General – Black White category, Ravi Kanth Kurma from India came first, followed by Saudi photographer Talib Abdullah Al Marri in second place, and Omani photographer Salim Sultan Al Hajri in third place.
Portfolio Awards
Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and Chairman of the HIPA Board of Trustees, honoured the winners of the Portfolio Category. Australian photographer Scott Portelli won first place and Arif Hudaverdi Yaman from Türkiye came second, while the third place went to Brent Stirton from the USA, followed by Antonio Aragon Renuncio from Spain in fourth place and Dutch photographer Jasper Doest in fifth place.
Digital Art Awards
Majid Abdulrahman Al Bastaki, HIPA Board of Trustees, honoured the winners of the Digital Art Category. Wanhua Zhao from China won the first place, followed by Palestinian photographer Mahmoud Alkurd in second place, Hannelore Schneider from Germany in third place, Jawharah Saeed Alzahrani from Saudi Arabia in fourth place, and Irina Petrova from Russian Federation in fifth place.
Following the award ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Ali bin Thalith, toured the exhibition held in conjunction with the event.