Building on a five-year tradition of inspiring artistic and intellectual talents to propagate the true spirit of photography and highlight its crucial role in the creation of a culture, as well as giving recognition to innovators worldwide, HIPA resumes its journey with you today to declare “Challenge” as the main theme category for the Sixth Edition of the Awards. This choice of category is meant to provoke photographers’ inner thoughts and life impressions in search for the visuals that give expression to the meaning of challenge as they understand it from their own experience, and the individuality through which they treat it through the lens of a camera.
You may have noticed that HIPA this year is adding a new tone to its outlook, which is ushering in a new stage in its journey towards photographic endeavour, in pursuit of added knowledge and skills for further advancement of its global audience in 193 countries.
Following the easy flowing, heart warming theme of Happiness, we now hear a strong call in the “challenge” theme, which seeks to mobilise our mental skills, visual memory and creative power to produce powerful and effective visual expressions that go beyond the single photo format, into a sequence of photos that is completely different in nature and requirements from the single photo, and that make the photographer truly a story teller. This is the Photo Feature category.
Furthermore, in recognition of the great technological leap that has allowed photographers to develop new skillsets in the editing and manipulation of photographs, HIPA has opened the door wide open for photographers’ imagination through the launch of the Digital Manipulation category. Finally, the General Category will continue to be a space for pure creative photography that breaks all formats and norms, offering photographers the opportunity to freely sail on their own journey of discovery where no one else has been – whether in black and white or coloured photography.
Thus, creativity and innovation are open to you on different platforms, and wherever your talent lies you have the opportunity to create a work of art you can truly be proud of.
THE CHALLENGE
Photographers are very familiar with the challenges faced in their line of work. They often have to deal with challenges in order to be able to capture the right image at the right moment and deliver the intended message or provoke the right feelings. However, this category is about conveying the theme of challenge in a clear manner either in the way the photograph was shot or in its content and subject matter. The scope is quite wide; the challenge could be shown in the composition of the picture, the arrangement of its elements, sequence, the lighting, or in expressing the odd and unusual (without digital manipulation). It can be in capturing a fleeting moment that may never pass again, or in delivering a piece of information or situation that is quite hard for most people to do. Don’t limit your mind to what the challenge may be; seek it and capture it.
General
This category remains as attractive as ever for photographers who have an outstanding eye for photography that doesn’t necessarily fall into any of the other categories. Year after year, this category has gained quality and diversity, with a constant share of about a third of all entries registered in HIPA. Accordingly, HIPA has widened the scope for this category and will offer participants two opportunities instead of one; thus dividing it into two sub-categories: One for Black and White entries, to give deserved substance to this classic art form, and the other is for Coloured entries, giving participants the option to dazzle the jury and viewers with their colours.
PORTFOLIO (STORY-TELLING)
This category invites photographers to convince the jury of their photographic talents and skills combined with their knowledge in a particular topic or theme of their choice by telling a story through photographs. The challenge here lies in imagining the desired setting of the photographs before capturing them in separate frames that would tell the story on their behalf.
The Portfolio category is an innovative addition to HIPA which no doubt breaks the barrier(s) of the single photograph and the single moment, and allows for the planning and execution of a story from various different angles and perspectives with differing or contrasting moments. This is a unique core challenge for HIPA in its sixth edition. Take up the challenge!
DIGITAL MANIPULATION
Digital manipulation of photography has reached unprecedented highs that could never have been dreamt of before. In fact, it has arguably become an art form of its own.
Therefore in recognition of this art, HIPA is giving creative photographers with digital skills the opportunity to deliver an out-of-this-world image that is both convincing and realistic; a mind-blowing image from the realms of fantasy that challenges human perception with its apparent reality.
We invite all creative photographers to let their imaginations loose by taking real photos and digitally manipulating them to unreal levels of art, beauty and thought provocation.
This category will no doubt usher in a high level of competitiveness in creativity and digital skills... The sky is the limit.
Special Awards
PHOTOGRAPHY APPRECIATION AWARD (PERSONAL, GROUP OR TEAM AWARD)*
There are many passionate people within the photography industry who are dedicated and relentless in their pursuit for excellence. These people offer their services and expertise without expecting a return on their efforts and therefore form a vital part of the photographic community.
The ‘Photography Appreciation Award’ is a special category for a person or group who has shown long-standing commitment to enhancing the art of photography. By awarding the recipient, HIPA hopes to give back a small amount of the respect and appreciation they deserve.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH/REPORT AWARD*
Research requires an unprecedented commitment of time and effort towards a particular field of study. It is invaluable in helping mankind create the future and advance knowledge and capabilities.
The Hamdan International Photography Award aims to enhance the ever-developing research field within photography by introducing the ‘Photographic Research/Report Award’.
The Award will celebrate research that reflects excellence in the field of photography. This strengthens the strategic goal of the award, which to develop the art of photography for the entire photographic community.
*Participants may enter these two special awards by invitation only.
WHAT’S NEW
- Season Theme The Challenge will be the main theme of the season.
- Grand Prize The Grand Prize (USD $120,000) will be chosen from any category available this season, and not only from the main theme.
- Submission Deadline Last day of participation will be on 31 October 2016 at 11:59 pm (UAE local time)
- Other categories The Other categories are: General, Digital Manipulation and Portfolio.
- General category The General Category will have two sub categories “Colour” and “ Black and White”
- Black & White Participants are allowed to submit Black and White photographs in all categories except the ‘General - Colour’ sub category.
- Photo Criteria Submitted Photo(s) must be in JPEG format, with high quality and resolution, of a minimum 5 MB in size, the minimum of the longest edge should be no less than 2000 pixel and the quality no less than 300dpi to be suitable for publication.
- Raw Photo Participants are requested to submit the raw/original camera files at the same time of submitting their photographs.
- Digital Manipulation category All kind of editing, digital blending, layering are allowed in the Digital Manipulation category.
- Story TellingIn the Portfolio category, In the Portfolio category, Participants are required to submit 5-10 photographs of the same subject.
GrandPrize 120000
Grand
THE CHALLENGE
General
PORTFOLIO (STORY-TELLING)
DIGITAL MANIPULATION
GrandTotal 423000
GrandAll the Prize money will be in US Dollars
Rules
This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Apple Inc. The participants understand that they are providing information to HIPA and not to Apple Inc. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the contest should be directed to HIPA and not to Apple Inc.