Lenses from Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Algeria Lenses shine alongside 10 East Asian winners

·         Bin Thalith: We have an optimistic outlook on the evolution of photographers from the Middle East, recognising that the winning photographs 

·         Basma Al Matar: My happiness for achieving my first win cannot be described

·         Abed Qassem Abedaljalil: A simple idea yielded a happy result

·         Fares Bin Saleem: I strive to preserve the traditional Hadhrami dress

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has unveiled a captivating collection of winning photos from various competitions hosted on the HIPA Instagram platform, the themes include Pure, Tribes, Flowers, and My Story - which are now available for viewing on the HIPA website.

HIPA has received thousands of entries from both the amateur and professional photography communities. The list of winners showcased a competitive international presence with 10 talented photographers hailing from East Asia and two winners from Mexico and Slovenia. The Arab photography community secured an impressive six positions, hailing from Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, and Algeria. In recognition of their achievements, all the winners were honoured with HIPA’s medal of appreciation, including publishing their photos and names on HIPA’s Instagram account, @HIPAae.

 

Ali Bin Thalith, HIPA Secretary General

“We have an optimistic outlook on the evolution of the photographers from the Middle East, recognising that the winning photographs show the growth and creativity of emerging talents.”

Ali Bin Thalith said, “We are happy to foster positive energy within the photography communities through the collections of distinctive photos that deserve recognition and honour. These competitions have gained immense popularity, particularly among budding photographers and those embarking on new experiences in the field, serving as a source of inspiration and hope.”

Bin Thalith further commented, “We have an optimistic outlook on the evolution of the photographers from the Middle East, both in quantity and quality. This highlights a state of cultural development in the region. We congratulate all the winners and participants whose works show growth and creativity.  We advise those who continue to participate to prioritise and be up-to-date on the latest developments, with the intention of achieving victory.”

Basma Al Matar | Kuwait

“My happiness for achieving my first win cannot be described.”

Our winner from Kuwait, Basma Al Matar (@basmafotos) captured her winning photo in the Norwegian city of Svalbard, an archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Her trip was in search of the arctic fox - not an easy task as the temperature got to minus 30 degrees Celsius and the density of snow hindered their movements. “Searching for an arctic fox is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It is a very shy and cautious animal and has the tremendous gift of hiding and blending with the snowy surroundings.”  After days of searching, they were surprised to see one on the coastal strip in search of food, thereby documenting her first meeting with the elusive animal.

“This is my first win and the news of my victory has had a magical effect on me,” Basma said. “HIPA’s appreciation for my work gives me the confidence and motivation to continue my passion for documenting wild animals in their natural environment and working to develop my professional level further.” She is dedicated to safeguarding wildlife and advocating for a sustainable environment to enhance the well-being of both humans and animals.

Abed Qassem Abedaljalil | Jordan

“A simple idea yielded a happy result.”

Abed Qassem Abedaljalil (@aabedaljali)l, our winner from Jordan, conceived the idea for his winning photo while attempting to capture water droplets. He employed a single light source and a diffuser to soften the lighting, while also using a water sprayer to enhance the visual impact of the red rose. Several attempts later, he succeeded in conveying the idea with these simple tools. “The feeling of winning was overwhelming,” Abed Qassem said, “and the happiness it brought me compelled me to share the news of my victory with all my colleagues in the hospital, receiving warm congratulations from them.” He also enthusiastically posted the triumph on all his social media accounts.

“Photography is my outlet from my job and daily life,” he said, “and despite my limited capabilities with a camera of modest specifications, I create distinctive pictures that makes me feel happy and also is my mental escape.” With his win, he is now, more than ever, encouraged in developing his capabilities and taking the next serious step into this wonderful field.

 

Fares Bin Saleem | Yemen

“I strive to preserve the traditional Hadhrami dress.”

Fares Bin Saleem (@faresbinsleem), our winner from Yemen, captured the photo in the Hadhramaut Valley in Yemen, specifically in the city of Tarim in 2021. The heritage costume holds a significant cultural and historical value, serving as a physical expression of cultural identity and ancient traditions. Fares said that he “noticed that the Hadhrami heritage dress is gradually disappearing and recognised that the role of photography is to prevent its disappearance, and to promote awareness and education about its cultural and historical value.”

No stranger to winning local photography competitions yet this felt exceptional. “Winning with HIPA was a great achievement for me, especially since the participants are from all over the world,” said Fares. “It was truly an indescribable feeling!”