Photo Contest opens the door wide open for talent

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The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has concluded the October edition of the Instagram Photo Contest themed ‘Doors.’

Five winners were declared winners in the competition, which received submissions under the hashtag #HIPAContest_Doors.

They winners were from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkey and India.

October’s ‘People’s Choice Award’ winner will receive a brand new Sony Rx100m6, courtesy of Sony Middle East.

Symbolic influence

HIPA Secretary General Ali bin Thalith said, “Doors have a symbolic influence in different civilisations throughout history. They are much more than wood or metal. They are symbols of safety, ambiguity and transition. Doors hold great symbolism for us especially at a time of departure or as a welcome home. Doors provide an insight into our lives, personalities, even values. We opened the door of creativity for our photographers and we have seen some amazing work. We congratulate our winners and as always encourage everyone to continue participating.”

Picture from Morocco

Bekir Tuğcu from Turkey, who won the ‘People’s Choice Award,’ said, “I took the picture in Chefchaouen in Morocco in 2018. This City is known as the blue jewel, where it is blue in most of its areas. Since 2014, I have not taken part in any photography competition, so it was surprising and wonderful for me to win. I am a neurosurgeon, and photography is my second career. Photography trips always give me the ability to breathe and feel the beauty.”

The Holy Kaaba

Saudi winner Suhail Kalkatawi said, “I took the picture in front of the Holy Kaaba before dawn prayer. I noticed the hands facing the Kaaba door, so I felt my hand picking up the camera spontaneously to quickly photograph the scene in order to avoid congestion.

My win in this important competition gave me a great feeling especially that I participated a lot and I had a great hope to win, and this has now been achieved. I aspire to build photographic stories of artistic dimensions that reflect what I see in this world.”

Full list of winners