Get ready to capture the UAE in your lens for the World’s Coolest Winter Photography competition

DUBAI: The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards (HIPA) has announced the launch of the World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office.

The competition is being held on the sidelines of the second season of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign, which aims to familiarise residents and tourists with the activities available in winter in the UAE, the diversity of its touristic and recreational attractions, the beauty of its natural landscapes, and the hospitality of its people.

The competition will highlight the UAE’s entertainment, culture, and natural landmarks, and raise awareness about the variety of its tourism activities. It will celebrate the country’s creativity behind the lens by inviting people to capture the natural landscapes and diverse wildlife of the UAE.

The competition features two main categories: the first is One Photo, which is open to the public and covers five subcategories — Desert, Sea, Mountains, Valleys, and Emirates from Above. The second, Portfolio, is exclusive to professional photographers and, includes four subcategories — Emirates in Your Eyes, Emirates Wilderness, Faces from Emirates, and Street Life in Emirates.

Participants must be above 18 years of age and submit their photos through the online registration page on HIPA’s website: www.hipa.ae.

The competition will run from December 20, 2021, to January 20, 2022, and will conclude with an award ceremony for the winners. The last day of the competition coincides with the conclusion of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign. The total price money of the competition amounts to AED250,000, which has been distributed AED7,000 for each of the five subcategories under One Photo, and AED50,000 for each of the four subcategories under Portfolio. Participants should also share their photos under the One Photo category on their Instagram account while adding the campaign’s official hashtag: #WorldsCoolestWinter.

Alia Al Hammadi, Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, said, “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 organised in collaboration with HIPA, will capture the magnificence of these landmarks and put them centre stage. It will also familiarise residents and visitors from abroad with the beauty that the UAE holds.”

For his part, Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary-General of HIPA, said, “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.”

Photo submissions will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges with international awards for creative photography and photojournalism. The panel includes John Stanmeyer, an American photojournalist who received the World Press Photo of the Year, and Canadian Barbara Davidson, three-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer.

WAM