HIPA Winners of Portfolio Category

The Portfolio category returns to afford photographers the chance to showcase their storytelling skills through a series of photographs. A strong photographic story delves into the heart of a subject matter and leaves no margin for misinterpretation. A portfolio of photographs allows photographers to capture the hearts and minds of audiences in a way which may not be possible through a single photograph.

1st Place - A Harsh Melt by Paul Nicklen, Canada

Earthâ€™s polar regions contain some of the harshest and yet most fragile ecosystems on earth. Whether itâ€™s hunters with their huskies, polar bears, melting glaciers, narwhals or emperor penguins, these species and others are more vulnerable today than ever with global warming and the decline of sea ice in full force.

HIPA, Portfolio category, 1st Place, A Harsh Melt by Paul Nicklen, Canada / Courtesy of HIPA

2nd Place - The Rohingya Exodus by Probal Rashid, Bangladesh

In a gruelling journey to cross into safety, the strongest carry the weakest in the damp paddy fields and heavy monsoon rainfall. The rain is heavy and frequent, and makes the ground incredibly wet and muddy, thus making it even more difficult to walk through. Many of the Rohingya have to cross the land-mine infested border between Myanmar and Bangladesh to reach safety; while others take the risk of traveling in unstable fishing boats.

HIPA, Portfolio category, 2nd Place, The Rohingya Exodus by Probal Rashid, Bangladesh / Courtesy of HIPA

3rd Place - Migrants Winter Journey by Boryana Katsarova, Bulgaria

During the harsh Balkan winter, some 1,500 migrants, mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, face inhumane living conditions living in a derelict warehouse in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. According to UNHCR, more than 60% of them were unaccompanied minors, and a majority made the journey from Afghanistan to Serbia either alone, in groups or with the help of smugglers; risking their lives along the way. Boryana Katsarova told us that being a photo journalist brings a certain responsibility to bring awareness to the issues at hand. Visiting Belgrade and seeing the inhumane living conditions of migrants make a huge impact on her and she hopes that her images will help to bring a change.

Boryana Katsarova / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

HIPA, Portfolio category, 3rd Place, Migrants Winter Journey by Boryana Katsarova, Bulgaria / Courtesy of HIPA

4th Place - Fog Invasion by Sergio Sberna, Italy

In the wintertime, an impeccable thick fog invades the Northern Italian countryside. Landscapes take on an almost natural black and white tone while the trees stand tall, as if they are soldiers defending their land against the invasion.Sergio Sberna shared that he loves his homeland very much. The trees make such a strong visual impact in winter that he was compelled to take these images as a testimony to peace and beauty. Photographs seem almost as an artist sketched them with a pencil. Black and white makes a strong contrast and gives them clean and minimalist feel.

HIPA, Portfolio category, 4th Place, Fog Invasion by Sergio Sberna, Italy / Courtesy of HIPA

5th Place - Socotraâ€™s White Sands by Mohammed Almessabi, United Arab Emirates

In their unique outfits, residents of the village of Najd on the island of Socotra walk their camels on the white sands, creating a beautiful image of reflections and shadows along the way. Mohammed Almessabi told us that this series of images was an assignment, a project. While he was taking the images with one resident and his camel, additional unplanned residents, with their camels, arrived and become a part of the setting. The sand dunes have an amazing colour but Mohammed decided to take the photos in black and white, to raise the artistic value.