WINNERS OF HIPA 'THE MOMENT' 2017-18 - PART II HIPA Winners of Time-lapse Category

1st Place - Elysium by Beno Saradzic, Slovenia

The skylines of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are among the most imposing and photogenic in the world today. Soaring high into the Emirati skies, the skyscrapers dreamily interact with the winter fog thus becoming a source of awe and inspiration for any dreamer or photographer. Viewed from a high angle, the fog turns the cities into a grand canvas of visual poetry which could only be expressed through the language of time-lapse photography.

Beno Saradzic told us that it took him five years of hard work to create 'Elysium'. The fog in Emirates happens twice a year and if you miss the window you need to wait for a long time to try again. When Beno saw the first time-lapse he was immediately compelled to learn it. In order to make it a photographer needs to have a clear idea in his head of what will the story be, otherwise you only get a series of photographs with no particular meaning. Time-lapse is still a new thing in Slovenia, and is mainly used in commercial ads, but what many clients don't understand how much time and effort goes into making a time-lapse video. Through photography Beno actually found his love for video. One needs to have a cinematic approach to understand the process and Beno Saradzic believes that 80% of the experience of the time-lapse video comes to choosing the right music. The video becomes a synergy between the visual and the sound.

Beno Saradzic / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

HIPA, Time-lapse category, 1st Place, Beno Saradzic, Slovenia, cover image / Courtesy of HIPA

2nd Place - Silkworm by Oscar Carrasco Ragel, Spain

Composed with approximately 15,000 images over a twenty-two day period, ‘Silkworm’ explores nature’s process of evolution in a dystopian and abandoned environment. Worms are often considered to be quite morbid as they are connected to death and decay, but in this video we can witness the beauty of life, as the worms at the end turn into beautiful butterflies. Oscar Carrasco Ragel, also a visual artist used the medium of photography to explore this theme. He created black and white video as that way the message was more artistic and pure.

Oscar Carrasco Ragel / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

HIPA, Time-lapse category, 2nd Place, Oscar Carrasco Ragel, Spain, cover image / Courtesy of HIPA

3rd Place - Qamariyah by Ameen Al-Ghaberi, Yemen

The ‘Qamariyah’ window is one of the most distinctive and beautiful features of Yemeni architecture. Its name was given by the people of Sana’a and is derived from the Arabic word for the moon, ‘Qamar’. This is mainly due to its similarity in shape to a full moon and the appearance of the moon through the window’s coloured glass at night. This video is the result of three months of planning and tracking the movement of the moon on the rooftops of buildings in Old Sana’a.

HIPA, Time-lapse category, 3rd Place, Ameen Al Ghaberi, Yemen, cover image / Courtesy of HIPA

4th Place - Northern Skies by Awad Alatawi, Saudi Arabia

In northern Saudi Arabia, the desert is a source of inspiration for many. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, watching the beautiful night sky and movement of the stars is a priceless experience. Awad Alatawi told us how much he loves his country and the desert has a special meaning to him. He was spending nights in the desert and saw how beautiful night sky is and decided to share it with the world by creating time-lapse video.

Awad Alatawi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

HIPA, Time-lapse category, 4th Place, Awad Alatawi, Saudi Arabia, cover image / Courtesy of HIPA

5th Place - Lights of the Pyrenees by Ignacio Tejerina Guruciaga, Spain

A collection of video footage taken in the western part of the remote Pyrenees mountain chain, on the border between France and Spain. The video was shot on the Spanish side in a region known as 'Navarra', both at night and at dawn for the purpose of capturing the best possible light. At first we see a solitary tree at the top of the mountain early in the morning, with amazing sunrise, the image so strong and so symbolic. Ignacio Tejerina Guruciaga explained that he did not search for the symbolism, even though the tree could symbolise a man and the sunrise could be symbol for new beginnings. He used the tree as an artist due to its visually strong presence. The video continues with the clouds covering the mountain and ends with clouds in the sky. The photographer was in search for the best representation of beauty and light.

Ignacio Tejerina Guruciaga / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

HIPA, Time-lapse category, 5th Place, Ignacio Tejerina Guruciaga, Spain, cover image / Courtesy of HIPA