The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) Submit The Best Photographs to Win the Grand Prize of US $120,000

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is an internationally renowned photography competition. It was launched in 2011 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. The award enjoys a social and legal stature as a tool for promoting Dubai’s vision of artistic and cultural excellence. Having attracted some of the world’s most talented photographers to take part in its debut season, the award is set to build on the wealth of competitors taking part with an increased grand prize of US $120,000. This increase gives the award the esteemed position of having the biggest prize money of any photography competition anywhere in the world. On a local level, the award hopes to develop and increase awareness of the art of photography among the young Emirati population.

Submissions for this year’s award will open on the 1st September 2012 until midnight on the 31st of December 2012 (UAE Time).

The second season of competition is titled "Beauty of Light" and will be looking to build on the success of the first season of competition which attracted competitors from 99 countries. This year, the competition will receive entries in four categories – Beauty of Light, Emirates, Black and White, and General.

Beauty of Light Category

Light was adopted as a key element in this year’s award because of its importance in the art of photography. Light can be the difference between a good picture and a wonderful image. Our understanding of light and our ability to capture it through a camera lens would not have been possible, had it not been for the efforts of the scholar Al Hassan Ibn Al Haytham. His findings and principles in the field of optics, a century ago, helped lay the foundations for modern day photography. To commemorate the anniversary of his contributions, the grand prize at this year’s HIPA award will be dedicated to the beauty of light in photography, which was greatly influenced by the findings of Ibn Al Haytham. There shall be no restrictions on what photographers may choose to submit for this category, so long as the influence of light is clearly demonstrated. The winner of the award will be the photographer who successfully illustrates an effective use of light in their submission.

• 1st Place - US $ 20,000

• 2nd Place - US $ 16,000

• 3rd Place - US $ 12,000

Emirates Category

Rich with culture and history, the United Arab Emirates is home to some of the world’s most amazing and unique landmarks. In recent years, photographers from all around the world have come to explore the visual riches the Emirates have on offer. This category was specifically designed for photographers to test their appreciation of the United Arab Emirates and its many icons through photography. From its unique desert dunes to the sky high towers of the sprawling business districts, photographers are challenged to capture the many wonders found in the United Arab Emirates. The challenge is also set for photographers to unearth previously undiscovered or unheard of locations and to tell the story of the UAE through the lenses of their cameras.

• 1st Place - US $ 16,000

• 2nd Place - US $ 10,000

• 3rd Place - US $ 8,000

Black and White Category

Black and white photography creates an image of nostalgia that is sometimes unmatched by coloured photographs. A simple artistic expression in black and white format can set a tone, date and place in history with minimal effort. A photographer’s ability to deliver a strong and lasting message in black and white is a true testament to the expressive skills they possess. Submissions will not be solely judged on their effective use of the two colours but will be considered for other additional factors such as the use of lighting and effective application of shades in the photograph.

• 1st Place - US $ 16,000

• 2nd Place - US $ 10,000

• 3rd Place - US $ 8,000

General Category

The general category of the competition was left open for competitors to show off their overall photography skills without any boundaries or restrictions. Our hope is to generate interest and awareness by making it accessible to all, including the worlds very best photographers Competitors are open to submit any photograph they’ve captured which may not be eligible for any of the three other categories. This category is designed to test the individual creativity of competitors and aims to encourage photographers to express themselves freely. Black and white submissions will not be accepted in this category , due to the availability of the more appropriate “black and white” category for such entries.

• 1st Place - US $ 14,000

• 2nd Place - US $ 10,000

• 3rd Place - US $ 6,000

Entry Deadline

Submissions open for entry on the 1st of September 2012, and close midnight the 31st of December 2012. All times and dates are based on UAE times and dates, and no entries will be accepted after the closing deadline.