PHOTOGRAPHY Urban Photography Winners Announced for HIPA’s October Instagram Photo Contest

Five winners were announced for the competition which received submissions under the hashtag #HIPAContest_Urban. The contest winners hailed from; Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Iran. October’s ‘People’s Choice Award’ winner, Joebel Garcisto also received a brand new Canon EOS M50, courtesy of Canon Middle East.

HIPA Secretary General, His Excellency Ali bin Thalith said, “The selection of contest topics plays a great role in activating the skills and imagination of photographers. In October, we experienced the city's photographic personalities, with its rhythm, noise and urban attitude. The competition gave us an array of the most beautiful pictures showing us the pulse of cities from different countries around the world. We congratulate the winners and invite the rest of the participants to continue submitting into the contest and developing their skills in hope of being our next winner."

‘People’s Choice Award’ winner Joebel Garcisto @joebel_garcisto_photography from the Philippines said, “It was the first time I travelled alone with a specific goal in mind; taking a unique picture. As I walked through the Monster Building in Hong Kong, I imagined the idea of the picture. I asked a tourist who was taking pictures too, to be the subject of my picture. This was my first time winning, and in such a prestigious competition; it gives me a lot of self-confidence and energy to do more. Travel enhances creative opportunities for photography and I advise photographers to raise their ambitions and work hard to achieve them.”

Another winner, Gerdie Hutomo Nurhadi @gerdiephotography from Indonesia said, “The photo was taken in the Udaiba Area in Tokyo, Japan. I wanted to take a picture of the daily life in this building, so I waited until I was lucky to have two people talking on the mobile phone. I was thrilled to have won a well-known international award. I aspire to travel around the world and take pictures of people's daily lives in towns and villages. Winning this competition has enabled me to appear in the communities of photographers locally and internationally and the number of friends from photographers has increased. This is very positive."

Urban Photography Winners

Joebel Garcisto, Philippines, ‘People’s Choice Award’ winner

‘People’s Choice Award’ winner Joebel Garcisto, @joebel_garcisto_photography / Courtesy of HIPA

Eduardo Sibuan Seastres, Philippines

Eduardo Sibuan Seastres, @edseastres / Courtesy of HIPA

Gerdie Hutomo Nurhadi, Indonesia

Gerdie Hutomo Nurhadi, @gerdiephotography / Courtesy of HIPA

Sambit Chatterjee, India

Sambit Chatterjee, @sambitntour / Courtesy of HIPA

Amir Hossein Kamali, Iran

Amir Hossein Kamali, @amir.kamali.mob / Courtesy of HIPA