PHOTOGRAPHY WATER – HIPA’S New Theme for the Ninth Season of Competition

The competition’s ninth edition will once again contain four main categories with ‘Water’ serving as the main theme, along with both ‘General’ (Colour / Black & White) category and ‘Portfolio’ category. Rounding off HIPA’s categories will be a new category, ‘Mobile Photography’. The 9th session will be open from Thursday morning, August 1, 2019, until midnight on October 31, 2019, UAE time, on the HIPA's official website www.hipa.ae

The Secretary General of HIPA, Ali bin Thalith / Courtesy of HIPA

The Secretary General of HIPA, Ali bin Thalith said: “We are excited to launch our newest category Mobile Photography. Mobile photography is both simple and complicated in equal measures, and will open up the competition to an even greater population of photographers around the world.”

Bin Thalith continued. “Our main theme, ‘Water’, adds a visually impactful component to this year’s competition, different from previous years which reflected a more photojournalistic subject matter.

Water promises to inspire beautiful submissions across a myriad of the subject matter. Human’s relationship with water tells a story as old as time. We anticipate unique and striking submissions for this theme from our photographers.”

Submissions for HIPA’s ninth season will be accepted on the HIPA's official website, www.hipa.ae. The deadline for submissions is the 31st of October 2019 at 11.59 P.M. (UAE Standard Time).

Categories for HIPA’s Ninth Season of Competition

Water

Water may be the oldest and the perfect companion of humankind. Not only are our bodies predominantly made of water, but water is a necessity within our daily lives. From nature to nurture to science and discovery; water is central to our universe.

Photography not only photographs the present but in time creates a rich archive of the past and even inspires the imagination for the future. Water as a theme provides an endless and provocative subject that captures the photographer’s imagination and inspires an opportunity for photographic brilliance and storytelling.

Courtesy of HIPA

Portfolio (Story-telling)

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.

Courtesy of HIPA

Mobile Photography

What is most beautiful is to allow competing and winning for all people. Mobile photography has become a natural companion in our lives and has evolved over the years to provide a formidable tool that has captured our imagination. This category keeps pace with the global trend and the millions of images that mobile phones take daily for sharing, recording, discovery and dozens of other purposes.

Courtesy of HIPA

General

This category remains a favourite among photographers who have an outstanding eye for photography which may not necessarily fall into any of the other categories on offer. HIPA continues to offer participants two opportunities to participate in this category, instead of one. With one category open to black and white entries, a classic art form, and the other for coloured entries, giving participants the option to dazzle the jury with their vibrant compositions.

Courtesy of HIPA

Courtesy of HIPA

HIPA Special Awards (Invitation Only)

Photography Appreciation Award

Many people within the photography industry are dedicated and relentless in their pursuit of excellence. These people offer their services and expertise without expecting a return on their efforts and therefore form a vital part of the photographic community. The ‘Photography Appreciation Award’ is a special category for a person or group who has/have shown long-standing commitment to enhancing the art of photography. By awarding the recipient, HIPA hopes to give back a small amount of the respect and appreciation they deserve.

Photography Content Creator Award

Service to photography is not limited to taking stunning photographs but extends to editors, publishers, bloggers, researchers, inventors, promoters and all print and digital content creators that have had a positive impact on the industry and helped shape it to what it is today.

Emerging Person/Organisation in Photography Award

This award is presented to an emerging person or organisation that has shown outstanding work or vision in the industry, be it on a regional, national or international level.