Malaysian photographer grabs the Grand Prize with a photo from Vietnam, and French creativity tops the Aerial. Ali bin Thalith expressed, “The arts are more than just hobbies, they are at the heart of modern society.”

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) held its annual awards ceremony for its eighth season of competition ‘Hope’, held at Dubai Opera and attended by various dignitaries and members of the photography community.

Secretary General, Ali bin Thalith began the ceremony by thanking His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council and Patron of HIPA, for his continued support of HIPA and the art of Photography. Bin Thalith also said, “This award was launched in 2011 to honour the arts and promote social awareness and its fundamental role in shaping the future of civilizations. The arts are more than just hobbies, the arts have changed the course of history, and are capable of changing the shape of the future."

He praised the achievement of Arab talent in this international event with winners from the UAE, Palestine, Kuwait and Iraq; a promising future, for photography in the region. Bin Thalith also announced the main theme of Ninth season ‘Water’.

Grand Prize

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, honoured the $120,000 Grand Prize winner, Edwin Ong Wee Kee from Malaysia, for his photo documented an intense humanitarian moment. The feelings of a Vietnamese mother whose speech disorder did not prevent her from feeling hopeful and evoking a sense of strength for her children.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image HIPA Winners with Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum / Courtesy of HIPA

Special Awards

His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Chairman of the HIPA Board of Trustees, honoured the Special Award winners, with the ‘Photography Appreciation Award’ being awarded to British photographer Tim Flach, for his outstanding contribution to photography in the fields of nature and the environment throughout his career.

The ‘Photography Content Creator Award’ was awarded to New Zealand photographer Tom Ang for his pivotal role in education by authoring more than 40 books on photography translated into more than 20 languages.

The ‘Emerging Person in Photography Award’ was awarded to Emirati photographer Yousef Al Habshi, who is famous for his amazing works in the world of macro and micro photography, which has spread worldwide after National Geographic magazine devoted 14 pages to showcase his work, as well as, include it in their annual calendar for the Foundation in 2016.

image His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Owais honoured Emirati photographer Yousef Al Habshi in the presence of His Excellency Secretary General, Ali bin Thalith / Courtesy of HIPA

‘Hope’ Awards

His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Chairman of the HIPA Board of Trustees honoured the winners of ‘Hope’, first place was Fanny Octavianus from Indonesia, followed by his compatriot Muhammad Fahrur Rasyid in second place, in the third place Wissam Nassar from Palestine, while Vito Finocchiaro from Italy took fourth place, leaving fifth place to his compatriot Sandro Maddalena.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

General Awards

His Excellency Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, honoured the winners of the ‘General – Colour and Black & White Category’. For ‘General – Colour’ in first place Chen-Kuang Chen from Taiwan, second Karim Iliya from the United States, while the Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Alshatti finished in third place.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

In the ‘General – Black & White’, in first place was Aun Raza from France, followed by Portuguese photographer Ana Filipa Scarpa in second, and Hungarian photographer Tibor Kercz in third place.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

Portfolio Awards

His Excellency Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, honoured the winners of the ‘Portfolio Category’. Palestinian photographer Haitham Nouraldin won first place, second place was given to Paul Nicklen from Canada, while third place went to Ukrainian Yevhen Samuchenko, followed by Mustafa Turki Mhanawi from Iraq in the fourth place, and finally Dutch photographer Sarah Wouters took fifth place.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

Aerial Photography (Video) Awards

His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Minister of State, honoured the winners of ‘Aerial Photography (Video) Category’. First place went to Florian Ledoux from France, followed by Palestinian photographer Sulaiman Hejji in second place, then Wong Yoong Wah from Malaysia in third place, Hungarian photographer Daroczi Csaba Attila in fourth place, and Spanish Photographer Victor Romero Peña in fifth place.

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA

image Courtesy of HIPA


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