I have been hired to tell you about the arts world, so it is nice to cover different topics now and again.

The past few weeks I have only focused on different types of artist. However, this week will be different.

I stumbled across this website – http://www.ephotoc.net/

An annual competition organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage aims to develop the photographic movement in the United Arab Emirates, by attracting the largest possible number of photographers; encouraging amateurs and supporting professionals; establishing specialised workshops, meetings and seminars; holding personal and group exhibitions, inside the UAE and abroad; buying and selling photographs of the competition’s participants.

In its quest to become one of the professional competitions in the region, the Emirates Photography Competition is expecting to receive distinguished photography from various schools of compound work, panorama, positive and negative slides, negatives, modern digital image processors, and photographs of different sizes – all that fall under the common standards of the art of photography.

The competition has a main theme every year, where photographers are urged to take into account research and untapped aspects, in addition to four sections that change from year to year.

The fourth session of the Competition celebrates the French artist “Henri Cartier-Bresson”, (1908-2004) who is one of the symbols of photography in the last century, with an exhibition of his most important works. The focus of the main theme is on his innovative style of capturing life on the street, and reflecting the pulse of the photographic works in “Building Formation”.

Believing in the comprehensiveness of art, the intersection of the interests of humans in all places and at all times, and the belief that photos are able to create communication links and interactions between peoples, the Competition opens its doors for the participation of all photographers in the world – after starting as a trial in its first and second sessions, confined to UAE photographers only in the 1st and 2nd sessions, and to Gulf participants at the 3rd.

Sections of the competition

First: the main theme
Street Photography 


To take innovative photographs that translate the pulse of the street, and reflect diversity in cities, villages and the different environmental effects, of different patterns of people’s lives and professions – to the unlimited movement of everything.

As we celebrate this year the French photographer Bresson, it is advised that photographers are inspired by him, to benefit from his experiences and visions. 


Second: general themes


1- Landscape & nature

The idea of nature does not end with what we see. Eyes may see what is invisible as well. Nature, in all its diversity, grants the artist permanent opportunities to interpret it differently. The creativity of the photographer and his camera, as expected by the viewer, is to surprise himself. 



2- Portrait & people

Human beings are generally the memory of their history, and what they made since the beginning of creation. Their lives move between the visible and the invisible in studio photos of faces and groups, live reality, that can be captured by the heart before the eyes or the lens.

3 – Journalism photography

Since its beginning, one of the most important aspects of journalism photography is its change to undoubted conscience, a conscience feared by some, as it has assumed the responsibility of transmitting the hidden. Hence the role of journalist photos is not decorative, but to tell the truth.

4 – Sports & action

Every movement is magical in itself, more so if it was present within a comprehensive system in every sport. The camera lens can only see what the photographer challenges in every second, during a sports game or movement. 


Awards

Main Theme ( Street Photography )

- Diamond Eye Award: Granted to the best work in on the main theme: 40,000 UAE dirham. 

- Golden Eye Award: 15,000 UAE dirham


- Silver Eye Award: 12,000 UAE dirham


- Bronze Eye Award: 10,000 UAE dirham




General themes awards
Three awards each for each theme 




-Golden Eye Award: 15,000 UAE dirham


-Silver Eye Award: 12,000 UAE dirham


-Bronze Eye Award: 10,000 UAE dirham




Judging committee award 


Six prizes, each worth 10,000 UAE dirham, given in the name of the arbitrators, to the best work from the viewpoint of each arbitrator for all themes.
 
UAE photo prize

Given to UAE photographers on the total works in all themes 



-Diamond Eye Award: 

resented by the National Library with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. It consists of: printing and publication an illustrated book and holding an exhibition. 



-Golden Eye Award: 15,000 UAE dirham


-Silver Eye Award: 12,000 UAE dirham


-Bronze Eye Award: 10,000 UAE dirham


 


Certificates of appreciation for outstanding work in all themes
 


The Competition awards certificates of appreciation to the winners, and certificates of participation to everyone. The winners will be invited to attend the opening of the exhibition and the distribution of awards.