HIPA Publishes Bouquets of Winning Photos from Their Instagram Contests: ‘Culture’, ‘Contrast’ and ‘High Key’

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has unveiled a captivating collection of winning photos from various competitions hosted on the HIPA Instagram platform with these themes: ‘Cultures’, ‘Contrast’ and ‘High Key’; available to see on the HIPA website - www.hipa.ae.

HIPA received thousands of entries from both the amateur and professional photography communities. Photographers from the Philippines and India stood out, with the Philippines securing four winning places and those from India earning three winning places. In a notable triumph for Arab photographers, the Egyptian lens dominated, alongside winners from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Algeria and Sudan. Additionally, Turkish and Italian photographers were honoured for their exceptional work. Each winner received HIPA’s prestigious medal of appreciation and their photos are featured on HIPA’s Instagram account, @HIPAae.

H.E. Ali Bin Thalith, HIPA’s Secretary General, expressed his delight at the diversity of age groups participating in the competitions. “We commend the remarkable talents of these photographers, particularly the young photographers who have mastered the art of capturing compelling stories behind each picture. We congratulate all the winners and participants and encourage everyone to continue learning and to study these winning photos in detail to enhance their own photography skills.”

Insights from the Winners:

Mohammed Suliman Alfaleh (@alfalehphoto), Saudi Arabia

Theme: Culture

“This is my third win with HIPA. I captured the photo during my visit to the Kara tribe in southern Ethiopia. Befriending the locals allowed me to take this meaningful photo on the banks of the Omo Valley. The man’s body is decorated with carvings for the purpose of expelling demons, in accordance to their belief. Each victory inspires me to seek out new stories, as the world is filled with endless treasures waiting to be discovered.”

Humaidi Awahibi (@humaidi.h_ph), Oman

Theme: Culture

“This is my first win and I feel incredible! This photo, taken during the camel festival on Masirah Island. The girl’s appearance caught my attention, which is the embodiment of the ancient heritage in the Sultanate of Oman. Winning this competition marks the beginning of my journey towards achieving greater success in photography.”

Abdelkader Said Allam (@allam_photoghraphy), Egypt

Theme: Contrast

“My winning photo, taken at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, showcases the building’s unique architecture, inspired by the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo. While I have photographed this structure many times, this particular image captures the perfect interplay of sunlight and shadow throughout the day, allowing me to realize my vision of the building's aesthetic. This win with HIPA, one of the most prestigious international competitions, is a significant milestone in my career. My goal now is to win the title of ‘HIPA Photographer of the Year’.”

Guillermo Nogueira (@trippinmemo), Italy

Theme: Contrast

“I took the winning photo last year (2023) at a new studio in Dubai that I had heard great things about. The studio has unique shadows that blend seamlessly with the walls, making it perfect for contrast photography. I went with a few friends who are silk performers, and the rest is history. Before this, I had only won one photography contest for a local newspaper, so this win made me incredibly happy and is a step closer to my dream of seeing one of my photos on the cover of a magazine.”

Heigen G. Villacarlos (@heigenvcarlos), Philippines

Theme: High Key

“I took the photo at West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong. My siblings and I were there to enjoy the Hong Kong night treats when I noticed the beautiful interior structure and decided to capture it. This is not my first time winning an online photo contest, but it is my first time winning with HIPA. I feel overwhelmed by this recognition, as winning from HIPA has been one of my goals in my photography career. I hope to win a major photo contest globally and to represent my country in the world of photography.”