Winners of GDN Media’s Bahrain Today photography contest were honoured in an intimate ceremony for their striking works that pay tribute to the kingdom.
The four shutterbugs bagged prizes in various categories from among the more than 300 entries that were received.
They are:
- Sales executive Haridas CV, 52, who won in the Architecture and Buildings category,
- Accountant Suhail Hamza, 32, who stood out in The People of the Kingdom section,
- Senior cost accountant Preju Suresh, 45, who won first place in the Flora and Fauna category
- And, Orthodontist Dr Fayaz Hamza, 50, who clinched the title under Landscapes and Seascapes.
Bahrain Today is GDN Media’s annual contest that seeks to showcase the kingdom in all its glory, through the eyes of its residents. The ninth edition this year witnessed a flood of entries by amateur and professional photographers across the kingdom.
The creative talents were judged for technical competence, subject matter and creative composure. The number of likes the photos received on the newspaper’s social media platforms, where the shortlisted entries were uploaded, were also taken into consideration.
The prizes for each winner included a hamper and voucher worth BD50 from Asgharali and a BD50 cash prize from GDN Media.
Self-taught lensman Mr Haridas brought alive one of the kingdom’s most iconic architectural wonders for the Architecture and Buildings category, using his iPhone 15 Pro.
“I am so happy to have finally won after multiple past attempts,” the Sitra resident told the GDN. “All those weekends spent with my photography group, learning and experimenting on my phone has finally paid off, added the father-of-one, who has called Bahrain home for the last 32 years.
Over the last decade, smartphone photography has become a trend with novices and veterans alike. Many enthusiasts enjoy experimenting with different techniques to produce professional quality images.
One such talent is Mr Hamza from Hoora, who started his photography journey with a Samsung phone during his college days. “My love for taking pictures is inspired by my brother and my father before him,” he said. “My dad had an analogue camera and I grew up watching him click away.”
The accountant, who arrived in the kingdom seven years ago, spoke about his winning entry in The People of the Kingdom category, which depicts an elderly couple seated at Karbabad beach. There is also a man riding a horse in the background, all set against the mesmerising sunset skies.
“The unwavering bond between the couple is what drew me to the frame and most of my work is inspired by that emotion,” he explained.
He added that while he has enjoyed capturing the ‘magic’ on his phone, he plans to invest in a professional camera come New Year.
Burhama-based talent Mr Suresh, who has been committed to his craft for the last three decades, worked with a Pentax K1000 at the outset.
“My father gifted me a Pentax K1000 camera as a child and I started exploring different lights. Currently, I own a Nikon Z8 and a Nikon 24 with 120mm and 180 to 600mm lenses,” added the 45-year-old. “I became particularly active over the last 10 years and am also the admin and mentor for the Bahrain Friday Dawn Shooters Photography Group.”
The resident of 20 years loves the blue hour, which gives him a ‘clear perspective of what is present at the moment’.
“I shot this frame at Sanad village – the intent was to capture a fleeting moment where wildlife and architecture briefly share the same frame, highlighting resilience, balance and coexistence,” he explained, talking about his entry in the Flora and Fauna category.
Dr Hamza, who also shares a love for nature including sea and landscapes, believes that the most rewarding part of his hobby is that he gets to spend time in beautiful, often remote places like mountains, coastlines, deserts and forests.
“I feel a profound connection with the natural elements and sharing their beauty through my eyes is fulfilling,” he said.
The Hamad Town resident used to work with his smartphone but now also owns a Sony Alpha 7R5 for landscape photography and a Sony ALPHA 1 for fast moving wildlife photography.
“I used to do mobile photography but jumped the DSLR bandwagon during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.
All the entries were whetted by a panel of judges featuring Al Hilal and GDN Media executives, chaired by group creative director André Bigg, who was full of praise for the level of talent the contest attracted this year.
“We had a tough time studying all the submissions and picking the winners,” said Mr Bigg. “We had around 320 photographs submitted and the response to online voting was phenomenal! Our congratulations go to the winners and to all who submitted some of the most stunning images of our kingdom.”
Al Hilal Group’s managing director Ronnie Middleton, who was also on the judging panel, could not agree more. “The images are very impressive,” he said.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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