Are you a South Asian artist from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka and born in or after 1975?
You are invited to share examples of your work for the exhibition?South Asia Artists: Imagining Our Future Together.
On Thursday 2 February, the World Photography Organisation announced the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards.? Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.
The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world.
This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster.
In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London?s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.
Artistic Statement by Tapas Paul
A pause to breathe?
My photo story is based on Dhaka zoological garden which is a unique place for recreation. It is located in a pleasant natural landscape 16KM away from center of the city. It was established in 1974 and the zoo was opened in June 23, 1974 for visitors. About 3 million visitors visit this zoo every year. The environment of the zoo attracts people who get relief from the bustle and monotony of urban life.
The animals are in cages that are too small and conditions are inhospitable and the food supply is generally inadequate; visitors often throw junk food into the trash-strewn pens. The cages are small, dirty, and otherwise poorly maintained, but the zoo remains enormously popular among the Bangladeshi people and the ticket price is cheap. Though conditions seem to be improving in the country’s urban zoo, the progress is slow.?
It is ongoing project. My photo series is made up of a set of photos and tries to capture the loneliness of that space, animals and humans, make a triangular relationship with love. When I started working on the zoo it is seemed impossible to relate to it, but I spent lots of time in that place. I tried to just feel love for the animals, the space and then allowed that love into my photography.
I try to capture how this place makes a profound impression on millions of visitors to make a connection with animals and to be inspired by them to care about it.
Andrew Biraj – Lecturer at Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, Dhaka and staff photographer at Reuters since 2008, has been announced the first judge for the MUD Africa Photography/Short Film Competition 2012 Andrew Biraj “Throughout the years I have documented numerous stories including political brutality, people?s protest against coal mine, cancer survivors, Jute mill workers, land mine victims, climate refugees and the solitude life of my old grandma”
Andrew holds an Advanced Diploma in Photography from Pathshala in Dhaka and B.A (Hons) in Photography from the University of Bolton, UK in 2005. He has traveled through Afghanistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh and some parts of Europe to pursue his own work as a social documentary photographer.
His works have been published in Time.com, The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Lens blog of NYT, 100 Eyes.org, Verve Photo, The Guardian, The Observer Magazine, The Times, The Independent of UK, National Geographic online, Le Monde, Courrier International, Stern, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, Boston Globe Big Pictures, Globe and Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, Vancouver Sun, Asian GEO, Himal Southasian, Hindustan Times, New Age, Forum Magazine of Daily Star and in many other international publications. About the Competition:
MUD Africa is proud to host its first annual Photography/ Short Film Competition 2012.
About MUD/ MALAWI:
MUD Africa (Mobilizing + Uniting Development in Africa www.mudafrica.org) is an NGO working to better the lives of Malawians as advocates of land and housing rights. Malawi is one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in the world at a rate of 6.3 percent per year. That is three times the global rate and nearly twice that of the African rate. Unfortunately, the economy lacks proportional growth measures necessary to address and reduce poverty levels, and epidemic becoming more visible in the increasing manifestation of informal settlements (slums). Mutually reinforcing conditions of these settlements include poor infrastructure, water and sanitation, substandard housing with insecure tenure and a lack of basic social services. Continue reading “Andrew Biraj first judge for MUD Africa Photography/Short Film Competition 2012”
Announcing PROOF?s Award for the Emerging Photojournalist
About the Award
PROOF knows that emerging photojournalists want to do meaningful projects related to human rights and social justice issues but oftentimes don?t have the funds or connections to do so. For this reason, we?re offering an award to help an emerging photojournalist jumpstart their project by providing funding and support from the media community.
For this award, we have put together a panel of judges including: Leora Kahn, Executive Director of PROOF, Ed Kashi of VII, Amy Yenkin from the Open Society Foundations, and Ann Friedman, Executive Editor of GOOD.
The selected photojournalist will receive USD $2500 to put toward their project. The final three candidates will have their work showcased through GOOD. Second and third place finalists will also have the opportunity for a portfolio review with Jamie Wellford of Newsweek. Continue reading “PROOF?s Award for the Emerging Photojournalist”
A boy crossing water in an inudated road during a heavy tidal surge in Chittagong,Bangladesh. Photo Jashim Salam
Jashim Salam is a Chittagong, Bangladesh-based photographer working for DrikNEWS, an international news photo agency, since 2008. He is also studying photojournalism in The South Asian Media Academy and Institute of Photography. His work focuses on social documentary such as profiles of migrant workers, handicapped people, and climate-change refugees. His work has been published in The Sunday Times Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Better Photography, CNN, Photojournale, National Geographic online, Reuters, and many others. He is the recipient of many awards including the Jury Special Award in the 6th Humanity Photo Awards.
Designed to support photographers who sometimes work under difficult conditions in dangerous areas, this award aims to reward a photographer who, through his or her personal commitment, involvement in the field, his or her capacity to take a stand, as well as the quality of his or her work, will have demonstrated their commitment to the freedom of information.
Participants will have to present a report on a conflict (civil or military wars, riots, attacks or public demonstrations), a revolution, a natural disaster, or their consequences on civilians.
Organised in partnership with the Mairie de Paris, Polka Magazine and with the support of Reporters sans Fronti?res, the Lucas Dolega Award will reward one photographer every year. The winner will receive an endowment by Nikon of 10.000 Euros, and will have their work displayed at an exhibition in Paris and published in the RSF album. Furthermore, the winner will have part or all his report published in an issue of Polka Magazine, and will be offered the production of another story by Polka Magazine.
In 2010, Celebrating Life Contests comprise Lifetime Achievement Awards, which pays due respect to those who have been involved in Filmmaking/ Television Production, Photography and Lyrics Writing for decades. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mostofa Monwar (Filmmaking/ Television Production), Rashid Talukder (Photography) and Mohammad Rafiquzzaman (Lyrics).
The Lifetime Achievement Award Category is meant to honour those who have made significant contributions, each in their own fields, and have enabled their medium to reach a higher level.
Rumour has it that in 2011 the Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to yours truly.
Drik ICT and Drik AV will jointly be streaming the event at: Drik TV
Venue: Bangabandhu Convention Center
Date: 12 Sept 2011
Chief Guest: Md. Abul Kalam Azad (Hon?able Minister of Cultural Affairs , People?s Republic of Bangladesh, at the foyer)
Programme:
6:00 pm
Guests Arrive
6:30 pm
Inauguration of the Celebrating Life Photo Exhibition by Md. Abul Kalam Azad,
Hon?able Minister of Cultural Affairs , People?s Republic of Bangladesh, at the foyer
6:45 pm
Presentation of a Bangla group song based on a winning lyrics from the Celebrating Life 2011 competition
6:50 pm
Welcome address by Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star
6:55 pm
Speech by Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Hon?able Minister of Cultural Affairs, People?s Republic of Bangladesh
7:00 pm
Vote of Thanks by Jim McCabe, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh
7:05 pm
Audio and visual presentation on the three lifetime achievements award winners
7:11 pm
Lifetime achievement awards in the film, music and photography categories
7:17 pm
Award giving to winners of lyrics, photography and film categories
7:30 pm
Presentation of a group dance based on a winning lyrics from the competition.
Pathshala student Rasel Chowdhury wins prestigious Ian Parry Scholarship 2011, while Jashim Salam is commended. Photo: ??Rasel Chowdhury
Patron: Don McCullin Director: Aidan Sullivan
Highly Commended Alejandro Kirchuk / Commended Jashim Salam & Valentina
Quintano / Hon Mention Daria Tuminas
We would like to congratulate Rasel Chowdhury on winning the Ian Parry Scholarship 2011.
The level of entries we have received again this year was higher and more focused than ever
before. Our judging is done as a process of elimination, so portfolios are removed from each
round depending on their strength as potential winner. The final round of portfolios from
Institutions like Pathshala, Danish School of Journalism, LCC, Westminster, Ohio, Falmouth
and Leiden University, showed such flair and extraordinary vision that the judges found it
difficult to select just 3 finalists.
The judges felt that the over all winner had to be Rasel Chowdhury from Bangladesh for this
series called Desperate Urbanization. His landscape images are concerned with the
pollution of the Burigonga River, Dhaka. There are 700 brickfields and dockyards functioning
on its riverbanks and tannery chemicals, human waste and industrial chemicals flow directly
into the river. This constant source of pollution has created a breeding ground for diseases
such as Malaria, Filariasis and Dengu Hemoragi fever causing serious health problems
along the banks of the river. Low-income inhabitants are the worse affected, with little
access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. ?I have an intrinsic relationship with this
city and river as I spent most of my life in and around them? says Rasel of his series.
We would like to thank our judges for their clear decision-making and expertise: Don
McCullin Patron / Tom Stoddart Trustee / Kate Edwards Guardian Weekend / Alixandra
Fazzina Noor / Jon Jones & Stephen Reid Sunday Times magazine / Charles Parry Ian?s
brother.
?Rasel?s conceptual approach and the desaturation of his images works well to produce a
very different view of Dhaka, which is intriguing and interesting. What really comes across is
his knowledge of the area and his subject. There is a consistent distance in the images and
yet every now and again you see figures interacting with the landscape, it moves from
pollution to shipbuilding ? Kate Edwards, Guardian Weekend Photography Editor
Save The Children are again sponsoring the award by offering one of the finalists an all
expenses paid assignment under the management of Rachel Palmer, Film and Photography
Manager and in addition to this, the World Press Photo automatically accepts the winner
onto its final list of nominees for the Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam. This is a
significant prize for any photographer and continued with the support of Canon Europe &
Sunday Times magazine, which publishes all the finalist?s work; the scholarship provides an
excellent launch into a professional career in photography.
Once again our extremely well attended exhibition will be held at the Getty Images Gallery /
46 East Castle Street, London, W1W 8DX telephone: +44 (0) 207 291 5380 from the 17th
August for two weeks.
For further information, interviews or images please contact Rebecca McClelland Deputy
Director Ian Parry Scholarship at rebecca@ianparry.org and visit www.ianparry.org
Photo by Jashim Salam/Pathshala
