NATIONAL Geographic Abu Dhabi is excited to invite photographers from around the region to participate in the fifth edition of the National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments Awards. The competition has grown from strength to strength demonstrating the enthusiasm and affinity toward photography and amazing talent from this region. Over the past four years the contest has seen over an incredible 154 000 entries from around the Arab region. The theme in 2015 is “Arab Cities: The City through Your Eyes”. The winning photographer should be able to share his personal journey in one fluid image while he captures this inspirational theme. This competition encourages photographers to go beyond simply taking a photograph, participants should dig deep into their creativity and tell a story that tugs at both their hearts strings and ours. Entries can be submitted from April 4–May 13 2015, through natgeotv.ae/moments. “We want to engage with our viewers at all levels and this competition is the perfect platform to showcase young talent in the Arab region and support our neighbor countries by featuring the beauty that they hold,” said Sanjay Raina, General Manager, Fox International Channels Middle East. “Our content is geared towards featuring Arab talent, with local programming which represents and promotes Arab cities in all their beauty.” Entries will be judged by a team of experts, including Alsaad Omar Almenhali, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Abu Dhabi Al Arabiya, Hussam Abdulqader, Head of Communications and PR, Almarai Company, and Randy Olson, Award Winning Photographer, specialising in editorial, commercial and advertising photography. In addition to having their photograph featured in National Geographic Abu Dhabi Al Arabiya Magazine, this year's winner will win a photography hamper to the value of $7,500 and photography expedition to one of the most popular African Safari destinations in the world: Tanzania. The trip will be an 11-day photo safari expedition where the winner can have the opportunity to witness some of the world's most spectacular environments.
Second and third place winners will also be chosen to receive photography hampers to the value of $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. “I am very excited to be judging the National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments Awards for the first time,” said Award Winning Photographer, Randy Olson. “There is so much creative talent in the Arab region, and I am looking forward to experiencing each city through the eyes of the photographer. I really want this year's entrants to tell me a story, I am looking for a very personal, unique perspective of each entrant's city.” “Almarai is keen to continue supporting Arab talent by partnering with National Geographic Abu Dhabi for the third consecutive year. This is a unique opportunity for us to see the beauty of our cities through an individual perspective and share it across this incredible platform,” said Hussam Abdulqader, Head of Communications and PR, Almarai Company. “We look forward to this year's entries.” Alsaad Omar Almenhali, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Abu Dhabi Al Arabiya, said: “It is impossible to visit a city without it leaving a special memory in your heart, it stays in your heart even when you visit other cities. When you reminisce about that city, you are reminded of its smell, color and taste. That is why I'm very excited to see the pictures that will be submitted in the National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments contest. I want to see the Arab cities through the eyes of the photographers and their camera lenses.” — SG
