Through an innovative photography contest, aimed at talented individuals in Kuwait, to capture ‘The Gardens’ at 360 MALL – Kuwait’s iconic shopping mall owned by Tamdeen Shopping Centers Company, the mall hopes to raise awareness of the benefits of a green environment to visitors.  In Kuwait, 360 MALL was the first place to house Blanc’s creation.

The photo contest is organized by Phoenix Services in collaboration with Tamdeen Group, it’s open to public and will commence on May 10 until 10.00 pm of May 21. The photographs have to be exclusive of ‘The Gardens’ and have to be taken in the most creative manner.

Claudia Lopusinska, Marketing Manager at the mall said, 360 MALL has always offered its valued customers an engaging experience, providing them with more than just shopping and dining. Through this photography activity, we hope to encourage and engage talented residents in Kuwait while also highlighting the benefits of having a green environment around our living and working spaces.

The competition is open to Kuwaitis and Kuwaiti residents above the age of 14 years. Photographers needs to register at contest page and each photographer can submit three photographs. All submissions have to be made before May 21 and the winning entries will be announced during an event on May 28. All terms and conditions are also available onsite and on 360 MALL’s social media platforms.

First prize winner will receive USD 7,000, while the second and third places will receive USD 5,000 and USD 3,000 respectively. The 24 best entries will also have their photographs exhibited in a special exhibition at the 360 MALL.

Over the last couple of years Photography perspective has changed drastically here in Kuwait, there are now many opportunities not only to enter local photo contest but also seminars and workshops from major camera dealers to promote their products and encourage the photographers community in large.

To enter the contest and learn more about the terms and condition and general submission rules, click here

K.H. (Astro) Mohan is an International renowned photographer with over 19 years in Photo Journalism and currently works as a Senior News photographer of a popular national Kannada daily newspaper Udayavani published from Manipal, India. He hails from Bellary (Hassan, India) and completed his early education as an Art Graduate. An incredibly versatile person with a rare blend of multiple talents, Mr Mohan is also a magician, astrologer, palmist, orator, artiste, art critic and to top it a prudent organiser of shows. It was his intense interest in astrology which led to him being nicknamed as ‘Astro’ and now widely called by this nickname among friends and well wishers.

He has earned over 2 dozens State & National prestigious awards till date. His picture “Karavali Kambala” bagged  the First Prize in an International Level Photography Competition, held by Nikon in United Kingdom. He has travelled and exhibited his photo worldwide and also been felicitated by various photography associations, he was recently honored by the India International Photographic Council (IIPC) in Hyderabad.

Astro Mohan believes in sharing knowledge, he teaches at various universities and conducts various photography workshops over the last decade. He is a distinguished member of Photography Society of America (PSA), Karnataka Photographers Association (KPA), Udupi Press Photographers Association (UPPA).

Gafoor Moodadi is a professional  photographer currently working as ‘Senior Photographer’ at Kuwait Institute of scientific Research (KISR). He has been working for KISR for more than two decades. He is basically from Kerala and after graduation took his credential in Photography & Videography from  Southern Film Institute, Trivandrum.  The long 25 years of his career in India and Kuwait has bestowed him a variety of experience. He started his career in Kuwait at Ministry of Health. His acquaintance with Al Wasseela Advertising Center and Tahani art Gallery as commercial photographer gave him a vast experience. He is been vocal with his pictures and has been supporting the local and international dailies in Kuwait. Presently he is supporting the leading Malayalam daily “Malayala Manorama“, Kuwait Bureau.

He has earned various prestigious awards in Kuwait for his excellence in photography such as as Indira Gandhi Award, C.M. Stephen Cultural Center Award, KOC Award & the Scientific Center Award. Indian associations have honored him for his contributions to the betterment of society through his pictures. He always come up with photographs which has life in it representing the real world around.

Abey Jose Arthinkal is a professional photographer with a graduation degree in commerce. He hails from a beautiful town of Alleppey in Kerala, India. Abey took photography at a young age of 15 years capturing beautiful moments around him, people realised his potential and was requested to photograph weddings. He has a vast hand-on experience with both film and digital photography, he ventured into full time wedding photography and was quite successful, his personal interest though always continued to inspiring him to capture nature and landscape photography. He moved to kuwait in 1997 and is currently working as a Financial Manager with Blue & Navy International Shipping Co. Over the recent years he has taken a back-foot in professional photography because of his busy schedule and family life.

ShutterXpose managing team is overwhelmed by the support of these judges and hope to receive their continuous guidance, advice and critics as always. We wish you all great success ahead and thanks for being part of our journey.

Joining a photography competition is always exciting as it not only encourages you to do something different from the rest of the participants but also helps you to learn from other participants entries. The prize and the recognition further helps to motivate as a photographer. Most photography competitions are open to all level of photographers and most likely associated under a specific theme (both photography related and generic).

Many people assume that to join photography contests, one need to have the image taken by the best of camera (preferably a DSLR). This assumption itself is quite debatable, since a good camera is just a medium or a tool, it’s always the person behind the camera who captures the image with the best composition, the feel, the experience and technical knowledge. You would be surprised some of the latest mobile held gadgets help to get best shots. Also many people think that to win a photography contests you need to be at the right place and right time. The key to photography is to take picture very often and to keep learning using different composition, different lens and various lighting conditions.

There are countless photography competitions taking place locally as well online. You can search for them using your best online search engines. Once identified read carefully the rules and guidelines as well as the competition theme and don’t forget to check the entering and deadline dates. It’s very important to understand the theme of the contest, try to think creative and get in the mood to shoot great picture. Keep track of the competitions after posting your entry. Choose the contest which you think is fun. It’s a good challenge to take on competitions with themes rather than generic, to improve your skills as a photographer.

Don’t be shy!

A terrible mistake by many photographers who decides to quit even before they joins the competition thinking his/her pictures are not good enough and also how would he/she be rated. Don’t worry if you don’t win, you still took a challenge and you shall learn from critics. Every picture has its own story. Each photographer is talented in his own way. You would be surprised you may be one of the winners and win a jackpot or just even get a certificate of merit.

Isn’t this a moment of pride. Sure it is 🙂

ShutterXpose is inviting entries to their 1^st Photography Competition. You can participate by clicking [here]. Good luck.

(above post image: Funk Street)

To participate, your picture must be about a meteorological phenomenon in Kuwait. The last date for submission is March 15, 2012. The winning photos will be sent to the World Metrological Organization. First place winner will receive 100 KD, second place: 75 KD, and third place: 50 KD. Fourth to tenth place will receive 30 KD.

To participate and check the rule and regulation for the contest, check their official photography contest page [here]