Inspiration can strike, even in self-isolation. Filipino photographers Carlo Zamora and and Klienne Eco have proven this with their winning entries to Xposure International Photography Festival’s weekly contest, #HomeCaptured.
The non-profit behind the festival, which is held at Sharjah’s Expo Centre every year, announced the competition on social media in mid-April. It asked photographers around the world to document their lives under lockdown or self-isolation in inventive ways.
Zamora’s winning work, for which he will receive $1,000 (Dh3,600), portrays a young person blowing a soap bubble with a curly straw. It is not the scene that is impressive, but rather the photographer’s use of light and shadow. By placing the subject against a pitch-black background and manipulating light to turn the bubble into a glistening orb, the image becomes dramatic.
Runner-up Eco turned to light painting for his entry, which won $750 (Dh2,750). His technique involves capturing moving light against another subject with a long exposure setting. His work Light Paint is an abstract work featuring folded pages reflected against a shiny surface and colourful lights in the background.
The two photographers from Manila are the latest round of winners in the competition, which is now in its second week. On April 22, Xposure awarded Fatma Zohra Hamici from Algeria and Hanan Rajab from Bahrain with first and runner-up titles respectively.
Hamici's photographic composite Tea Time showed a dynamic set-up for afternoon tea shot in high-speed. Xposure's jury noted the photographer's skilful use of photo-editing to complete the image. Rajab's portrait depicts a young boy expressing his wishes to play outside through a drawing.
Shortlisted entries, including portraits by Andy Ramos, Saad Al Hamady and Shyjith Onden Cheriyath, have children as their subjects. Each reflects the concerns of our time: Cheriyath’s son, seemingly trapped behind his coloured pencils, expresses frustration with self-isolation, while Al Hamady’s son goes through cycles of ups and downs.
The #HomeCaptured contest is now in its third week, accepting submissions from photographers worldwide via their website. A jury will review the entries based on a five-point system that considers composition, lighting, technical quality and creativity.
More information on Xposure’s contest can be found on stayhome.xposure.ae
