Filipinos win U-S Photo competition

Photo by Samuel De Leon

Not one but two Pinoys won two of the top three prizes in a major photo competition in the United States. A striking black and white image of a Filipino farmer set against a background of rice fields won 1st Place/Best of Show at the 5th Annual Photoshare Photo Contest in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sam De Leon submitted the winning photo in the competition sponsored by The INFO Project at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP).

While just right behind Sam was Julius Peter Obligacion with his photo submission called Kulambo. The Filipino lies under a bed net. The mosquito net, or "kulambo" in Pilipino, is widely used for malaria prevention in the rural areas of the Philippines.

The INFO Project is a reproductive health knowledge-sharing resource supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). INFO's Photoshare service helps international non-profits communicate health and development issues through photography.

By facilitating photo sharing among colleagues in international development, Photoshare has become a leading source for editorial development photography. The Photoshare collection, consisting primarily of photos taken by public health professionals in the field, contains thousands of images illustrating the realities of urban and rural life in developing countries, as well as global efforts to improve and save lives, www.photoshare.org.

Photo by Julius Peter
Obligacion

Open to amateurs and professionals alike, the contest drew interest from around the globe, including more than 347 participants who submitted more than 1,148 photos shot in 92 different countries.

Here is a description of Sam and Julius' photos and the judges comments

Samuel De Leon

A farmer from the Central Luzon region of the Philippines, where the plains are most suitable for cultivation of rice, the staple food of Filipinos.

Judges' Comment: A wonderful image and a beautiful portrait of an agricultural person and way of life. Enjoyable black and white quality. Great detail, composition and depth with the rice fields in the background. Perfect lighting. This picture draws me in and moves me.

Julius Peter Obligacion

A family in the Philippines lies under a bed net. The mosquito net, or "kulambo" in Pilipino, is widely used for malaria prevention in the rural areas of the Philippines.

Judges' Comment: A beautiful and intimate image. It illustrates the subject perfectly! Well lit and composed. With the mosquito net clearly in front, it tells a story and stands alone.