As Xposure International Photography Festival completes five weeks of its highly anticipated weekly #HomeCaptured contest, two UAE residents have won the coveted top prizes for brilliantly capturing the #StayHome experiences imposed by the outbreak of a global pandemic.
Shyjith Onden Cheriyath from Dubai won the first prize of US$ 1,000 while Abu Dhabi’s Manny Fajutag claimed the runner-up position, winning US$ 750.
Shyjith Cheriyath’s winning photo titled, ‘We relax with lemon mint tea!!!’, eloquently captured an at-home scene of the photographer and his son enjoying a steaming cup of lemon mint tea, while his wife, a healthcare worker, is on duty. The photograph, he said, highlights lifestyle changes the pandemic has brought about. “To take away the stress of working from home, my son and I like to relax with a cup of lemon-mint tea each evening!” he said.
Shyjith Cheriyath’s winning photo titled, ‘We relax with lemon mint tea!!!’
In their verdict, the jury complimented the image as a “good portraiture of a father and son relaxing and sharing the preparation of hot lemon tea.”
Highlighting the technical qualities that elevated this heartwarming image, they said: “The excellent lighting provides emphasis to the steam and the ingredients that are used for the drink. The dark background creates added drama.”
Runner-up Manny Fajutag’s winning photo titled ‘Bee Eye’ is the result of the photographer having to change his mode of shooting as #StayHome policies in the UAE prevents him from undertaking outdoor shoots currently. “I therefore try still life or product photography but personally, the most challenging is to do some macro photography,” he says.
Manny Fajutag’s winning photo titled ‘Bee Eye’
In their statement, the jury said: “This macro shot highlights the ability of the photographer who has produced a complex image. Its striking colours and sharpness of the image have impressed upon us the photographer’s talent and skills.”
#HomeCaptured is an easy-to-enter global competition that invites shutterbugs worldwide to use their artistic skills to capture the beauty of everyday moments at home or window views of the outside world.
A jury of experts will evaluate all entries on a weekly basis (Monday to Sunday) and score them independently on a five-score system that assesses their composition, technical quality, lighting, and creativity. Weekly winners will be notified by email every Wednesday, and their images will be published on Xposure’s StayHome website as well as on its social media platforms.
Entries for the sixth week of the competition can be uploaded at https://stayhome.xposure.ae/ in JPG format. Contestants can submit one image in each 24-hour period over the duration of the contest.
