klphoto awards 2009 : winners 2009

KL PHOTOAWARDS 2009 WINNERS

© Nikt Wong, 2009

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY : FIRST PRIZE USD3,000 AND TROPHY

NIKT WONG : WE BLOOM : MOTHER LOVES ME

‘Mother Loves Me’ is a series of pictures profiling the relationship between a mentally challenged girl and her mother. I first noticed them over 10 years ago. Even then, I felt the energy of love surrounding them. Its like a personal bubble, a force field they share, protecting themselves from the prejudice of social norms.
Words fall short in describing Angela’s dedication to her daughter.

Her life’s goal is making Angelique happy, facilitating her need to communicate, release emotions and most importantly be understood.

Schooled in medicine Angela is constantly searching for remedies and nutrients that can reduce the bio-chemical imbalance that plagues Angelique’s brain.

I wanted to explore the possibilities of showing their connection with each other, both physically and esoterically. To express Angela’s dedication in creating – positive realities – through love - making Angelique’s life bearable - in a world of control, conformity and selfish competition.

~ Nikt Wong

Nikt Wong is an internationally published photographer. His commercial work covers travel, food and personalities. He has worked with Discovery Channel on the re-enactment of the Bali Bombing, with Berlitz Publishing and Insight Guides on guide books in Thailand and Malaysia.

His work with the Spanish tourism board on ‘The Route of Don Quixote’ has been used in Asian campaigns and exhibited throughout Malaysia.

Nikt also photographs for Khazanah Nasional in assignments documenting world leaders, Nobel Laurettes, corporate and political figures. In 2008 he completed two cultural books featuring Terengganu life and Songket Weavers. In 2003, Nikt documented the reconstruction of Tamil Tiger communities in Sri Lanka and Iran’s tragic Bam earthquake.

In 2004, his personal work in the Caucasus documented - Russian influence and negligence in Azerbaijan. A year later, in Afghanistan and India he started a project called ‘Glimpsing Sufism’ - resulting in an exhibition and talks. His intimate portrayal of Kalbelian gypsies in Rajahstan was exhibited at the 2005 KL Biennale and featured in ‘Marie Claire - Reportage’.

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY : SECOND PRIZE USD1,500 AND TROPHY

CARLO GIANFERRO : BOY : ILHA DE MOZAMBIQUE

This image was taken in May 2008 in Mozambique during a project for “Formigas do futuro” NGO, Muzuane, Nacala, Mozambique.
Colonialist area of Ilia de Mozambique have been left to decay after 1975 when Mozambique obtained independence. Now, abandoned areas are inhabited by locals even if the buildings are unsafe. The atmosphere is serene, people cheerful and colourful.

Carlo Gianferro is a freelance photographer from Rome with numerous awards after his name.

His professional activity began in 2004 with a series of reportage on Romanian and Moldavian Roma communities. In 2007 he published “Gypsy Architecture” by German Axel Mendes.

Carlo is currently working on two long term projects, on Russian Soviet Bloc architecture and an awareness campaign for NGOs in Mozambique. He is primarily interested in exiled workers and other fragile communities. His photographs document the social living conditions of his subjects and their environment where the architectural setting or backdrop is just as important as the human figures.
In the last two years his work on the Roma has obtained several international awards:

Prix exchange Boutographie, Montpellier, France; Marco Pesaresi 2008, Savignano sul Rubicone, Italy; Grand Prix Fotofestiwal 2009, Lodz, Poland; Raymond Weil Talent 2009, Geneva, Switzerland; 1st prize Portraits Stories World Press Photo 2009.

© Carlo Gianferro, 2009

© Yih Dih Yang, 2009

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY : THIRD PRIZE USD 750 AND TROPHY

YEE DIH YANG : "MY OLD GIRL, WILL YOU APPEAR IN MY DREAM?"

“My grandmother had passed away as early as 20 years ago. Formerly, grandfather often talked to us about his life stories and matters concerning grandmother.
For instance, the prominence of grandmother being an athlete in her middle school years; the distinction of her academic achievements and the process which they both got acquainted with each other.
Ever since grandfather was ill with dementia, he tended to be silent. Frequently he sits on this chair, gazing at their old pictures hanging on wall, and eventually falls asleep in this position.
I assume that now you are both having a reunion in heaven…”

~ Yee Dih Yang

Yee Dih Yang is a freelance photographer and graphic designer. He has been passionate about photography for over 10 years and is a die-hard film user.
At the age of 17, he received a basic Yashica SLR camera from his sister, a MIA graduate. Since that day, he has become obsessed in photography, always having to witness and record the unfolding realities before him.
Believing that fate has brought him into photography, the only manner to grasp this is to susceptibly make use of his ‘sixth’ sense to experience the world by capturing moments.

NON-PROFESSIONAL : FIRST PRIZE USD1,500 AND TROPHY

SARAH LIM : MAKE BELIEVE

“As an artist, I have always used photography as reference material for my paintings but in recent years my interest in this media as an art form in itself has grown steadily into a passion. I learnt the basics at Art School and have since expanded my knowledge from books, fellow enthusiasts and trial and error.

I own a Nikon D70 and D200 with prime lenses 50mm, 105mm and 180mm. This is my first competition entry.

The portrait ‘Make Believe’ is of my thirteen year old daughter. She is wearing one of a collection of Victorian masks that I bought in the UK many years ago and which have provided much fun and hilarity for my friends and family ever since.

They seem to transform the wearer into a completely surreal persona but retain the illusion of a real person at the same time.

This portrait is therefore a play on this theme of illusion and contrasts.
The subject is a young girl but with the suggestion of a much older woman. Her face real and yet unreal. The green background, with red and pink highlights are complementary colours.

My aim is to project a subtle and intriguing portrait that arouses the curiosity of the viewer.”

~ Sarah Lim

© Sarah Lim, 2009

© Wendy Chui Wen Yan, 2009

NON-PROFESSIONAL : SECOND PRIZE USD 750 AND TROPHY

WENDY CHUI WEN YAN : WEDDING PORTRAITS

“On a superficial level, there are many things you can discuss about this picture. What makes a portrait? What frames a picture? What creates a statement? Yet on the deepest level, this is an image of Love.
Love between a married couple in its most defined form – settled, aged and mellow.
This print will be part of the collection on their bedroom wall.”

~ Wendy Chui

Wendy is currently pursuing a BFA in Photography and Digital Imaging at Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design and Media, Singapore. Her primary interest in portraiture lies in photographing her parents, whose portrait she has submitted.

Wendy has had numerous photography sessions with her family regardless of their enthusiasm levels which brings out the natural poses she captures. Her other portrait works include friends, but mostly family members.

NON-PROFESSIONAL : THIRD PRIZE USD 375 AND TROPHY

ALECIA NEO : THE BROWNLEES : HIATUS

“My images are about common human experiences of alienation and loneliness, appearance and reality, and the search for self. The representations of human emotions and relationships in my work are often reflective of my experiences, memories and my attempts to understand that magic that connects people.

I am most drawn to individuals with stories to tell, common people with imperfections.

I see my own vulnerability in theirs.

What I love most about photography is the way it allows me to form new relationships and how it allows an entry point to the unknown. I enjoy the process of meeting people through my camera and watching us eventually let our guards down.

I am a final year photography student in the Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design and Media, Singapore.

The ‘Hiatus’ series is my artistic attempt at portraying the gaps and breaking points in our common human experience. Through images exploring urban spaces and fictional and non-fictional characters, ‘Hiatus’ represents a body of multiple psychological portraits. While these pictures are posed, there is a reality in their emotions that resound with the audience. The resulting ambiguity and mystery of the narrative reflect a common fear of the unknown.

The series was made in Baltimore, Maryland. Terri (p.45 in catalogue) loves to dress as a woman and allowed me to photograph him. This portrait was made when he drove me to his home, after I expressed interest in photographing him in his space.

The condition of his house contrasted greatly with my first impressions of him. I am humbled by this unexpected access and Terri’s openness.

The Brownlees are twins with a keen interest in modeling. Both Erica and Erin had a strong appetite for life, and were always enthusiastic. I wanted to reveal a sense of vulnerability in their eagerness, and the luxurious bathroom became a natural choice to reveal that sense of nakedness.

This body of work marks the beginning point for a quiet desire to transcend our circumstances.”

~ Alecia Neo

The People's Choice Winner is Max Pincker's entry No.15 : Nemburice,36, Tanzania. Max receives a brand new Leica C-Lux 2 digital camera.

View all 46 Finalists