CRITICAL EYE
PORTRAITS FROM THE STREET
JURY MEMBERS
Kuala Lumpur : 2025 Judging completed
This year's jury members met in Kuala Lumpur recently and sat through a full weekend viewing, selecting and discussing portraiture photography and the entries which wee submitted to KLPA2025 Critical Eye : Portraits from the Street. A total of 1,420 portraits were entered in both the Main and Student categories. Currently the finalists are being contacted by email and images verified. Shortly we will be announcing the Top 35 Finalists and 3 Best Student entries, alongside the 3 Best Zontiga Malaysian entries.
All these finalist portraits will go on display at Hin Bus Depot in Georgetown from 6 to 28 September, 2025.
2025 JURY
ANNICE LYN
@annicelyn
Annice Lyn is a former national figure skater turned documentary photographer, known for capturing compelling stories through her lens and being the first and only Malaysian female photographer accredited for both the PyeongChang 2018 Winter and Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
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To date, she has covered four Summer and Winter Olympic Games. She serves as the creative director for Anntopia Studio and holds the position of Canon Malaysia EOS Youth Ambassador (2018-2022) and EOS Master 2023. A laureate of the Southeast Asia Women of the Future Award 2020, she co-founded Women Photographers Malaysia, fostering an inclusive culture through visual storytelling. Her internationally recognised work includes photographing the cover for TIME Magazine’s April 2021 issue, artwork by Malaysian artist Red Hong Yi, and being listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2021 for bridging the gender gap in visual culture.
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Additionally, she led and executive-produced a groundbreaking female-led collaboration for Victoria's Secret, showcasing local talents in an all-female production campaign.
CAROL KÖRTING
@carolkoerting
@leica_fotografie_international
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Carol Körting worked as a freelance photographer before studying photo editing at the Ostkreuz Schule für Fotografie in Berlin, Germany. She has served as photo editor for the renowned Leica Fotografie International Magazine (LFI) and its online platform for over a decade, during which time she has produced and edited countless photographic projects.
As a professional portfolio reviewer, Carol was part of a team of jurors at numerous photography competitions. In addition, she gives talks, workshops and presentations on photo editing.
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Photo Credit: Rick Burger
CHIA AIK BENG
@aikbengchia
Aik Beng Chia’s photography, rich in subtlety and texture, creates layered images that deeply connect with viewers. He captures unnoticed moments from daily life in Singapore and his travels, shedding light on overlooked yet emotionally impactful scenes.
Known as ABC in the community, he authored Tonight the Streets Are Ours and SingKarPor, along with numerous self published zines since 2010. He has collaborated with brands like Apple, Ricoh, Fujifilm, and Leica, with his internationally recognized work exhibited and published worldwide.
MARIKA CUKROWSKI
@worldpressphoto
Marika works in the Curatorial Affairs Team at World Press Photo, specializing in production. Over the past five years, she has travelled with the World Press Photo annual exhibition to locations around the world, taking part in events about photojournalists and press freedom. She studied at the University of Toronto and the University of Amsterdam, focussing on identity and nationalism. She is based in Amsterdam.
MUHD. HIDAYATULLAH
@muhdhidayatullah
Muhd Hidayatullah is a Kuala Lumpur-based documentary and humanitarian photographer, as well as a documentary filmmaker. With 10 years of experience as a humanitarian photographer for AusRelief, he has documented critical global crises, including the exodus of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey, the lives of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the displacement of Yemeni refugees in Djibouti, the tsunami recovery efforts in Palu, and the cataract surgery project in Lombok.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Hidayatullah brings a unique perspective to his work, crafting intimate and thoughtful narratives with his subjects. His photography and films highlight cultural diversity, craftsmanship, and the beauty of everyday life, capturing timeless moments through a lens of authenticity.
PRIZES AND BENEFITS
Open to international photographers at all levels
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1st Prize USD$2,000 + sponsored Artist HIN Residence Program*
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2nd Prize USD$1,000
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3rd Prize USD$500
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STUDENT ENTRIES
USD$200 each will be awarded to the three best entries.
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The Best 35 entries will have their portraits exhibited at Hin Bus Depot, Georgetown, Penang in September, 2025. Finalists will also be screened at international partner festivals.
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ZONTIGA KLPA PRIZE 2025
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Exclusively for Malaysian entries, Zontiga and KLPA have come together to award three prizes to the best portraits that adhere to the theme of Portraits from the Street, as selected by Zontiga.
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1st Prize
RM200 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers + Lomo Reusable Film Camera & film
2nd Prize
RM100 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers
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3rd Prize
RM50 book purchase value + RM50 printing vouchers
ZONTIGA JURY
LAU WEN HUAT
@lauwenhuat
Lau Wen Huat is the founder and director of Zontiga, guiding its growth into a hub for photographers and storytellers. Combining strategic insight with creative vision, he has developed Zontiga into a thriving photography space, a respected photo lab, and a curated bookstore and publishing house dedicated to visual storytelling.
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Lau also leads the ideation and planning of visual art exhibitions, providing artists with a platform to showcase their work and connect with audiences. Additionally, he oversees the production of photography publications that highlight diverse voices and foster creative expression. His dedication to the visual arts and talent development has been key to Zontiga’s continued growth, fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration.
Under his leadership, Zontiga remains a space where photography and storytelling come together, driven by a focus on creativity, innovation, and artistic growth.
API HUSIEN
@apihusien
Api Husien is a multifaceted artist who excels in a range of creative disciplines, including poetry, playwriting, acting, directing, and photography. He has authored several books of poetry and photography, and his work has been showcased in exhibitions across both Malaysia and Indonesia.
*Artist HIN Residence
Program
The HIN Residence Program was established in 2019 and has since welcomed several accomplished artists. Nestled in the heart of George Town, Penang, the residency offers artists a unique opportunity to engage with the local art community, providing access to a range of valuable resources.
The 2025 1st Prize photographer is invited to attend a residency program at Hin Bus Depot in central Georgetown, Penang for up to 3 months in 2025 or 2026. Accommodation is included and the artist will receive a basic stipend. The outcome of the residency is very much community based and can be discussed between the artist and Hin Bus Depot.
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Georgetown, a port city, is one of the most vibrant, culture orientated cities located in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The city is a Unesco World Heritage site, and is known for its colonial architecture, multi-cultural population and cuisine.
ABOUT
ENTRY FEES
1 image USD$15.00
2 images USD$30.00
3-6 images USD$50.00
7-10 images USD$75.00
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Entrants may submit through the KLPA website SUBMIT link or at the Picter.com page. Closing date for submissions : Sunday, 30 March 2025 Midnight Malaysian (UTC+8), unless extended. [EXTENDED DEADLINE 04 APRIL 2025 MIDNIGHT UTC+8]
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CONCESSIONS FOR ENTRY
This year, KLPA is providing 5 concessionary (free) entries to photographers based in countries where credit and debit cards are unavailable. Please complete this online form with your details by 28 February 2025. Five photographers will be selected at random and notified. They will be given a check-out code to submit their entry to the Picter site. Only 1 image is allowed per concession per person.
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STUDENTS CATEGORY
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Full-time enrolled students under 25 years: Submit 1 image for free to be entered to the Students Category. Proof of enrolment by student ID card or establishment letter is required to be uploaded.​
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TIMELINE
January 2025 - Open for submissions
March 30 - Deadline [EXTENDED DEADLINE 04 APRIL 2025 MIDNIGHT UTC+8]
Mid-April - Judging
May - Finalists notified and announced
June - Winners announced
September - Exhibition in Malaysia
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