Syngenta launches international photography award

BASEL, Switzerland, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Syngenta Photography Award, a new international competition that aims to stimulate dialogue around key global challenges, was launched today. Open to professional and amateur photographers, the Award will explore a central theme each year. In its inaugural year, the theme is "rural-urban", exploring the relationship and tensions between rural and urban environments.

"For the first time in history, over half of the world's population lives in urban environments, which is increasing the competition for natural resources and labor," commented Mike Mack, Syngenta CEO. "Finding a balance between these rural and urban tensions is critical. This new competition aims to establish an important platform to explore issues of global significance through photography."

The competition will be judged by a distinguished international panel chaired by award-winning South African photojournalist Jodi Bieber. The other members of the panel are: Irina Chmyreva (Russia) curator and researcher of photography; Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (UK) publisher, International Herald Tribune; Milton Guran (Brazil) curator and photographer; Malu Halasa (Lebanon) writer and editor; Marcus Lyon (UK) photographer; Mike Mack (U.S.) Syngenta Chief Executive Officer; and Liu Heung Shing (China) photographer and photo editor.

The Syngenta Photography Award has two categories. The Open Competition welcomes photographers of all levels, from professional to amateur. In addition, professional photographers are invited to compete for a Professional Commission by submitting an original proposal that is related to this year's rural-urban theme.

The winners of the Syngenta Photography Award will be announced at an exhibition in London in May 2013.

Notes to the editor:

• Media inquiries relating to the Syngenta Photography Award can be addressed to: Amy Barder or Jane Acton at Four Colman Getty 
  [email protected] / [email protected]    
  Tel: + 44 (0) 870 626 9000.
• The competition opens for entries on September 6, 2012 and closes on January 15, 2013.
• The competition is free to enter.
• All images must have been taken in the last 10 years.
• The Open Competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers. The judges will award a first, second and third place winner who will receive US$5,000, US$3,000, and US$2,000 respectively.
• The Professional Commission is for professional photographers whose major income is derived from photography. In judging the entries, the panel will not only be looking for the ability to design and complete a commission, but also the talent to communicate a compelling narrative through photography. The first place winner will receive a US$15,000 prize, in addition to up to US$25,000 to complete the commission. The second and third place winners will receive US$10,000 and US$5,000 respectively.
• For full details of the Syngenta Photography Award, please visit www.syngentaphoto.com. This media release is also available on the site in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

The Syngenta Photography Award
Exploring Global Challenges

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The New York Times

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SOURCE Syngenta