KL Photoawards 2012 focuses on ‘Pure Photography’

The KL International Photoawards 2012 (KLPA 12) is back again, running steadily in its 4th year. KLPA is an annual portrait photography competition, started in 2009. The organisers are Explorenation.net and KL Photoawards (Malaysia).

The KLPA 12 is an entry-fee based photography competition open to all levels of photographers from around the world. All entrants have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, and are judged by experienced professionals within the photography, gallery, media and arts industries.

Annually, since 2010, KLPA received over 1,200 entries from over 35 nations, comprising of professionals, keen amateurs as well as newcomers to photography.

The call for this year’s entries started in December last year. This year, apart from the original Portrait category, the organizers added another two categories – the Photo Essay category and the Open category.

Submission of entries will be between 1st and 31 March 2012.

The focus for this year’s entries is on ‘Pure Photography’.

“Today, we are constantly being flooded with imagery, which are easily and increasingly manipulated by digital filters and apps. Excessive digital manipulation and post-processing has become the norm.” said Steven Lee, KLPA founder.

“We have therefore chosen Pure Photography as the overall focus for KLPA 2012. Emphasis will be given to outstanding photographs that have minimal digital manipulation – rewarding content, composition and framing techniques.

And this year, for the first time, we are encouraging ‘back-to-basics’ photo essays in documentary storytelling.”

The sponsors and partners for KLPA 12 are Time Out Kuala Lumpur, Pacsafe, MAP Publika, J&A Imaging Station and Kodak (Malaysia), Anti-Slavery International, FotoVisura.com and Invisible Photographer Asia Sojournposse.com

Beside the top three prizes for the best photos, there are also three select awards:

i. The Pacsafe Select Award winner will be picked by a Pacsafe representative from the shortlisted entries of the Open Category, and will receive the Ultimatesafe 32l backpack. This is Pacsafe’s award winning top-of-the-line anti-theft backpack.

ii. The Anti-Slavery International Select Award will be chosen by Sophie Batterbury, Picture Editor at The Independent on Sunday newspaper, UK, and will be selected from the shortlist of The Photo Essay category.

iii. FotoVisura Best Personal Project Award will be selected by Adriana Teresa, Co-Founder of FotoVisura.com, for the best overall personal project across the categories. The winner will receive a one year Plus Account in FotoVisura, as will be invited to be featured in Visura Magazine in 2012.

For names of the judges and other further details, please refer to KLPA’s website at http://www.klphotoawards.com/about.html.

KLPA was founded by Mr Steven Lee, a Malaysian, in 2008. He now resides in London and work as a Photography Educator.

Having participated in similar awards in the UK and US, he wanted to formulate a similar contest based in Malaysia.

He then partnered Time Out Kuala Lumpur, the listings magazine and online portal, who at the time also just started their operations in KL.

When asked why he started KLPA and what he hoped to achieve, he said:

“There are several aspects to my answers. I wanted to highlight the fact that Asia and especially, Malaysia can organise and promote an international photography competition that is well run, and of sufficient standard to be recognised globally within the photography fraternity.

“Secondly, I wanted to highlight KL and Malaysia as an important artistic hub, photographically speaking, by bringing attention to the City of KL.

“Thirdly, I wanted to raise the local standards of photography so that over the years, Malaysian photographers may also be judged and win overseas competitions, and become more well-known in the international arena.”