24 Jun 2013

Botswana Institute of Development Professionals (BIDP) will host its first ever photography competition in October.

The competition is expected to focus on all aspects of the built environment as human intervention on the natural landscape. That includes buildings of all sizes, new and historical buildings, infrastructure development, landscape, public spaces, landmarks, bridges, among others.

Launching the competition at the BotswanaCraft last week, Killion Mokwete explained that the competition aimed at celebrating the built environment through photography and to promote continual professional development.

The competition, he added would also provide a social platform for the public and professional services consumers to interact and engage with its members. Mokwete said the competition was open to all, except employees and BIDP council members and their immediate families as well as everyone regardless of residence or citizenship.

Participants are expected to submit up to five entries that meet the criteria for the competition. A renowned photographer, Ulf Nermark, whose pictures were the highlight of the launch, encouraged photographers to promote the vocation as a form of communication.

He however, said while the competition celebrated the infrastructural developments, photography, as a profession, also needed training and practice. Nermark also told the audience about his photography, showed images taken for documentation, communication and appreciation.

As such, he said photography could be used to explain the past (history) and map the future. Over the years, he said there had been great development in Botswana including construction in towns and cities, transformation of villages into urban settlements, roads, bridges and many other structures.

Nermark, who once chaired the Botswana Society for the Arts, appealed to competitors to capture images that would tell a story in order for them to triumph. He added that photos may be taken anywhere and anytime around the country.

He also encouraged participants to include text paragraphs to explain the story behind the pictures and how they felt it captured the spirit of celebrating the built environment.

The deadline for submission is September 23 and finalists would be announced on or before October 15. A panel of three judges will be appointed by BIDP Council to select photos of finalists.

Pictures will be printed and mounted for exhibition at the Botswana Craft Market shortly after the competition. Winning entries will also be selected from the finalists while first, second and third positions will win prizes. ENDS