By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Massive response was received to the Localens Photography Competition, whose
lucky winners were awarded prizes at
the Alliance Francaise, Karachi, on March 22.
It was an opportunity for the youngsters who pursue
photography as a hobby to demonstrate their creativity and talent. Nearly
14,000 entries were received and the judges, Jean-Francois Chenin, Director,
Alliance Francaise in Karachi, Izdeyar Setna, a photgrapher, and Max Becherer,
a freelance photo-journalist, had a challenge to meet while shortlisting 30 of
these pictures which were put on display on the walls of the auditorium.
“I have nothing to hide,
these pictures were beautiful,” Chenin was quoted as saying while pointing to
the wonderful picttures he had to judge.
The participants were awarded certificates while cash and
gifts were presented to the winners of first, second and third positions.
Sikandar Hayat's 'Paddy Crop' was adjudged first, Asfand
Majeed's 'Roadside barbeque' second and Mehlum Sadriwala's 'The early morning
walk' third.
The Gurumandir image
captured by Asfand Majeed portrayed many of the things from streets to cars and
barbeque on the roadside as the youngster desired glorifying Karachi, known for
its food, with his stunning picture.
Mehlum Sadriwala won the third prize which the photograph he
had clicked in November 2013 of Old Lahore. He believed that there’s an old
world charm in the old Lahore city, near the Wazir Khan Mosque and the
picture he took of an old man walking past was done in a poetic way.
