Step into the world of photographic excellence as we unravel the captivating narratives behind our Open Theme Photo Contest Winners. Each image is a testament to the boundless creativity and vision of our talented photographers. Join us as we delve into the inspiring stories and remarkable imagery that have left an indelible mark on the world of photography.
HÉCTOR RUIZ GOLOBART
Héctor Ruiz Golobart is a young man from Barcelona whose life came into photography by chance in August 2019, when he bought a SLR camera to go on safari in Tanzania.
During that trip, in addition to animals, he began to photograph the local population, their culture, their way of living, always from a distance and with the shyness of someone doing something for the first time. At the end of that same year, he traveled to Myanmar, a country where he discovered his passion for travel and documentary
photography. In fact, his first documentary series “Sons of a Monastery” would be born here, a series that was published by National Geographic Spain.
Upon returning from his trip, the pandemic arrived, a time when he took the opportunity to teach himself photography and editing. With the aim of practicing and learning travel photography, while the borders were still closed, Héctor began practicing in Barcelona, his hometown. Thus, in June 2020, Héctor would create a photography project focused on the city of Barcelona known as BCNMágica.
In 2021, with the borders open again, Héctor traveled again. First through Europe, and then through Africa, the continent that had stolen his heart in 2019. He started in Ethiopia in 2022, where he met communities like the Surma, the Hamer or the Nyangatom. At the end of 2022, he visited Sudan, where he photographed the wonderful pyramids of Meroe and other archaeological remains of the Nubian Empire. Afterwards he headed to South Sudan where he met the country's most fascinating communities. In 2023, Hector visited the last tribes of southern Angola, near the Namibian border, and ended the year by traveling to Bangladesh to document the harsh working conditions of the local people.
Since he began travel photography, his style has evolved in two directions, a more artistic facet and another more focused on documentary. The first, which encompasses both travel and landscape photography, allows him to push his photographic knowledge to the limit and make fine art editions that documentary photography does not allow.
While the second is born from a need to tell the realities that he has encountered during his travels. In fact, he considers that those who have the privilege of traveling have the “obligation” to bring what they have learned on these trips to those who are not fortunate enough to be able to travel. Therefore, with documentary and travel photography, Héctor seeks to make others aware of the consequences of our way of life. And for this reason, the photographer dedicates himself to trying to capture small stories in a world that does not have time to observe them.
ANGEL FUX
I’m Angel, a landscape and astrophotographer as well as a composite artist. I am originally from Sweden and France and spent almost my entire life in beautiful Switzerland.
My biggest passion lies in the mountains and capturing them with my camera. However, I also enjoy writing a lot, working out at the gym and taking care of my health, good food, and I have a keen interest in money, business, and spirituality.
How did you get interested in photography?
I started photography at the age of 10, about 15 years ago. My dad had that passion as well and passed it on to me.
During all those years, I’ve been able to experiment and try many things and photography types such as macro, portrait, food, event, commercial, and product photography before getting into landscape, and then astrophotography.
What is your favorite type of photography?
Night photography and composites have become by far the type and art form I enjoy the most, as it combines landscape and astro, requires being technical and creative, and pushes both physical and mental barriers.
The reason I enjoy it so much is that it also gets me out to discover the world. First in my own country, and every year a bit further away. On top of that, capturing the stars and celestial objects in general makes me excited about the universe we live in. It’s truly humbling to see such beauty on your camera screen, knowing it is so much bigger than you.
What are your aspirations as a photographer?
Capturing beauty and sharing it with the world the way I see it has been one of my main drivers since day one. I’ve always been the type to share what I create and show what we can do with a camera. The more I evolve, the more I start educating on top of sharing. Educating on composites, the outdoors, photography, and editing techniques.
I find great satisfaction in helping other photographers or artists achieve something with their own images so that they can tell a story. This is the primary reason I decided to create a 1-1 program where I take a handful of students to help them in this journey.
In the future, live seminars, workshops around the globe, and building an online community can be expected from me.
For you what is photography? And what are you thinking when you are shooting?
Photography to me is a tool to achieve a vision. It’s a way to bridge imagination and reality. It’s a tool for honest and creative expression and a tool for documenting the past physically and emotionally.
It’s also one of the very few things in life that puts me in a flow state. When out shooting, the world around me, my camera, and I, are the only things that exist at that moment. I’m not thinking much, apart from how to take the shot. I’m not interested in anything else when I’m in that state.
Understanding the purpose of our life is very crucial, especially, when we start believing in ourselves. So, here's a brief tale about myself. As a student grappling with a heap of pressure, it wasn't a simple task to discover Who Am I and What I aspire to be. However, I stumbled upon the notion that there is a hidden artist within everyone, and I discovered my inner artist a passion for photography.
I am Divyanshu Verma, a self-taught photographer hailing from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. I am always very passionate about finding the moments around me that helps me to develop my inner strength and to see the world through different perspectives and that's all abilities help me to become a photographer.
What is your favourite type of photography?
For me, I love to capture everything that tells stories that I want to convey. So I love all types of photography. But mostly I spend my time in street photography and the reason behind this is like, in street photography the whole world is my stage and I want to show different stories through my street photos.
What are your aspirations as a photographer?
As a photographer, my only aspiration is to add value to my photographs. I just want people to connect with me through my photos.
For you what is photography? And what are you thinking when you are shooting?
For me, photography is the only word that change my life and the way of seeing things in a different perspective. It's the only word that helps me to push my creativity. While shooting, I always keep my mind blank and I search for stories and moments. And I always try to find extraordinary things in ordinary places.
In closing, the journey through our Open Theme Contest has been nothing short of extraordinary. We've witnessed the power of creativity, passion, and dedication as our photographers shared their unique perspectives and stories through their images. As we celebrate the remarkable talent showcased in this contest, we are reminded of the endless possibilities and beauty that exist within the realm of photography. Congratulations to all the winners, and may your photographic journey continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
Don't forget to check out our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests.