Filipino photographer Jophel Botero Ybiosa continued to raise the Philippine flag around the world as he harvested 50 international awards for the Philippines in various tilts.
The 9-time Ani ng Dangal national awardee did not let the coronavirus pandemic stop his winning streak in 2020 and wrapped up the year with the following wins:
- 10 top awards
- 9 second-place spots
- 4 third place wins
- 15 high honors
- 4 acceptance awards
- 8 finalist finishes
The cruise photographer who survived the enforced quarantine on board the Princess Cruises told Good News Pilipinas that of all the past year’s recognitions he valued his historic achievement as the first Filipino to win the Gold Award from the New York Photo Fair (U.S.A.) Neutral Density Photography Awards (United Kingdom) and Budapest International Foto Awards (Hungary).
Ybiosa entered the contests with varied images he captured from around the world but shares that he favored the winning image about the Filipino people’s devotion to festivals.
“I think the winning image of Mud People Festival in Nueva Ecija had the best back story. Our group, the Team Juan Makasining set-up a photo walk to document the meaningful and unique story and relevant culture and tradition of the Mud People. During the process, I tried to capture its essence and narrative with a different perspective,” the Filipino photographer revealed. “I´m truly humbled and honored that it was praised by judges and experts.”
Ybiosa submitted the Mud People Festival images to various competitions and exhibitions and ended up winning several awards, including from the New York Photo Fair (U.S.A.), Master Photographers International Image Challenge (Canada), Umbra International Photography Awards (United Kingdom), Professional Photographers Asia Community International Photo Awards (Hong Kong), The Societies International Image Competition (United Kingdom), the Moscow International Foto Awards (Russia) for which he received a spot on the Good News Pilipinas Year Ender Best List, and the Neutral Density Photography Awards (United Kingdom), Budapest International Foto Awards (Hungary).
Another winning image with an interesting back story is the¨Shades of Qurantine¨, an image taken using a Huawei P30 smartphone during Ybiosa’s quarantine onboard Sapphire Princess at Manila Bay after repatriation from Singapore.
The image won 2nd Place and a Bronze Award from the Professional Photographers Asia Community International Photo Awards (Hong Kong) and Honorable Mention from the Paris Photography Prize (France).
Jophel Ybiosa shared his best insights from 2020 as a Filipino photographer working overseas caught in the midst of a worldwide health crisis that halted work and travel.
“The pandemic has impacted the creative industry. But in the midst of uncertainty and challenging times, I still find hope and motivation through the art of Photography,” he said.
The lensman also noted how despite the restrictions to travel he was able to build new connections with people through social media, have images recognized in international competitions and exhibitions, have stories shared in interviews, have winning works published on print and digital platforms, and have artistic milestones that bring inspiration to others.
“Photography has advantages during this pandemic such as therapeutic benefits and happiness, documentation of reality and issues, and recording significant events and moments of life,” he adds.
Ybiosa also called on artists to face the new normal y supporting one another, to “stay productive and inspired and keep on pursuing our passion to achieve goals.”
Ybiosa so raises another lesson gleaned from the Covid-19 crisis: “The pandemic also taught us not only the importance of health and discipline but also the value of a meaningful connection to God, family, and loved ones. It also gives us time to reflect on life and appreciate the blessings that we have.”
The following are Jophel Ybiosa’s 50 international photography awards for 2020:
10 top awards
• Gold Award – New York Photo Fair (U.S.A.)
• Best in Class Award – Master Photographers International Image Challenge (Canada)
• Main Category Winner in Events – Umbra International Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• 1st Place Winner and Silver Award in People and Culture Category – Professional Photographers Asia Community International Photo Awards (Hong Kong)
• 1st Place and Gold Star Award in Editorial Category – ND Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Gold Winner in Events Category – Budapest International Foto Awards (Hungary)
• Gold Winner in Events Category – The Societies International Image Competition (United Kingdom)
• Gold Winner in Events Category – Moscow International Foto Awards (Russia)
• Winner in Wildlife Photography – Images of Asia Monthly Photo Contest (Singapore)
• Prize Winner – International Photographic Contest (Thailand)
9 2nd placers
• Silver Award in Street Photography – Master Photographer International Image Challenge (Canada)
• 2nd Place Winner and Bronze Award in Smart Phone Landscape Category – Professional Photographers Asia Community International Photo Awards (Hong Kong)
• Silver Award – Professional Photographers Asia Community International Photo Awards (Hong Kong)
• Silver Award in Sports Category – WPE International Photo Awards 2nd Half Competition (France)
• Silver Award in Street Category – WPE International Photo Awards 2nd Half Competition (France)
• Silver Award in Street Category – WPE International Photo Awards Final Competition (France)
• 2nd Place Events Photographer of the Year – Moscow International Foto Awards (Russia)
• 2nd Place Winner in Portrait (Children) Category – Umbra International Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• 2nd Place Winner in Culture and Heritage Events Category – Umbra International Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
4 bronze wins
• Bronze Winner in Smartphone Photography – Paris Photography Prize (France)
• Bronze Award in People and Culture Category – PPAC International Photo Awards (Hong Kong)
• 3rd Place Winner in Traditions and Cultures Category – International Photography Awards (U.S.A.)
• Bronze Award in Street Photography – Master Photographer International Image Challenge (Canada)
15 high honors
• Highly Commended Award in Events – The Societies International Image Competition (United Kingdom)
• Highly Commended Award in Environmental Awareness– The Societies International Image Competition (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in Events Category – International Photography Awards (U.S.A.)
• Honorable Mention in Events Category – Budapest International Foto Awards (Hungary)
• Highly Commended Award – The Societies Street Photography Competition (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in Smartphone Photography – Paris Photography Prize (France)
• Honorable Mention in Travel/Tourism Category – Paris Photography Prize (France)
• Honorable Mention – One Shot Competition: International Photography Awards (U.S.A.)
• Honorable Mention in Photojournalism Category – Chromatic Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in People Category – Chromatic Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in Portrait Category – Monovisions Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in Photojournalism Category – Monovisions Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in People Category – Monovisions Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention in Street Photography Category – Monovisions Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Honorable Mention – International Seoul Photography Contest (South Korea)
4 acceptance awards
• Acceptance Award in Photojournalism – New York Photo Fair (U.S.A.)
• Acceptance Award in Travel Category – Taichung International Exhibition of Photography (Taiwan)
• Acceptance Award – Konya Culture and Tourism International Photography Contest (Turkey)
• Acceptance Award – Creative Digipix International Salon (India)
8 finalist finishes
• Nominee in Photojournalism – Fine Art Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Nominee in Street Photography – Fine Art Photography Awards (United Kingdom)
• Shortlist – Paris Photography Prize State of the World Exhibition (France)
• Finalist – International Photographic Contest (Thailand)
• Finalist – HIPA Instagram Competition (U.A.E.)
• Finalist in Photojournalism – OneEyeland World´s Top 10 Black and White Photographers (India)
• Finalist in Event Category – OneEyeland World´s Top 10 Black and White Photographers (India)
• Finalist – PENN IUR Photo Contest (U.S.A.)
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Filipino photographer Jophel Ybiosa for harvesting 50 international awards for the Philippines in 2020!
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