A stunning image of a skatepark in the UAE was named Concrete in Life Photo of the Year. She won the top prize of US$10,000 in a worldwide competition, which highlights the crucial role that concrete plays in our society.
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Ferdz Bedana, winner Urban Concrete Professional and overall winner, Concrete in Life Photo of Year. Location Sharjah, UAE
The photo, taken by professional photographer Ferdz Bedaña in Sharjah, was announced as the overall winner in an Instagram live stream this Wednesday, February 15th.She was selected from more than 14,000 photos submitted by amateur and professional photographers from all continents, in the annual competition organized by the Global Cement and Concrete Association.
Thomas Guillot, chief executive of the GCCA, said: “Concrete is the second most used substance on Earth, after water, and plays a vital role in modern infrastructure and society. Through the work of the GCCA and our members to implement our Net Zero 2050 Plan, we are working hard and making strides in reducing our environmental impact. These incredible photos capture the appeal of concrete design and the crucial role it plays in modern life and communities everywhere.”
Contestants from around the world submitted photos in four categories: concrete infrastructure, concrete beauty and design, urban concrete and concrete in everyday life, with each section split between professional and amateur photographers, often with smartphones. The breadth and variety of all entries highlight how concrete supports life across the planet, from the giant to the small, as well as the material’s grace, beauty and supportive role.
The winners of each of the categories receive a prize of US$ 2,500 each. In addition to Ferdz Bedaña’s award-winning image, category winners include images of a waterfall and a roller skating race, both taken in Indonesia, a stunning urban interchange in China, rice mills in Bangladesh, a university building in Mexico, a subway in Dubai and a mosque in Turkey.
Ferdz Bedaña, who took the Concrete in Life Photo of Year photo in Sharja, said: “It is a great honor to be the overall winner of the 2022 Concrete in Life competition and to spread the story of how concrete makes a great contribution to our lives. I became interested in taking a photo of this skatepark when I saw a young boy playing in a substantially artistic concrete design.”
Chris George, Director of Content at Digital Camera World, and one of the competition judges, commented on the winning photo: “This was an incredible capture, which perfectly showcases the energy of the skateboard against the organic form of the man-made structure.”
Judge, freelance writer and photographer Norman Miller added: “It’s a great skill to capture fast moving people and at the same time show mastery of framing and lighting control.”
Thomas Guillot, chief executive of the GCCA, said: “Congratulations to Ferdz Bedaña and all our category winners. Check out our website to see all the pre-selected entries, which were excellent.”
GCCA and its member companies, which account for 80% of the world’s cement production capacity outside of China, as well as leading Chinese manufacturers, are committed to reducing and eliminating CO2 emissions through the implementation of the Concrete FuturePlano Net Zero 2050 – the first heavy-duty industry to establish such a detailed plan.
Note to editors:
Images available for press use here.
Video of Instagram broadcast announcing winners available here.
The original language text of this announcement is the official authorized version. Translations are provided as a convenience only and must refer to the original language text, which is the only version of the text that is legally binding.
View the original version on businesswire.com:
Contact:
For more details or interview requests:
Simon Thomson, GCCA Press Officer
[email protected] / +44 7380 972282
Source: BUSINESS WIRE