National Geographic Abu Dhabi Unveils Photomentaries 2012

A unique TV series showcasing the world’s most amazing photography assignments and a ‘Life in Motion’ photography contest

National Geographic Abu Dhabi is set to launch Photomentaries 2012 on February 1st, a one month-long festival that celebrates photography in the region. Photomentaries comprises of a TV series featuring the world’s most amazing photography assignments undertaken by National Geographic photographers, as well as a photography competition with the theme ‘Capture Life in Motion.

The Photomentaries TV series will feature seven episodes (Lava Hunter; Maori Up Close; Pollinators; Wrecks To Reefs; Secret Voices; Killer Current and Lightning) which explore how the world’s most renowned photographers face the extreme in their quest for the perfect shot.

The photo contest is the second National Geographic Abu Dhabi photography contest in the Middle East, and under the theme ‘Capture Life in Motion’, looks at how the world around us is in constant motion. Open to the public across the Arab World, the contest invites people to use their photography skills to capture dynamic pictures conveying life in motion, for a chance to win a range of impressive prizes.

The winning entry (Grand Prize) will feature in National Geographic Al Arabiya Magazine and receive photography equipment worth $5,000. Runners up will get photography accessories worth $2,500 and $1,500 respectively, in addition to featuring the winning photographs on National Geographic Abu Dhabi TV. Entries can be submitted, along with a caption explaining the inspiration behind the photograph, to natgeotv.ae/photomentaries from February 1-29th.

"We received a phenomenal response to PHOTOMENTARIES in its inaugural year. The episodes were amongst the top-rated shows on our channel and the contest received a record 30,991 entries. It has proven to be a great platform for us to showcase the key attributes of brand National Geographic and reach out to audiences interested in the subject of photography." said Rohit D’Silva, Senior Vice President and General Manager (Middle East & North Africa), National Geographic Abu Dhabi.

The contest’s judges include of George Steinmetz, a renowned National Geographic Photographer and Mohamed Al Hammadi, Editor in Chief of National Geographic Al Arabiya Magazine.

"To be featured in National Geographic magazine is every photographer’s dream," said Mohamed Al Hammadi. "Imagery is an integral part of everything that we do, and this contest is a unique opportunity for keen photographers to demonstrate their capabilities to a regional audience."

Contest judge, George Steinmetz, said: "Earlier in my career, I ventured into the remotest stretches of Arabia’s Empty Quarter. It gives me great pleasure to come back to this region and be involved in judging this unique contest, contributing to the development of local photography talent."

Judging will consist of two rounds of evaluation. In round one, each judge in a panel of photographic experts will select 10 entries in each category from among all eligible entries, based on creativity and photographic quality. Entries selected in round one will then proceed to round two, where the judges will select three winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) from amongst the short listed 10 entries.

Tune in every Friday at 22:00 UAE time and 21:00 KSA time from the 3rd to the 24th of February to watch Photomentaries.

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