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Readers’ Photo Corner

By Raffy Paredes

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The Sony World Photography Awards, one of the leading free photo competitions is open for submissions until January 14, 2021. One can join either the Professional Competition ($25,000 prize), the Open Competition ($5,000 prize), the Student Competition (Student Photographer of the Year wins €30,000 of Sony digital imaging equipment for their institution), or the Youth Competition. The Youth competition will have monthly competitions with a changing theme from July to December 2020. All the judge’s monthly picks will compete to be named Youth Photographer of the Year. Read all competition rules at www.worldphoto.org. On this site, you can also download the book on last year’s contest winners for free.

Here are today’s featured readers and their photos.

Cromwell Oliver Gayo, a street photographer based in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu shares his black-and-white photo titled “Market in the Time of COVID” taken in one of the wet markets in Cordova, Mactan, Cebu. He is inviting readers to visit his IG account @iam_buboy.

Market in the Time of COVID (Cromwell Oliver Gayo)

From Dante Santiago of San Juan City, Metro Manila is an untitled close-up photo of a praying mantis taken after a heavy downpour last June.

Untitled (Dante Santiago)

Jesimiel A. Mendigorin sent in the photo, “Lightning.” He took the photo last month during a thunderstorm in the Alabang-Las Piñas area. Jesimiel writes: “It shows balance between the calmness of the structure below against Mother Nature's show of force and power.”

Lightning (Jesimiel A. Mendigorin)

Rufino Alub contributed the untitled photo of a rainbow over a grassy hill. He captured the photo recently in Barangay San Antonio, Bogo City, Cebu.

Untitled (Rufino Alub)

With his photo of a lighted parol titled “Ang Sindi ng Ilaw,” Jhon Paul Valdez shares his hopes for the coming Yuletide season.  He writes: “Despite the pandemic, I believe that Christmas this year will be the same as the previous years. Because, I do believe that Filipinos are very creative and will rise above the struggles we are currently experiencing. It will be the same, because we celebrate the holiday in the heart. I can see that in the coming months, the Filipino trait of bayanihan will glow and the smile on our faces will shine. We all believe that the baby Jesus born in the manger will be our hope, that time will come that we will all heal.”

Ang Sindi ng Ilaw (Jhon Paul Valdez)

Rinalyn Aiza Loyola submitted the silhouette sunset photo of a biker in Mulanay, Quezon titled “Tropical State of Mind.”

Tropical State of Mind (Rinalyn Aiza Loyola)

Rico-teodoro Jose III A. Carrasco shares an amusing untitled photo juxtaposing an ad and a wall graffiti taken on a street shoot in Cotabato City.

Untitled (Rico-teodoro Jose III A. Carrasco)

From Subic Bay, Robin Tuazon sent in the photo titled “Sea Fishing and Landscape COVID-19.” Robin, who is deaf, writes that he expresses himself and shares his feelings and identity through his iPhone camera. He adds that the wonderful elements of nature reassure him that life is beautiful, full of miracles and blessings.

Sea Fishing and Landscape COVID-19 (Robin Tuazon)

The photo, “Mirror Sunset” comes from Justine Jay Michael Manjares. And from Queene Vaneza Cosico is “Tanikala,” the black-and-white photo of young cat leashed on a chain.

Mirror Sunset (Justine Jay Michael Manjares)
Tanikala (Queene Vaneza Cosico)

For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email [email protected] or [email protected].