Tag Archives: FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix

Art/Photography, FEI

Angel Horse Image Wins FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix

Leave a comment

Portuguese photographer Filipa Scarpa has won the top prize in the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix for her image of Xisto, the angelic Lusitano, who has been nominated to compete at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, France. (Filipa Scarpa/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 14 August 2014 – Portuguese photographer Filipa Scarpa has won the top prize in the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix for her stunning image of the Lusitano stallion Xisto.

The FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix competition, aimed at uncovering photographic talent around the world in 2014, the Chinese Year of the Horse, was launched in May by the Fédération Equestre Internationale with Action Images/Thomson Reuters, asking amateur and professional photographers to submit images that capture an aspect of equestrian sport and lifestyles in a memorable and eye-catching way.

Lisbon-born Scarpa, who fell in love with photography 10 years ago, has won over 90 national and international competitions, with her images being showcased this year at the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and on NASA’s Earth Observatory website.

Normandy Twist

She shot her FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix-winning image on location at the wine producer Quinta da Lagoalva de Cima, in Portugal’s Tejo region, which also runs a stud for Lusitano horses.

“I love horses more than wine, and instead of photographing the spectacular vineyards, I headed to the stables where I saw this beautiful horse,” she explained. “The light was fantastic, the horse was perfectly positioned in the middle of the window, and I took the shot in a split second. If he had moved an inch, this image would not have been possible. It was an amazing and lucky moment.”

Unbeknown to Scarpa at the time, Xisto is a successful Driving horse and has been nominated to compete with Portugal’s Manuel Campilho Holstein at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, which start in just nine days. Scarpa’s prize is an all-expenses-paid assignment with Thomson Reuters at the Games.

“This is an amazing twist of fate, and I really hope I meet Xisto again, this time in Normandy! I have four sons, and my fifth is my camera. Photography is my life, and winning this competition is my biggest achievement so far,” she said.

“The entries across each category were of an extremely high calibre, which meant the judges had a tough time coming up with the short-list and overall winner,” Alan Whiter, Vice President of Action Images, said. “The winning image captures the imagination of the viewer as it almost looks like a painting. The layers of depth, light and symmetry make for a really striking image.”

Scarpa also won the Horse Portrait category of the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix, one of nine categories for which over 3,500 images were entered.

The category winners (listed below) each receive a tablet, personalised leather photography portfolio and an Action Images/Thomson Reuters master class. All winning and shortlisted entries can be viewed on Flickr here, with videos on Instagram here:

The international judging panel, chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya, included Deirdre Lyons, Co-Founder and Director of Corporate Image and Design at Alltech, title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy; Mark Adams, Director of Communications at the International Olympic Committee; Bob Rosato, legendary sports photographer and COO of USA Today Sports Images; Melissa Farlow, award-winning National Geographic photographer; Giuseppe Della Chiesa, Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and international course designer; Alan Whiter, Vice President of Action Images; Ingrid Klimke, two-time Olympic Eventing team gold medallist; Arnd Bronkhorst, internationally renowned equestrian photographer; and Dustin Vaughn-Luma, mobile photography and visual design specialist.

“I was struck by the diversity, beauty and genuine inventiveness of all the images entered in the competition,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said.

“The category winners, and all the shortlisted images for that matter, really left an impression on me and I am grateful to have seen the sport and horse world through so many different lenses. Needless to say it was refreshing and eye-opening!”

The winning FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix entries will be exhibited in the FEI Pavilion in the heart of the Games Village for the duration of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 from 23 August – 7 September in Normandy.

The images will also be published in FEI Focus, the official magazine of the Fédération Equestre Internationale, which is available as a free iPad application from the Apple Newsstand and online at http://www.fei.org/fei/wpgp_winners.

The signature hashtag for the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix competition is #FEIPhotoGrandPrix.

FEI on Instagram – capture and share your moments with us.

FEI Solidarity is the FEI’s global sport development programme: www.fei.org/fei/solidarity.

FEI Media contacts:

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Art/Photography, FEI

Final Call for FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix

Leave a comment

FEI and Action Images/Thomson Reuters uncovers global photographic talent (© FEI/Action Images/Steven Paston).

Lausanne (SUI), 27 June 2014 – This is the final call for budding photographers to enter the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix, a competition aimed at uncovering new photographic talent around the world in 2014, the Chinese Year of the Horse. The competition closes this Sunday 29 June, and to be in with a chance of winning, entries must be received by 24.00 CEST.

This joint initiative with Action Images/Thomson Reuters encourages amateur and professional photographers to submit images that capture an aspect of equestrian sport and lifestyles in a memorable and eye-catching way.

The competition, which began on 8 May, is open to everyone via http://feiworldphotograndprix.org, and to Instagram users who can enter their images by using the hashtag #FEIPhotoGrandPrix.

Nine categories

The competition is divided into nine categories, and the individual winners will receive a tablet, a personalised leather photography portfolio and an Action Images/Thomson Reuters master class.

The overall winner of the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix will be invited to the FEI’s flagship event, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 (23 August – 7 September) in Normandy, France, to work with a Thomson Reuters photographer and experience unparalleled, behind-the-scenes access to the world’s top equestrian talent.

Winning entries in the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix will also be exhibited in the FEI Pavilion in the heart of the Games village.

Elite judging panel

A world-class, international judging panel will deliver the winning verdict, and launch an aspiring sports photographer’s career. The panel is made up of:

  • Her Royal Highness Princess Haya, FEI President
  • Bob Rosato, legendary sports photographer and Chief Operating Officer of USA TODAY Sports Images
  • Deirdre Lyons, Co-Founder and Director of Corporate Image and Design at Alltech
  • Mark Adams, Director of Communications at International Olympic Committee
  • Melissa Farlow, award-winning National Geographic photographer
  • Giuseppe Della Chiesa, Chair FEI Eventing Committee and international course designer
  • Alan Whiter, Vice President of Action Images
  • Ingrid Klimke, two-time Olympic Eventing champion
  • Arnd Bronkhorst, internationally renowned equestrian photographer
  • Dustin Vaughn-Luma, mobile photography and visual design specialist

FEI President HRH Princess Haya said: “The beauty, power and athleticism of horses has thrilled humans throughout the ages. With this initiative on behalf of FEI Solidarity, we are inviting photographers of all ages and backgrounds to capture and share the magic of horses with a global audience. This competition, like FEI Solidarity itself, is about providing opportunities for talented people to develop and display their skills.

“I am thrilled that we are reaching out to photographers around the globe for their interpretation of the sport and the horse world alongside Action Images and a visionary panel of creative judges. Horses are amazing creatures and the relationships we develop over years are so intricate and unique, I am fascinated and intrigued to see how others perceive the equine world and capture it on camera. I am sure we will see many gifted photographers from all backgrounds and ages emerge onto the global scene as a result of this outreach.”

Bob Rosato, member of the judging panel, said: “An image that impresses me must have the following elements and in no certain order: great composition, great light, speaks volumes to the viewer, must be creative not cliché, and must illustrate the photographer’s ability to see photographically. If you think you have an image that has those elements, I can’t wait to see them!”

Richard Johnson, FEI Director of Corporate Communications, said: “We’ve already received a wide collection of magnificent entries from around the world and are impressed by the level of creativity individuals have shown. When we first set out to launch this competition we challenged photographers to go beyond the conventional images to create something unique, and they have delivered. It’s safe to say that we may have uncovered some of this generation’s up-and-coming talent. As for the overall winner of the competition, what better prize than to attend the ultimate equestrian event, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014, for a unique opportunity to capture the atmosphere, passion and diversity of equestrian sport.”

FEI on Instagram – capture and share your moments with us.

FEI Solidarity is the FEI’s global sport development programme: www.fei.org/fei/solidarity.

FEI Media contact:

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
Denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 57

Art/Photography, Community/Charity

FEI Launches Photo Grand Prix to Uncover New Global Photography Talent

Leave a comment

Pictured are (left) New Zealand’s Eventing superstar Mark Todd, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the FEI, who inspired the equestrian journey of Alex Hua Tian (right), described by Chinese media as “one in 1.3 billion” back in 2008 when he became the country’s first Olympic rider. © FEI/Liz Gregg.

Lausanne (SUI), 8 May 2014 – The FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix, a competition aimed at uncovering new photographic talent around the world in 2014, the Chinese Year of the Horse, has been launched today by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

The joint initiative with Action Images/Thomson Reuters encourages amateur and professional photographers to submit images that capture an aspect of equestrian sport and lifestyles in a memorable and eye-catching way.

The competition runs from today (8 May) until 29 June, and is open to everyone via http://feiworldphotograndprix.com, and to Instagram users who can enter their images by using the hashtag #FEIPhotoGrandPrix.

Nine categories

The competition is divided into nine categories, and the individual winners will receive a tablet, a personalised leather photography portfolio and an Action Images/Thomson Reuters master class.

The overall winner of the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix will be invited to the FEI’s flagship event, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 (23 August – 7 September) in Normandy, France, to work with a Thomson Reuters photographer and experience unparalleled, behind-the-scenes access to the world’s top equestrian talent.

Winning entries in the FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix will also be exhibited in the FEI Pavilion in the heart of the Games village.

Elite judging panel

A world-class, international judging panel will be called upon to deliver the winning verdict and launch an aspiring sports photographer’s career. The panel is made up of:

  • Her Royal Highness Princess Haya, FEI President
  • Bob Rosato, legendary sports photographer and COO of USA Today
  • Melissa Farlow, award-winning National Geographic photographer
  • Mark Adams, Director of Communications at International Olympic Committee
  • Giuseppe Della Chiesa, Chair FEI Eventing Committee and international course designer
  • Alan Whiter, Vice President of Action Images
  • Deirdre Lyons, Co-Founder and Director of Corporate Image and Design at Alltech
  • Ingrid Klimke, two-time Olympic Eventing champion
  • Arnd Bronkhorst, internationally renowned equestrian photographer
  • Dustin Vaughn-Luma, mobile photography and visual design specialist

“The FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix in association with Action Images is a new and exciting initiative, which celebrates not only the horse but also the many talented photographers out there, shining the spotlight on the diversity and uniqueness of the equestrian world,” said Ingmar De Vos, FEI Secretary General. “We’re delighted to have such a strong panel of judges on board and to be collaborating with Action Images, part of the Reuters Group. Their support is testimony to the interest and global reach of our sport and the greater equestrian community. This competition – like FEI Solidarity – is about providing opportunities, and I am sure we will see many gifted photographers from all backgrounds and ages emerge onto the global scene as a result of this outreach.”

Alan Whiter, Vice President of Action Images, said: “The FEI Solidarity World Photo Grand Prix is a great opportunity for aspiring and professional photographers to showcase their talent on a global platform. Working with the FEI, we are hoping to open up equestrian sport to a wider audience and we are looking forward to seeing a wide variety of submissions.”

Richard Johnson, FEI Director of Corporate Communications, said: “It’s all about cultivating new creative talent, from seasoned professional photographers to passionate amateurs. The theme is based around equestrianism, opening up endless styles and takes on the subject. We are not just looking for pretty pictures of horses, we want to be challenged and find new photographers from different sports and genres. This being the Year of the Horse, I can’t think of a more fitting time to launch this exciting initiative.”

High resolution photos will be available for download on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gallery_fei/.

FEI on Instagram – capture and share your moments with us.

FEI Solidarity is the FEI’s global sport development programme: www.fei.org/fei/solidarity.

FEI Media contacts:

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45