Bangladeshi photographer wins �Climate: State of Emergency� contest
A young Bangladeshi photographer, Yusuf Ahmed, 32, has won the first prize in an international photo competition, Climate State of Emergency, organised by Fondation Alliance Franaise (French Alliance Foundation).
About 105 Alliance Franaise centres from 43 countries participated in the contest. A Paris jury selected the best 44 photographs, which will be on display at a group exhibition at the Cit Internationale des Arts in Paris from November 12 to 27, a press release of the French Embassy in Dhaka said. Yusuf is presently in France for the exhibition.
What a pleasure to judge hundreds of images from around the world, often taken with difficulty, hesitation, but always with passion, sincerity and imagination. They were meant to share with us one of the major problems of our time, the warming of our planet. Those who collaborated in this work showed us their sensitivity to this vital subject. What joy to be able to present this award to Yusuf Ahmed, a young Bangladeshi of 32, which by the quality of his photos was able to remember that his country was in the front line of climate change, Philippe Rochot, president of the jury said in a message.
Sponsor of the jury, Yann Arthus Bertrand said: As time goes by, my pleasure to watch the world has not dulled. I am constantly renewing contact with a rapidly changing planet and its people - it is always different. It is always amazing to look at the world through the eyes/lenses of other photographers and it is somehow a double pleasure..and great quality was displayed by the final winner, Yusuf. He offers strong and simultaneously beautiful photos of a major tragedy - an environmental and human drama. The rising sea levels and the threat it poses to the tens of millions people of Bangladesh. In short, a big thank you to the organiser, but also a big congratulations to them, to all participants, and of course, in particular, to the winner of the edition of this year.
The jury also included Luc Briand (head of International Mail Service iconographic), Agnes Gregory (editor of Photo magazine), Jean-Claude Jacq (secretary general of the French Alliance Foundation), Jean-Yves Langlais (director general of the International City of Arts), Anne of Roussire (director of Gallery Arcturus).
