Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has announced the ninth edition of the Emirates Photography Competition (EPC 2015). Held under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), the American Photography Association, the International Association of Photographers (IAP) and the Union of Arab Photographers (UAP), EPC 2015 aims to promote photography in the UAE by motivating and attracting as many photographers as possible through specialised workshops, interactive meetings and seminars as well as individual and group exhibitions. EPC also seeks to collect and publish photographic artworks in all available ways.

A highly influential professional photography competition region-wide, EPC is expecting to receive outstanding submissions across a wide range of art schools and techniques including assemblage, panoramic photography, modern, technical artistic processing, digital photography and the various printing styles, provided that all works adhere to the performance values and standards of photographic art and the rules adopted by the international bodies sponsoring the competition.

Every edition of EPC is launched under a main theme which encourages photographers to innovate and create multiple aspects that enrich photography and highlight its plentiful visions, themes and styles. EPCs main theme this year is Family Album, in addition to the general subthemes that change annually.

EPC cash prizes exceed 500,000dhs this year, with the Grand Prize being awarded to most innovative creative works participating under the main theme and the Best Portfolio Award. The gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three winners of each subtheme, in addition to a number of honorary awards for other distinguished works.

With subthemes including the Coloured Digital Photo and the Monochromatic Digital Photo, EPC presents the highly coveted Nour Ali Rashid Award for the Emirati Photographer, dedicated to Emirati nationals, and the Emirati Photo that focuses on the characteristic environmental and cultural components of the UAE. Other awards include the Fine Arts in Photography Award and the Photography Clubs Award, which is given to the best group participation by photography associations or clubs from around the world with the aim of encouraging the role of such established art institutions in photographys cultural input.

Open to all participants worldwide, EPC expresses the firm belief in the universality of art, the similarity of human preoccupations and creativity in time and place and the ability of photography to create more links of communication and interaction among people. Participation is free in all EPCs main and general topics and themes.

For more information, please visit www.emiratesphotocompetition.ae.