XIAMEN, China, March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2015 Construction Bank Cup Photography Contest, an important ancillary contest to the Xiamen International Marathon, has always been the best way to relive the events in all their glory. The Xiamen International Marathon Organizing Committee has planned and organized a series of ancillary contests to encourage spectators to pay close attention to the experience of the runners and connect with them on a human level, among them the Marathon Photography Contest. Now in its 12th year, the contest has become one of the most important aspects of the event, providing a platform on which to showcase the graceful movements of the runners, the beautiful scenery of the city of Xiamen and the healthy competitive spirit of the race.
The evaluation of the entries for the photography contest was recently completed and the jury, consisting of several national and provincial photography experts and members of the Xiamen International Marathon Organizing Committee, spent seven hours deliberating through two elimination rounds. Among the thousands of entries, 150 photos were shortlisted during the first round of evaluations, then the selection was narrowed down to 46 "finalists" in the second round, and finally, as everyone expected, Stylish Running, a picture taken by Xiamen resident Su Gengxin, was awarded the grand prize.
More than 4,600 pictures were submitted by over 320 photographers, the content and style of which underwent substantial changes due to the new route of the marathon and several rule changes. Lina Li, jury member and China Portrait Photography Society (CPPS) senior vice chairman and secretary general said: "In contrast to photographs taken during previous events, which mostly were shots of the large gatherings of runners and spectators at the start of a race and during the final rush to the finish line, this year's collection focused on the progress of the race itself, capturing many splendid moments and interesting details of the event. Photographers have integrated their own understanding and interpretation of the theme of the marathon into their snapshots, allowing anyone viewing the collection of high-quality photos to acquire a sense of the event from a diversity of perspectives."
Shi-Xiong Li, another influential jury member and executive member of the Society of Worldwide Ethnic Chinese Photographers Ltd as well as vice chairman of the Fujian Trade Association of Photography Professionals, said he was highly impressed with this year's grand prize winner. He added, "The basic elements such as color, hue, composition, and emotional expression in Stylish Running are complete and perfect and the photo has accurately captured the carriage and movement of the runner as he moves along the race route. The picture took on a three-dimensional effect through clever backlight processing, while its bright color contrast and uniform color processing highlighted the dynamism of what was being captured. The overall picture gives an impression of sunlight, warmth and vitality."
In a move to share the "Dare to Run" spirit of the Xiamen International Marathon, the photography contest, themed "Dare to Discover a Grass Roots Hero", offered one grand prize, two first prizes, three second prizes, five third prizes, five Best Creative awards and five Best Themed awards, in addition to three Environmental and Public Welfare Prizes, three Beautiful Xiamen Prizes and three Most Heart-touching Prizes. The photography contest also included the "Searching for the Most Popular Xiamen Marathon Hero on the Internet Award", an event where anyone can cast their vote on the website of the locally well-known interactive community -- http://www.xmfish.com. The photography contest's award ceremony is scheduled to be held this April and winners will receive awards certified by CPPS.
For more award-winning pictures, please visit http://bbs.xmfish.com/read-htm-tid-10797409.html.
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