Zayed University (ZU) and the Dubai Municipality last week launched the fourth Noor Ali Rashid Student Documentary Photography Award, an annual award that honours the veteran royal photographer Noor Ali and aims to recognise young talents in the field.
The announcement was made at a press conference at Dubai's Shaikh Juma Al Majid House. Noor Ali Rashid, Dr Sulaiman Al Jasem, Vice-President of ZU, Rashid Bukhash, Director of the Architectural Heritage Department, Dubai Municipality, and Marilyn Roberts, Dean of the College of Communication and Media Sciences, ZU, were present.
The competition's theme focuses on national heritage and culture. Upon the request of Noor Ali Rashid, applicants are invited to take both still and video shots of the UAE, its leaders and people. Undergraduate students from institutions accredited by the Commission on Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research can apply.
Dr Al Jasem said: "This award will be a continuation of a great effort to document the history of this country, as Noor Ali did throughout the decades."
Marilyn Roberts said that the competition gives Emirati students a chance to learn more about their heritage and culture while promoting student creativity and awareness.
Noor Ali Rashid expressed pride at the honour bestowed on him and recalled some of his memories as a photographer for the UAE's ruling families. Born in December 1929 in Gwadar province in what was then part of the Sultanate of Oman and now Pakistan, Noor Ali was forbidden by his parents to practise photography. He moved to Dubai where he later became the photographer for the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
"I have taken historical photos of Eleanor Roosevelt, the late King of Iraq who was overthrown, of the late Turkish president& I have photos of people alive, hanged, overthrown and at just about any important function," he said.
"This honour is more important to me than a global prize& Shaikh Zayed said on several occasions that I was a member of the family - not just a photographer," he added. He also spoke about his career growth and experiences as a personal photographer for UAE's ruling family.
Young photographers are entering a field in which they have much to prove, and intense competition. With cameras being easily accessible, photographs are no longer a rarity, but despite all that, good photographs are memorable.
"It's much harder for photojournalists to stand out today; mainly due to security reasons, competition and other challenges," Noor Ali told Notes.
Competition details Applicants are required to submit a complete portfolio with at least 2 but not more than 20 images in three sub-categories: UAE land, UAE people and UAE leaders. The deadline for submissions is March 31. A panel of judges will evaluate the applications and announce the winners on May 8. n For more information visit www.nooraward.comDr Sulaiman Al Jasem, Vice-President of Zayed University and Noor Ali Rashid, royal photographer, announcing the student photography awards in Rashid's honour at Zayed University.
