Royal photographer Noor Ali Rashid was on the go the moment he arrived at Zayed University (ZU), Dubai, ahead of the 2008 Noor Ali Rashid Student Documentary Photography Awards ceremony.
A bundle of energy, he talked about his photographs on display, spoke to student participants and found the time to photograph those attending including important officials.
Remarkable accomplishment
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, was among the high profile guests and expressed his gratitude to Noor Ali's efforts in capturing the progress of the UAE.
"We are grateful for the record Noor Ali has developed, so that we and others may better know the remarkable progress of our nation, the wonder of our land and of our people, the accomplishments of our leaders," he said.
Shaikh Nahyan spoke of witnessing the "transformative power of the lens" at the event and praised the high standards maintained at the competition.
Honouring a legend
The Noor Ali Rashid award was established by Zayed University to honour the UAE Royal Photographer and recognise the talents of upcoming student photographers and videographers.
The award is conducted under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan and is organised by the ZU Media Centre.
The award is in its third year and its theme is "writing with light". The awards also hope to help continue Noor Ali's legacy by encouraging students to focus their talents on visual bodies of work that capture the essence of the UAE's land, people and leaders.
Noor Ali, one of the most famous and prolific photographers the UAE has ever known, was born in December 1929. He moved to Dubai in 1958 from Gwadar province in what was then part of Sultanate of Oman, now Pakistan.
He is the official photographer for the royal families of the seven emirates.
Students' remarks
"I've never won anything before. Actually it's my first time participating in a competition like this. It's a great feeling because I submitted my pictures never thinking I would win," said third place winner in the UAE Land category Shamma Tarish.
The 19-year-old ZU student said she loved taking portraits of family and friends as well as scenic photographs of Dubai.
Sultan Mohammad Al Hameli of Abu Dhabi Men's College received an honourable mention in the portfolio category. "I learnt a lot in the Media Production course I took. I enjoy taking pictures of birds and the city of Abu Dhabi," he said.
Abu Dhabi Men's College student Khalid Yousuf Mohammad Al Saiqal enrolled for a photography class "just by luck".
He said: "Some of my friends advised me to take the class because they found it very interesting."
Al Saiqal was placed third in the Portfolio Category. "It was during the photography course that I took my pictures. I had a lot of fun and I got to go outside — you feel free," he said.
The 20-year-old added that he enjoyed photographing people's faces but found it hard because "most of our people are shy in front of the camera and they usually say 'no way'".
Competition winners
- UAE Land Category: Farah Ali Jasem, ZU, Dubai
- UAE People Category: Amnah Mattar Ali Al Shamsi, ZU, Dubai
- UAE Leaders Category: Hamda Sultan Salem Al Majid, ZU, Dubai
- Portfolio Category: Ebrahim Safar Al Hosani, Abu Dhabi Men's College
- Video Category: Aliah Kayed, Aliah Kalban and Arwa Mansoor, ZU, Dubai
- For more information on the award visit www.nooraward.com
