Vietnamese photographer nets grand prize from Smithsonian contest
A photo of two women sewing a giant fishing net in central Vietnam has won the top prize at the world’s famous photo contest organized by US magazine Smithsonian.
The Smithsonian Photo Contest 2014 announced its winners March 31, and the grand prize of US$2,500 went to Pham Ty, a photographer from Ho Chi Minh City.
Ty took the picture in November 2013, capturing from above the scene of two women sewing a fishing net at a small village near Vinh Hy Bay in Ninh Thuan Province.
The contest received 26,500 entries from 93 different countries for six categories: natural world, travel, people, American experience, altered images and mobile.
Ty’s piece, which competed in the people category, was one of five Vietnamese pieces entering the list of 60 finalists.
The contest also announced cash prize of US$500 for winners in each category and the winner of the Readers’ Choice award, which is the top vote recipient among more than 10,000 votes received on the contest website.
It has started receiving entries for the next edition until the end of November.
The 13th edition will add another category, Sustainable Travel, through the support of United Eco-Skies, to recognize photographers who demonstrate commitment to travel for environmentally responsible purposes.