Abu Dhabi (UAE) announced the winners of the 13th edition of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, under the theme of 'Sustainability'. Salmah Ali Al Suwaidi, an Emirati photographer, won the 'Content Creators' award, worth $50,000, which is one of the special prizes. The award is given to creators, publishers, and researchers who have made a significant impact in the field of photography and have presented valuable knowledge. Salmah will be honored along with the winners of all categories during the closing ceremony, which will be held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai on November 12. Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Wellbeing and Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees, praised Salmah's achievement, saying that it is a great honor for the country and a role model for future generations. He described her work as a comprehensive achievement that combines artistic, national, scientific, and environmental values. Ali Khalifa bin Thani, the Award's Secretary-General, congratulated Salmah on her well-deserved recognition, saying that her book 'Common Birds and Their Nests in the United Arab Emirates' is a national and international achievement that is a valuable reference for researchers. He added that the 'Content Creators' award was established to recognize high-level photographic contributions that enrich the cultural and scientific library and provide benefit and enjoyment to photographers, readers, and researchers. Salmah's book is a pioneering and scientifically important project that has benefited many other fields. Salmah, the award-winning photographer, said that winning any award is an honor for photographers, but winning the 'Content Creators' award is more valuable and prestigious. She added that her work is a combination of art, science, and documentation, and that she believes that photographers should not only focus on aesthetics, but also on adding scientific, research, or documentary value to their work. Salmah started her career in wildlife photography in 2008 and specialized in bird photography. She is a member of professional photography clubs such as the International Federation of Photography (FIAP) and the Arab Photographers Union (UAP). She has received several local and international awards, including the gold medal at the 2011 FIAP competition in the UAE, under the theme 'Arab Image'. Salmah is a birdwatcher and photographer who has recently started using eBird and has added over 300 species to her records. She has also been ranked among the top 100 birdwatchers in the UAE according to the species recorded. Salmah is the author and photographer of the book 'Common Birds and Their Nests in the United Arab Emirates'. In the foreword to this book, Salmah received a commendation from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, who described her as a passionate photographer who was driven by her passion to explore nature and document the lives of birds in the UAE. Salmah started working on this book in 2009 and completed it in 2023. She aims to promote a culture of hard work to protect the environment by raising awareness about the importance of protecting the planet and the environment.
https://www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7/4527592/-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1--%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B2%D8%A9--%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7