SANTA RITA -- Multi-awarded photographer Ruston Banal is set to add another award in his long list of achievements as his award-winning photo "Kuraldal" was again recognized by a French photography contest.
The "Prix de la Photographie, Paris" (Px3) has awarded the first prize in the professional category to Banal's photo.
Banal told Sun.Star Pampanga that the award is testament that photos of Kapampangan cultural themes can share the stage in international competitions with photos from all over the world. He said that Px3 would bring his photo further to be appreciated by an international audience.
Px3 aims promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Paris Photography Prize (Px3) was founded in 2007, since then Px3 has become one of the most important European photography competitions.
Banal's entry "Kuraldal" also landed first place and also got the honorable mention for the overall category in the International Photography Awards (IPA). The IPA is considered as the "Oscars" in the world of photography. The competition attracted 20,000 entries from various countries.
The photo depicts the festive dance ritual in Betis district over a venerated cross during the feast of Saint John the Baptist.
The same photo also won in the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards in London under the culture category. It was exhibited from April to May 2013 at the Somerset House Gallery.
Banal is a top graduate at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts where he majored in Art History. He currently teaches photography at the Department of Communications of the Far Eastern University and advertising courses at the UST College of Fine Arts and Design. He also taught multimedia and art history subjects at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Ateneo de Manila University and the UE College of Fine Arts.
He attended the exhibit of the said competition last April-May in Somerset House Gallery in United Kingdom where his entry was part of the exhibition.
While in London, he attended the Nikon Professional School under the Nikon Center of Excellence in Margaret St. where he attended several of its photography courses. At the end of his course, he received the Best Photographer Award.