CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Multi-awarded photographer Ruston Banal has led the Philippine launching of the International Photography Awards (IPA) in this year’s installment of The Lucie Awards recently.
Banal said that the IPA will hold its 13th annual competition to compete for the top prizes at the Lucie Awards Foundation to be held at Carnegie Hall New York City on October 27.
The IPA Philippines will also tap university and college students and other photography enthusiast groups in the country.
"The expanded mission will showcase the enormous photographic talent of the Philippines," Banal said.
Winners from IPA Philippines will attend the IPA International and Regional finalists at The Lucie Awards in New York City. Awards include International Photographer of the Year ($10,000), Discovery of the Year ($5,000), Deeper Perspective Photographer of the Year ($5,000) and Moving Image Photographer of the Year ($2,500).
The International Photography Awards have given over $250,000 in cash prizes since its inception.
Banal said that the awards will surely help in exposing Filipino artistry to the world and provide a platform in promoting Filipino themes in photography.
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.
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 Street where he attended several of its photography courses.
At the end of his course, he received the Best Photographer Award.