Photography competition aims to bridge cultures through the lens

With the aim of connecting diverse cultures and fostering international dialogue, the Beauty Across Borders: China-UK Photography Competition was launched on Wednesday in London, United Kingdom.

The competition aims to strengthen connections between China and the UK through the powerful medium of photography, welcoming professionals and amateurs aged 18 and above from all over the world.

The contest is co-organized by the China National Tourist Office in London, a Europe-based Chinese language newspaper Nouvelles d'Europe UK Edition, and a Chinese image studio Shangtufang, with special support from the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, and professional support from Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain (RPS), Global Photographic Union, Sino European Arts in the UK and Beijing-London Short Video Festival.

Artists may submit work under three distinct categories: "Beautiful China" showcasing the country's exquisite natural vistas, "Splendid China" highlighting its abundant cultural heritage, and "Impressions of China and the UK" capturing the dynamic interplay of Sino-British interactions.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Li Liyan, minister counselor for cultural affairs at China's embassy in London emphasized that photography, as a universal language, can transcend words and visually unite China and the UK

"Let outstanding works of photography tell touching stories of cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and the UK, with the people of both nations building a stronger breach of friendship and cooperation through the language of the lens," said Li.

Bi Haibo, spokesperson and minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in London, said a single image can leave a lasting impression, fostering a deeper level of understanding.

He recalled how a picture of a giant panda had piqued the interested one of his British friends so much that it led him to visit China. Similarly, he described how photographic documentation of oracle bone inscriptions inspired a renowned British scholar to dedicate their work to studying this earliest form of Chinese writing.

"I have every reason to believe that the contest matches the actual substantial development of the China-UK bilateral relations," said Bi.

Li Qiang, the general manager of the UK branch of Nouvelles d'Europe, emphasized that while significant strides have been made in fostering Sino-British exchanges, there remain ample opportunities for more to be done. This, he noted, underscores the importance of the competition.

Michael Pritchard, director of programs of the RPS, revealed to China Daily that the society has been collaborating with China and accepting Chinese members since the late 19th century. He said the photography competition serves as a valuable platform where artists can genuinely portray life in China.

"It is a real opportunity for those pictures from China and Britain to come together and break down some of those misconceptions that we might have about China," said Pritchard.

"Now, we are out of the pandemic, Covid is to some extent, largely gone. We have had a number of opportunities to exhibit in China, so we are going to start to take advantage of that and show Chinese people what life in Britain is like."

Tim Flach, president of the UK Association of Photographers and one of the judges, expressed his hope to see images that can truly inspire people to build bridges between cultures.

"For those images to be special to punch our consciousness, in a sense, they (must) not only reveal how those cultures have diversity but show the very human aspects that we share in commonality," said Flach.

"You look at them, and go, wow, that's amazing, how did they think of that? They have got to touch the imagination, excite people, and that is really important."

Entries are now being accepted and photographers have until Oct 31 to submit their images for consideration.

Winners will be announced in December this year, and top photographs will be exhibited both digitally (online) and in physical exhibits. The standout images will be compiled into a commemorative album and also be published in the form of postcards.

Participants can visit the official website https://chinaukpc.com for more information.

Zheng Wanyin contributed to this story