The World Photography Organization and Sony celebrates Filipino talent by naming photographer Paul Franzchel De Mesa as the recipient of the 2019 Philippines National Awards. Sony also announced the other National Awards winners from the over 60 countries around the globe.
Part of the Sony World Photography Awards, the National Awards program demonstrates Sony’s commitment to supporting local photographic talent. The body recognizes the work of local photographers and promoting it on a global scale.
Paul Franzchel De Mesa’s image Midnight Surf was selected anonymously by judges as the single best image taken by any photographer of Filipino nationality and living in the Philippines. The image became and entry to the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards.
De Mesa, a photographer based in Mandaluyong, says of the image: “I happened to visit the best island in the Philippines, Siargao. One night, the skies opened revealing the last breath of this year’s Milky Way season in the Philippines. And there’s nowhere else worthy of photographing the stars but from the Islands most visited spot, Cloud 9.”
The judges also recognized more local talent and awarded Kristoffe Oliver Chua 2nd place in the Philippines National Award for the image Play. Meanwhile, Manex Sungahid placed 3rd for Jump.
All three photographers receive the latest Sony digital imaging equipment from Sony. In addition, the three awarded images will be shown at the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. The exhibition will be in London from April 18 to May 6. De Mesa’s winning image will also appear in the 2019 Awards’ book.
Produced by the World Photography Organisation, the Sony World Photography Awards are now in their 12th year of partnership with Sony. It consists of four competitions in total: Professional (for a body of works); Open (for a single image); Student (for academic institutions); and Youth (for 12-19 year olds).
For more details visit www.worldphoto.org