FOR THE THIRD consecutive year, the European Union delegation in Egypt organised a photo competition for amateurs. This year's concept was simply Egyptian Celebrations, Rania Khallaf reports The winner was Ahmed Mustafa, 34, an accountant. Mustafa took home 1,000 euros in prize money for a picture called Colour Your Life. Second prize went to Sameh El-Taweel, an advertising agent, who won a digital camera. Nabila Massrali, the delegation's press officer, said the aim of the contest was to stimulate creativity among amateur photographers in Egypt and help them showcase their work before a large audience. The delegation received 220 pictures from across the country. Only 28 photos were chosen. Participants were urged to discover national celebrations in Egypt. Most opted for local celebrations -- mulids in governorates, Ramadan Iftar provided to the poor in popular areas, and football fans celebrating Egypt's victory over Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations. Mustafa was taken by the local celebrations in Korba, Heliopolis, one of the relatively rich districts in Cairo. "The residents of Korba were celebrating District Day on 25 June. It was an excellent opportunity to trace the joy in the eyes of the people and children who celebrated the day by drawing on the asphalt," Mustafa told the Weekly. Mustafa's prize picture was of a girl with typical Egyptian facial features and a big smile on her face. He also snapped residents of Gezirat Al-Dahab, a small island on the Nile, on the day of a wedding, during which relatives and neighbours carry pieces of the new furniture and luggage to the bride's new house. The jury included international painter Souad Mardem Bey, set designer and art director Salah Marei and photographers Randa Shaath, Zein Khalifa, Hisham Labib and Faouzi Massrali. The best 28 images will be shown starting 30 January to 10 February at the Townhouse Gallery. The Syrian painter Mardem told the Weekly that the pictures were "just amazing", covering as they did different aspects of Egypt's identity.
