DOHA: A photo of the winning Arabian racehorse Ghizwan won the inaugural Equestrian Photography Competition organised by Qatar Museums (QM) in celebration of Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 40th anniversary.
Over 100 photos taken at horse races hosted by QREC in January were received, of which 20 were shortlisted but winning photographer Sharil Babu impressed judges with his shot of Ghizwan, winner of L/B P/A Maiden Plate race on January 7.
The winning and shortlisted entries are on display at a special exhibition at H H Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival.
The winner will have another opportunity to display his photography skills by capturing action at Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, the racing and equestrian event in France.
For the competition, QM invited amateur and professional photographers to submit images that celebrate the role horses have played in Arabic art and their contribution to Qatar’s heritage and culture.
Hamad Al Eida, Director of Communications, QM, said, “I would like to congratulate Sharil Babu on capturing the true pride of Qatar in such a stunning way.
“We are shining a spotlight on the importance of horses in Qatari culture, which have always been an important part of our heritage and it has been wonderful to see so many photos of these horses as seen through the eyes of the local community,” Al Eida said.
“This year’s competition is a new and exciting initiative we hoped would give aspiring and professional photographers the opportunity to showcase their talent, and we are delighted to have received such a high standard of entries.”
The judging panel included Mohammad bin Salem Al Abdulla from QREC, Abdulrahman Obeidan from Qatar Photographic Society and Tamim Al Yafaei from H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani’s Office.
The Peninsula
