Vietnamese, Chinese photographers win global photo contest on rice

Winners Selected Among 500 Submissions, Contest Highlights Importance of Rice

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 22 September (FAO) -- A Vietnamese and a Chinese photographer have won the International Year of Rice (IYR) global photography contest launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Vu Nguyen, professional photographer, and Jin Yanzheng, amateur photographer, were selected from approximately 500 entries.

The prize, a Nikon digital camera, will be presented on the occasion of World Food Day 2004 at a ceremony that will take place on 14 October 2004 at FAO headquarters.

As 2004 is the International Year of Rice, professional and amateur photographers were invited to capture the "Rice is Life" theme in photographs illustrating the rich diversity of regions, people and resources linked to this internationally vital food source.

The competition was open to professional and amateur photographers.  Both colour and black and white photos could be submitted.  The theme of the Year, "Rice is Life", highlights the vital importance of rice to world agriculture, food security, society and culture.

The Selection Committee of eight panellists included the Chairman, five professionals working in the field of photography and two senior members of the Informal International Year of Rice Working Group.

The best works sent to the Global Photography Contest “Rice is Life” will be displayed later this fall in an exhibit in Rome supported by Durst Phototechnik AG.

Nital S.p.A, the exclusive distributor of Nikon products in Italy, contributed to the initiative by sponsoring the contest and providing winners with Nikon products.

Professional Photographers Category:

1^st Prize: Vu Nguyen (Viet Nam)

2^nd Prize: Alessandro Tosatto (Italy)

3^rd Prize: Ko Zin Min (Myanmar)

Amateur Photographers Category:

1^st Prize: Jin Yanzheng (China)

2^nd Prize: Liu Meizi Ninon (China)

3^rd Prize: Chang Ching-Weng (China)

Contact:  International Year of Rice Secretariat, Global Photography Contest, e-mail:  IYR-Global-Photography-Contest@fao.org, tel.:  (+39) 06 570 55133.

For radio interviews, please contact:  Liliane Kambirigi, Radio Information Officer, e-mail:  liliane.kambirigi@fao.org, tel.:  (+39) 06 570 53223.

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