Dubai
From a bee about to consume nectar from a flower, to anglers meeting in the middle of a river for a conversation, a true connection can happen anywhere.
In October, we asked our reader photographers to share their stories by capturing the theme of ‘Connect’.
Interestingly, not one of the nearly 80 submissions this month considered the use of smartphones or gadgets. With the number of global mobile phone users expected to reach 4.77 billion by the end of the year, according to statistics portal statista.com, and communication through social networks becoming the norm today, it is worth noting that our reader photographers are still looking beyond virtual relationships, to something more tangible.
They chose to focus instead, on people connecting with each other, with animals, and with Nature. Through their photographs, they help give meaning to the words of Dalai Lama XIV: “Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.”
The picture competition was opened up to voting by our Facebook readers, and they selected the top five winners, by liking the picture that they found best captured the theme. Here, we present the winners.
Editor’s note: If you would like to participate, log on to Gulf News’ Facebook page and send in your submission for November’s Facebook Reader Picture Competition.
FIRST PLACE
Ajit Kumar Majhi took this photograph of people taking a break at the floating vegetable market in Dal Lake, Kashmir, India. He titled it: ‘The meeting’.
His picture received 38 likes on Facebook, landing him in first place.
SECOND PLACE
Danish Bin Shareef Naduthodi is based in Dubai but he took this picture in India. He said: ‘I clicked this image in Tamil Nadu, at a hill station called Valparai. While we were driving, we came to a hairpin bend in the road, and I was surprised to see these peaceful Nilgiri tahrs. It was a rare sight.’
His picture received 35 likes on Facebook.
THIRD PLACE
Nidin C. V. clicked this photograph in Dubai. He said: ‘I took this picture with my Canon EOS 7D Mark II to show the connection between man and technology.’
His picture received 25 likes on Facebook.
FOURTH PLACE
Umar Mukthar K. V.’s image captured this image of friends connecting in Al Naif area of Deira, Dubai. He said: ‘They don’t have smartphones, rather they prefer smiling and chatting with each other. It’s a perfect moment of connection in this technology-driven world.’
His picture received 16 likes on Facebook.
FIFTH PLACE
Dipesh Kotwani, who uses the instagram handle @dipesh.kotwani, took this striking picture in Tenerife, Spain. He said: ‘My urge to capture this movement was instinctive and desperate. The intention was to capture a visual connection between a symbolic representation of hope and love in this beautiful church, designed by Fernando Menis, with a person visiting that space.’
His picture received four likes on Facebook.
