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After a successful debut in 2015, the GCC Food Photography Awards is gearing up for its second season, aiming to be bigger and better.

With support from Jamie Magazine, the official publication of celebrity chef and the sweetheart of the global culinary world Jamie Oliver, and based on the theme ‘celebrating good food’, participants are invited to enter original photographs capturing different forms, styles, preparations and occasions of food.

The contest is open for both professionals and amateurs photographers under multiple categories and hopes to provide a platform to get noticed and appreciated. A special category for junior photographers of less than 17 years has been added to encourage young talent to participate in the competition.

Photoaward ME patron and chief guest at last year’s event, Andy Harris, Chief Editor of Jamie Magazine, will be joining the judging panel, which will feature eminent members from the food industry. Multi award-winner and renowned food photographer David Loftus, celebrity chefs Kunal Kapur and Yann Bernard Lejard, Dubai-based food blogger Sally Prosser and food photographer Amelia Johnson, Bahrain-based photographer Phil Weymouth and award-winning Indonesia-based food photographer William Hondokusumo are the other panel members.

The competition has five categories including two new ones this year.

Earth’s Bounty
Fabulous Fish
Market Magic
Food Portrait

Junior GCC Food Photographer of the Year (U17 focusing on schools)

Participants must be citizens / legal residents of the GCC - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A maximum of 12 images (three in each adult category) or three images in the junior category can be submitted online.

Entry is free and registration opens on June 1 and will continue until October.

Participants will be scored based on three criteria – creativity, photographic quality and genuineness/authenticity of the content.

Shortlisted entries will be announced online at www.photoawardme.com in November.

The grand prize winner will receive, in addition to the title ‘GCC Food Photographer of the Year 2016’, a cash award of $1,000 and sponsored gifts.

The winners in each category will each receive $333 and gifts.

The event is organised by Bahrain-based advertising agency MACADAM, in partnership with Creative Eye Photography and The Butterfly Effect. The event is supported by www.inkchutney.com

George Mathew,
Grey Image, Macadam Advertising & Promotions.

Bahrain Sharks are set to defend their championship title and battle the region’s top teams this weekend in the fourth Fire on Ice Hockey Tournament.

The round-robin challenge at the Funland Centre in Manama on Friday and Saturday, from 8am to 5pm, will feature 10 teams. There will be a mix of Gulf national squads competing as well as an open division for mixed expat sides.

For the first time ever we have Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and the Bahrain national teams taking part which demonstrates the growth, quality and popularity of ice hockey in the region.

Ice hockey fans are urged to come. Entry is free.

Tamer Fakhroo (pictured), organiser and Bahrain Sharks defensive player.