“Photography reflects the conditions and lifestyle of people and is vital for the development of tourism,” stated A.P. Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Nukasani Balaji.
He was the chief visitor on the award presentation ceremony for the winners of the 186th World Photography Day contest, organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Creativity and Culture Commission in collaboration with the India International Photographic Council (IIPC) and the Photography Academy of India (PAI). Awards have been additionally given to the winners of a contest held as a part of World Tribal Day celebrations.
Speaking on the event, Mr. Balaji stated it’s by way of the lens of photographers that the greatness of a vacationer vacation spot is revealed. “Tourism develops only when people are drawn to it, and photojournalists and photographers play a crucial role in this,” he noticed. Former MP Gokaraju Gangaraju, MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad and contest organiser T. Sreenivas Reddy congratulated the winners and lauded the efforts of photojournalists in bringing tribal tradition into the limelight. Mr. Sreenivas Reddy stated that out of 487 entries from 16 States, 40 pictures have been chosen for the competition.
In the 2 contests, six photographers from The Hindu bagged awards. In the Photojournalism part, G.N. Rao, Senior News Photographer, obtained the ‘One Best Image’ award for his photograph on ‘NTR Bharosa’. Senior Special News Photographer Okay.V.S. Giri gained the primary prize for his work on hen flu, whereas Senior Special News Photographer from Telangana, Nagara Gopal, obtained the Special Achievement Award for his photograph on ‘Future City’.
In the Photo Travel part, Chief News Photographer Okay.R. Deepak gained the ‘One Best Image’ award for his seize of a Tadoba tiger. The second prize went to The Hindu stringer Kommuri Srinivas for his picture of a tricolour procession, whereas Special News Photographer V. Raju obtained an award for his work on the Araku tribe.