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2019 FOCI PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION: CONCLUSION & EXHIBITION
The 2019 FOCI Photography Competition was QAI’s inaugural program that aimed to use artistic expression as a means of defining the U.S.-Qatar relationship outside of the usual parameters of military and economic cooperation.
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The theme chosen for QAI’s 2019 FOCI Photography Competition was “The U.S.-Qatar Journey.” This theme aims to celebrate the over four decades of partnership between the two nations, the many shared ties and achievements between the two communities, and the power of cross-cultural exchange.
Winners selected took part in a U.S.based exhibition and gala. The first prize consisted of a $1000 gift card from B&H (a photography store). The second prize was a $500 gift card from B&H. The 3rd – 10th places consisted of honorable mentions and their photos displayed on our website, as well as featured in a book encapsulating the entire program.
After 1,200+ submissions, the winners of the 2019 FOCI Exhibition were announced on January 13, 2020 after 20 selected finalists were reviewed by a panel of five esteemed judges. The 2019 FOCI Exhibition presents the top ten photographs possessing the highest average scores.
Program Launch
Prior to announcing the start date of the FOCI competition, a robust submission infrastructure and filing system were created to both quickly and fairly process all incoming photograph submissions. A landing page for the FOCI photography program was crafted along with a submission form that allowed any and all contestants to enter their photograph with ease.
In addition to the submission infrastructure, clear guidelines and procedures regarding the rules of the competition were also crafted to limit any potential liabilities that could pose a problem to the contestants or the Qatar-America Institute.
Lastly, reputable and accomplished photographers were invited to serve as judges on the judging panel. 5 judges, complimenting the theme of the competition, accepted the honor of being a part of the competition. The panel was composed of both Qataris and Americans.
First Place Winner : “Red, White, and Blue” by Oscar Rialubin
Second Place Winner : “He Eats Alone - Not” by Noman Quadri
Top row, left to right: “Jassim” by Latifa Abdulla Al-Darwish; “Look Up! Msheireb Downtown!” by Kimberley John Reyes; “Untitled” by Nora Ibrahim. Middle row, left to right: “One Journey, One Ride” by Sujan Archibald; “Educate and Empower” by Mohammed Thousif; “Past meets the present” by Aflah Hussain. Bottom row, left to right: “As strong as steel, US and Qatar” by Ajeesh Puthiyadath; “7 and the Skyline” by Aiden Globo.
Judges
Ҙ Robert Landau, an LA-based photographer and author who is famous for his work on capturing the rock and roll billboards during the 70s and 80s and for his work on the PBS series “The Royal Tour”
Abeer Al-Kuwari, an awardwinning multidisciplinary visual artist based in Qatar, and the first female member of the Qatar Photography Society
Sara Al Obaidly, an award-winning photographer and videographer living between London and Doha, and the recipient of Grazia Arabia’s 2019 Artist of the Year Award.
Zach Houghton, the founder of Passion Passport, a startup that provides inspirational and purposedriven travel storytelling, develops photo and video content, and designs experiential campaigns for brands and tourism boards.
Shuran Huang, an award-winning photographer and photo editor based in DC who has worked with NPR, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, among others.
FOCI Reception & Exhibition
On February 12th, 2020, the Qatar America Institute (QAI) hosted an awards reception and the public unveiling of the exhibition for the 2019 FOCI Photography Competition at the DC Wharf. This exhibition was held, following the conclusion of the three- and half-month submission period, at the Wharf Dockmaster Building.
In attendance at the reception were the First and Second Place winners of the contest, Oscar Rialubin, and Noman Quadri, respectively, who both reside in Doha. In honor of the event, QAI flew out the two winners from Doha so that they could be recognized for their achievement and receive their prizes in person. For Noman Quadri, an Indian
First Place winner Oscar Rialubin (left), FOCI judge Zach Houghton (middle), and Second Place winner Noman Quadri (right).
engineer living in Doha, it was his first time ever to visit the United States.
Also present were two of the five judges of the competition, Zach Houghton and Shuran Huang.
Guests were greeted by a display of the ten winning photographs chosen by the competition judges that represented the 2019 FOCI Exhibition. The photos, all captured in Qatar, were submitted by a globally diverse group of photographers who either resided in or visited Qatar.
The photographs, in accordance with the contest’s theme, captured a moment that they believed to depict the character of the U.S.-Qatar relationship. Some of the photos displayed at the exhibition interpreted the theme using a bit of creative license. For example, a young boy straddling two HarleyDavidson motorcycles holding both American and Qatari flags. Whereas others were literal, depicting artist installations in and around Doha by American artists Richard Serra and Brian Donnelly (better known as KAWS).
FOCI Exhibition at QAI Headquarters
Following the reception, the exhibition was displayed at QAI’s office in downtown Washington, DC, where it was open to visitor appointments for the remainder of February.
“It’s always an honor to be brought in to offer your perspective as a photographer, as a creative, and shed light on work that has been produced especially for a competition like this. I was inspired by a lot of the composition and the really clever use of light and different culture happenings that were happening in Qatar and how they were tied back to the U.S.”
—Zach Houghton, founder of Passion Passport and FOCI judge.
A guest at the 2019 FOCI reception viewing one of the many winning photographs that were on display.
QAI Executive Director, Fatima Al-Dosari (left), presenting the award for Second Place to winner Noman Quadri.
FOCI judge Shuran Huang speaking to the crowd at the 2019 FOCI Photography Competition reception and exhibition.
