Fall / Winter Edition, GPU Magazine 2020-2021 #12 by Global Photographic Union

ISSUE 12 2020/ 2021

Under25 GPU Silver Medal - © Pardis Maaleki, Nurses

Under25 GPU Ribbon © Sultan Ahmed Niloy , Ducks feeding

CONTENTS The making of the legends, by Sharon Preston Jones [2] Grassland memory inheritance, by Li Yushan [6] The awakened oriental lion, by Yu Changren [9] Under 25 Contest [12] Young talents, Andrija Vukelić [16] We, people of the world [18] Contest Covid-19 [20] Me and my family, exhibition by Guo Jing [22] GPU China members' exhibition [24] GPU Webinars [25] GPU Crowns [24] GPU VIPs [26]

A few words from the president Dear friends photographers around the world, The New Year 2022 is coming with the hope that the pandemic that kept us apart and deprived us of trips, gatherings, exhibitions, workshops but mostly of our great love, photography, will come to an end. All of us have missed traveling again, meeting our friends, taking photos and the anticipation to return to our former way of life grows bigger. Despite the difficulties, we in GPU did not stay inactive. I would like to refer to some important actions that have already been done. We organized webinars for our members in order to keep communication among us alive! Well-known photographers gave speeches on various photographic subjects! We prepared, printed, and sent to all our members the special edition photobook with photographs of our members from the last festival we had organized in Romania. We organized two -free of charge- photo competitions for young photographers under 25 years old! The effort was embraced by young photographers worldwide! GPU was invited to participate in the 1st and 2nd Asia photo festivals, where our federation had a dynamic presence! One of the most important events that we organized was the 1st Virtual GPU Photo Festival 2021, with many of our members exhibiting their photos for two weeks. During that time, 35.000 unique visitors visited the festival and saw our members’ galleries 115000 times! Many photographic clubs came in touch with us, asking to be cooperative clubs, and we started cooperating with many of them! In those centers, photographic exhibitions of members will be held and be circulated from club to club. Photography seminars will be held and further activities that will address not only the members but also all those who love photography. Those centers-clubs will greatly contribute to the aim GPU has undergone, which is to spread the art of photography to as many people as possible worldwide and make it accessible to them. The number of salons that ask for our licenses and distinctions (Crown and VIPs) and titles is increasing. And now some of the things that we have scheduled to do: Continue our donation exhibitions and give joy to people who need it by donating photographs of our members, thus making the place where they live more beautiful. We are organizing for the third time the international photographic competition for young photographers under the age of 25 with participation to be free. We are founding around the world more Cooperative photographic Clubs. We are working on the preparation of the next Photo Festival of GPU, which will take place in July of 2022. You will be informed of the details about the festival following days by email. For all the above and many more to come, I would like to thank the members of the Governing Board, GPU support department, GPU representatives, and all those who give their best to the association out of love only and without any reward. Mostly though, I would like to thank all of you who showed your trust and love and thus have been helping us to make GPU grow even more. As a closure, I would like to wish you all to be in good health, safe from the current pandemic, to have good light in your life and your photos with the hope to meet each other as soon as possible!

Manolis Metzakis GPU ZEUS, GPU CR5, EFIAP/P, ESFIAP, QPSA, APSA

GPU President

GPU Titles [32]

GPU MAGAZINE Global Photographic Union gpuphoto.com Image on cover by Zhu Shenshu Image on back cover by Alameer Amal

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

Marija Milovanović Maksimović GPU Secretary General

Dejan Vukelić comma.rs

Typokreta S.A. kazanakis.gr

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Twm Sion Cati is a Welsh Legend: Twm earned a reputation as a sort of Welsh Robin Hood, roaming the rugged west and mid part of Wales, robbing from the rich, but somehow forgetting the bit about giving to the poor. 2 | GPU MAGAZINE

THE MA KI NG OF LE GE NDS

• Lady of the Lake: My version of the Arthurian Legend.

by Sharon Prenton Jones MFIAP. MPAGB, FIPF, ARPS, ABPE, EFIAP/p

This article discusses the panel of 20 images that gained me my Fellowship of the Irish Photographic Federation. The theme of the panel was Celtic Myths and Legends and my interest in this theme was based on the fact that I am Welsh and my husband is from Ireland, and both countries are steeped in ancient mythological tales. I have been taking and creating images since 2012 when I first picked up a camera and joined a local camera club, and I started entering Salons and Exhibitions. Over the last couple of years, I think I have found my niche in photography which is mainly Portraiture and Fine Art. My style has evolved and now I strive to produce images that are not always a representation of reality

• Queen Maeve in the Sligo Hills: Queen Maeve sat imperially on the throne of Connacht, Ireland. With her direct eye piercing gaze, she represents the true Warrior Irish Queen.

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• Laith Luchra 4 | GPU MAGAZINE

but, rather, a careful artistic creation that uses photographs as the ‘raw material’ to construct the final image. For me, the most important aspect of my photography journey has been the sheer amount of fun involved, the huge network of friends we have made, and being able to become engrossed in a creative and engaging hobby. Living in North Wales, we are lucky have a home studio and also to be surrounded by one of the most photogenic landscapes in the UK. Although I am comfortable with many genres of photography, I am perhaps best known for combining studio work with the waterfalls, lakes, castles, mountains and beaches that are a short drive from our home. All of these elements came together as influences to motivate me to think about a panel based on Celtic Mythology. The thinking around the photographic elements of the panel are summarised in the Statement of Intent that was required to accompany the Panel:

• Branwen

Celtic Mythology exists as a landscape of the imagination. Ancient tales from Wales, Ireland and Scotland feature images of strong independent women and heroic men appearing through the mists of legend. Dominated by the colours of earth, sea and forest, my images evoke a common ancestry, undivided by modern borders. Heroes emerge from backgrounds which are timeless and yet provide a dreamlike context to a shared Celtic heritage. The challenge was to capture images of mythological characters rather than photographic models. The willing suspension of disbelief needed to see Queen Maeve in the Sligo hills or Twm Sion Cati riding away from the soldiers of the crown required me to work hard with my models crafting their facial expressions and body posture. Attempting to capture a sense of timelessness and myth was a difficult yet enormously satisfying challenge. Here history meets mythology in a visual celebration of the past.

• Merlin

I am delighted to say I was awarded the Fellowship and admit to feeling very proud of our heritage and of course my Panel. Please take a look at our Web Page which has contact details and other links: https://www.prentonjonesphotography. co.uk

• Sadhbh and her hounds

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by Li Yushan

The Mongols, one of the main nomadic ethnic groups in northern China, originated in the Argun River Basin and are historically known as “Shiwei” and “Mongolia”. They are mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Xinjiang, and Hebei, etc. The earliest record of the term “Mongolia” could be found in Chinese classics “Old Book of Tang” and “The History of Khitan State”, meaning “eternal flame”. In the long course of human society development, the Mongolians have gradually formed their own production and lifestyle as well as distinctive cultural characteristics. With the development and progress of the society, some traditional cultures have inevitably vanished, remaining in people’s memories, while a large number of long-standing traditions 6 | GPU MAGAZINE

have been further inherited and developed. No matter the vanished or the inherited and developed, it is an important part of time-honored and splendid human culture. The purpose of this series “Grassland Memory Inheritance” is to enable more people to understand Mongolian nationality and its culture, to deeply perceive the richness and profoundness of human history and culture, and to love, inherit and develop the traditional culture. The photographer spends about 1 year to carry out research on this subject, and finished shooting on June 11, 2019 in Naiman Banner, Inner Mongolia.

GRASSLAND MEMORY INHERITANCE

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1. The Lele car, also known as the "Harqin car”, “Roller car”, “Luoluo car” “Niuniu car”, etc., is an ancient transportation used by the Mongolian people. 2. Mongolian wine culture is famous and long-standing. During the domestication of animals, the milk wine originated from the process of utilizing animals to develop food and beverages. The most representative is airag, or fermented mare milk, known as “Yuan Yujiang” (literally the original beverage of gods), and is among “Mongolian Eight Treasures” together with tadpoles, cormorants, wild camel hoofs, deer lips, moose, swan sun, and purple jade pulp. 3. Boiled lamb is a well-known traditional Mongolian cuisine. According to historical records: “The meat is halfcooked, satiety-inducing and nutrient.” Different methods produce different tastes, but all are super delicious. The figures in the picture are the younger

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generation of Mongolian chefs, Buhe and Sarina. 4. Mongolian costumes can be traced to the same origin as those of other nomadic peoples in northern China in ancient times, but the grassland features are more distinctive. The male and female, young and old are generally dressed in robes, also called Mongolian robes which feature large and wearresistant, able to protect knees when riding and used as quilts when sleeping. One set of costume mainly includes robe, belt, boots, headgear, and hat. It is colorful and the fabrics vary from period to period. Moreover, different tribes, times, seasons, occasions, and ages also have different clothing characteristics. In the new era, Mongolian dress is more diverse and varied. In the image, the young man on the left is Baocai Yinna, and the woman is Aruna. They are both Ulanmuchi actors. What they wear are modern Mongolian costumes, and on the right are the original Naiman costumes.

Li Yushan Li Yushan, Mongolian ethnicity, is a member of China Photographers Association, board member of Inner Mongolian Photographers Association, Honorary President of Tongliao Photographers Association, adviser of Tongliao Artistic Photography Society. His photos have won 183 awards and received more than 2600 acceptances in competitions at home and abroad. As a result, his works was selected in exhibitions held in over 30 countries, He held solo photo exhibitions in China for 11 times. His signature series Wind of Desert won Best Landscape Photo Award at Chinese Photo Festival in Los Angles. His photos were featured in photo magazines like China Photo News, Popular Magazine, China Photo, Photo World, etc. He also published two photo books, and Romantic Charm of Desert won “Phoenix TV Excellent Photography Album” at Pingyao International Photo Festival in 2016. He was awarded Excellent Photographer of Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region in 2014 and Creative Photographer at 2019 Boqi Cup Photo competition.

5. The first recorded Mongolian wrestling in history was in about the 13th century. It is not only held in events such as Naadam and Aobao, but also popular in daily life. There are 13 basic skills and more than 100 moves. Wrestling costumes are very ethnic, mainly including waistcoats, trousers, overalls, and colorful silk belts. When the wrestler reaches a certain level, he will wear a band of five colors, red, yellow, blue, green and pink on his neck, which symbolizes the hero and represents the level and honor. The higher the level is, the more color ribbons he will wear. At present, Mongolian wrestling as a traditional sports event is favored by the Mongolian people. 5

6. The harsh living conditions in the grassland determine that the Mongolian people mainly have two types of economic life, nomadism and hunting, which shapes a strong physical and martial tradition of the Mongolian people. Bows and arrows are one of the main weapons of hunting. After Genghis Khan unified Mongolia, although the hunting economy gradually shifted to a nomadic economy, some Mongolians still make a living by hunting. Even those who set hunting aside still retain the skills of archery. Until today, archery is still a traditional sport welcomed by Mongolians. Together with horse racing and wrestling, it is called the “three basic skills of Mongolian men”. The Mongolian youth in the picture is Xie Qingsong, an archery enthusiast. 7. The Mongolian people can sing and dance, and there are many folk songs handed down, which can be divided into two categories, ceremonial songs and pastoral songs. They are famous for their grand and powerful sounds and high note. The content is also very rich, including those describing love and wedding, those praising horses, grasslands, landscapes, and those praising heroes of grasslands, etc., with distinctive Mongolian characteristics. Among them, the Mongolian long metre is a typical representative. It is called "Wuritudao" in Mongolian, which means long song, with few words, long melody, high-pitched and distant, soothing and free, suitable for narrative and lyricism. It is very popular. The figure on the right is called Shuang Long, a Mongolian music teacher, and those on the left and in the middle are his students.

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by Yu Changren 10 | GPU MAGAZINE

THE AWAKENED ORIENTAL LION

The famous French military leader and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “There lies a sleeping giant. Let him sleep! For when he wakes, he will shake the world.” The recent century of modern Chinese history confirmed Napoleon's prediction.

The rulers of the late Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty pursued self-isolation policy, resulting in the civilization stagnation, turning the oriental power into a “sleeping giant”. In those difficult times, the Communist Party of China led the nation to achieve independence and founded the People's Republic of China. Thanks to China’s 40 years of reform and opening up, the Communist Party of China, with its great wisdom and courage, has led China to stride forward in the stormy waves, to lead economic development, social transformation, cultural prosperity, and to become the second largest economy in the world. Yu Changren’s “The Awakened Oriental Lion” series captures the lifelike postures of the lion dance, creating a sense of dignity and sacred. The author assembles images with the element of the red lion, which fully reflects the magnificent picture of the Chinese nation's endless and tragic development. As the lion dance is one of the important Chinese culture icons, the author applies the unique oriental lion culture and the mysterious relationship between lion culture and China for thousands of years to metaphorize the awakening of the sleeping giant, trying to express to the whole world that sleeping lion has awakened. Hence the name of this series “The Awakened Oriental Lion”. This series also fits in with the current situation when the outbreak of the epidemic around the world, this oriental lion is uniting people all over the world to overcome the most difficult time.

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Yu Changren Yu Changren is a member of several reputable photography associations,

including China Photographers Association (CPA), China Photography Copyright Association, Tianjin Photographers Association, China Artistic Photography Society, China Photojournalism Association, and Global Photographic

Union (GPU). He is contracted photographer of Xinhua News and China Image Group. In 2016, he started his contract with Xinhua News Agency. From April to May in 2017, he was commissioned by Tianjin Intangible Cultural

Heritage Association to photo for a “Charming Intangible Cultural Heritage” project. In August 2017, he was selected to the official photography department for 13th China National Sports Meeting to cover all the events. FALL WINTER 2021 | 13

25 UNDER

PHOTO CONTEST

by Saeed Al Shamsi, the salon chairman

For the second year, GPU Under 25 Photo Competition offered an encouraging opportunity for young photographers to show and share their creativities and interact in this social opportunity, by connecting with one another from all over the world. The competition received photographs from 115 authors coming from 25 countries. The jury selected three best works from each category which was awarded with medals and as well six honorable mentions per category. The overall three best entries were reward with cash prizes 300/ 200/ 100 euros. HTTP://GPU25.COM/

AWARDS OPEN COLOR GPU Gold Medal: Lee Walker (United Kingdom) - Nail Salon GPU Silver Medal: Pardis Maaleki (Iran) - Desert GPU Bronze Medal: Khoa Nguyen Nguyen Doan (VietNam) - Net sewing GPU Ribbon: Karar Ali Sabih (Iraq) - Mother's hands GPU Ribbon: Param Jain (India) - Water Splash GPU Ribbon: Sultan Ahmed Niloy (Bangladesh) - Ducks feeding GPU Ribbon: Joy Saha (Bangladesh) - Brick Workers IAAP Gold Medal: Mohammed Al-Shaaili (Oman) - Care IAAP Ribbon: Nhut Duong Anh (VietNam) - Buoi som tren bien IAAP Ribbon: Rohan Barik (India) - Spider SECTION B: MOBILE PHOTOS GPU Gold Medal: Sultan Ahmed Niloy (Bangladesh) - Traveler GPU Silver Medal: Karim Magdy (Egypt) - A butcher GPU Bronze Medal: Yousef Tarek (Egypt) - Hard life GPU Ribbon: Ayan Paramanik (India) - Apu Durga GPU Ribbon: Omar Shebl (Egypt) - Playstation play store GPU Ribbon: Kasturi Kuvalekar (India) - Grand mosque at Abu Dhabi GPU Ribbon: Mardin Ahmadi (Iran) - Remains of Autumn IAAP Silver Medal: Doğukan Gencer (Turkey) - Three trees IAAP Ribbon: Shenal Silva (Sri Lanka) - The Balloon Ride IAAP Ribbon: Agni Rudra Samal (India) - Street SECTION C: COVID-19 GPU Gold Medal: Akram Menari (Algeria) - ‫يتدجو يدج‬ GPU Silver Medal: Pardis Maaleki (Iran) - Nurses GPU Bronze Medal: Aung Chan Thar (Myanmar) - Stay at home GPU Ribbon: Sultan Ahmed Niloy (Bangladesh) - Our Fighters GPU Ribbon: Mohammed AL-Shaaili (Oman) - Mask GPU Ribbon: Marwa Alyarubi (Oman) - A Mask GPU Ribbon: Deep Bhatia (United Arab Emirates) - Learning in Pandemic IAAP Bronze Medal: ali alfatal (Iraq) - The Pandemic Of Despair IAAP Ribbon: Dipak Shaw (India) - Bonding bitween brothers IAAP Ribbon: Sudara Sansali De Silva (Sri Lanka) - Life of a student

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Andrija Vukelić

Being born in Belgrade in 2001, I was exposed to a deeply divided, damaged and lost society for a majority of my life. This feeling was only amplified by the fact that all of the events that led to such a state of desperation (the wars in Yugoslavia, economic, cultural and societal devastation, mass migrations, international isolation, etc.) happened before I was born, leaving me to connect the broken piece of the story on my own. I presume that this need to explain, to myself, the turbulent surroundings I was growing up in, is the reason why photography is the only true passion I ever had. I wanted to be a writer, a philosopher, a diplomat, a filmmaker… all of that came and went; photography always stayed. It is my way of piecing together parts of the story that is our reality in which we live and trying to make sense of it. This is probably why – when I went to photograph my first protest – a feeling rushed through my body that I have never felt before. Complete and utter calm; a sensation that told me: “This is what you must do for the rest of your life.” This feeling is still very much going and it shows no signs of stoping. FALL WINTER 2021 | 19

“WE, PEOPLE OF THE WORLD” GPU MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION

Organized and curated by

Marija Milovanović Maksimović

GPU Secretary General

• Kapadia Abbas, Armenian Moustache

GPU as an international association gathers photographers from all over the world into one big family. The idea behind the title and the exhibition project was to show the people of the world from various cultures and regions, of all colors and beliefs, the much as we, the photographers are, united as different as we can be and at the same time, so much alike. With this selection, we are telling the story about humanity with all its diversity, and at the same time, we are telling the story about us. The exhibition contains 56 photographs that show people in portraits, in their environment, nature, street or their homes, presenting different cultures,

• Pires Dias José Manuel, O gente da minha terra

• Yesiltas Bekir, Semazenlight 20 | GPU MAGAZINE

• Dr. Amit Bijon-Dutta, Ramnami

traditions, emotions…people with all their beauty and quirks. Planned to be exhibited in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2020, but as the Covid19 pandemic enforced new rules, the exhibition had to be canceled, now waiting for the first opportunity to show its face to the world. SELECTED WORKS AND AUTHORS: • Abdoulrahimkhan Mojtaba, Iran – Nazri • Abdel Hamid Shaaban, Qatar – Dominos • Alfarsani Najat, Bahrain – Hajer • Alhajer Mohd, Bahrain – A mother’s bread • Altaif Hassan, Bahrain • Alzaabi Muna, UAE – Sold my hair • Bandara Pandula, Sri Lanka – Ladies corner • Boddi Simone, Italy – Kachoun 2 • Borojević Nenad, Serbia – It’s a hard life of an artist • Causse Eric, France – Yves et son agneau • Chung John, Singapore – Indoor light portrait practice 2 • Cioni Mario, Italy – Woman with lamb • Daddi Bouhoun Kacem. Algeria – Man and cat • Davies Tony, Wales – Ukulele players • De Cort Daniel, Belgium – Good catch • Di Candia Lorenzo,Italy – Hope • Dr Amit Bijon Dutta, India – Ramnami • Falcone Francesco, Italy – See far • Fieni Eugenio, Italy – Nenet children • Filiaggi Nadia, Australia – Goatherder • Frenzel Volker, Germany – Three girls • Garzone Cristina, Italy – Daily work • Gurreiro Amparo, Greece – Cretan • Htet Hein, Singapore – Inle fishing net • Ingino Alfredo, Italy – Nostalgia • Johansen Danne, Denmark – Timbered • Jovanovski Vladimir, North Macedonia – My family • Kapadia Abbas, USA – Armenian Moustache • Kazazis Georgios, Greece – Wise man • Kismet Feridun, Turkey – Make to cap • Lazar Eszter Emese, Ireland – Manolis • Li Ka Wai, Hong Kong – Sunset • Lindebrings Kristien, Belgium – Not for drinking • Metzakis Manolis, Greece – Iulicas house • Milovanovic Maksimovic Marija, Serbia – Dedication • Mishra Arabinda Kumar, India – Group of bondas • Morata Alain, France – Les Deux Forgerons • Nagy Lajos, Romania – Bride ornament • Pal Udayan Sankar, India – A moment shared • Pires Dias Jose Manuel, France – O gente da minha terra • Raunio Risto, Finland – himba girl • Righeschi Enzo, Italy – I and she • Saha Subho, India – Window • Samoyault Guy, France – Guy-Dans le salar d'Uyuni • Sansoni Silvia, Italy – Il vecchio vasaio • Sarkar Pranab, India – Idle talk • Savescu Flavian, Romania – Equilibrium • Segev Nanoch Noki, Israel – Wedding ceremony • Sim Kim Pheng, Singapore – Bajau lovely children • Taher Sawsan, Bahrain – My grandma • Tan Lee Eng, Singapore – Warriors 4 • Tarasenko Anhelina, Ukraine – Born in USSR • Valente Salvatore, Italy – Tibetan grandmother • Van Iterson Jim, Netherlands – Bus ride 2 • Wat James, USA – Braidinng for living Nepal • Yesiltas Bekir, Turkey – Semazen light

• Htet Hein, Inle fishing net

• Segev Hanoch, Wedding Cremony

• Taher Sawsan, My mother

• Valente Salvatore, Tibetan grandmother

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CONT COVI

by ACADEMIA SULMONESE DI FOTOGRAFIA, ITALY

In the midst of the Coronoavirus epidemic, when the Italian government was about to declare that everyone had to stay at home, a group of passionate photographers and members of the “Accademia Sulmonese di Fotografia” association immediately responded to the enforced lockdown with an amazing initiative.

Having had their face to face course essentially cancelled, the association started giving homework so that students could continue to perfect their photography techniq ues at home while drawing inspiration from the architectural beauty of the city’s many historical monuments. Instead of photographs of the usual columns, fountains, cherubs, and other various statues, the Academy asked students to photograph objects that c ould be found within the four walls of their homes. The response was overwhelming. Organisers were flooded with photographs, leading them

to create a Facebook competition called “Contest Covid 19” on 13 th March. The rules were simple; each day, entrants we re given a different theme and 12 hours to create, shoot, and send their photos. The only constraint was that the photos had to be taken at home. The photos had to be sent to the Facebook page by midnight each day. The organisers then worked to upload all the photos to the page by 9 a.m. the next morning when participants had three hours to vote for the photograph they liked the most. The photos that received the most likes and comments were symbolically awarded with a digital certificate of merit from the Academy. Well, it was a continuous commitment. The afternoons were spent thinking up new ideas, planning the photo and then taking it. The next morning was spent judging the various photos before being given a new theme and the process starting all over a gain. A real tour de force! Through the imagination of the organisers and their daily themes,

participants were encouraged to produce even more imaginative and creative photographs. Their creativity exploded and they found strength and inspiration among d aily objects that perhaps they had always lived alongside but had never really thought about before, letting them go unnoticed. They transformed shadows, lights, and everyday objects into deep and meaningful messages, in a moment when life is full of unkno wns. The messages remained positive and demonstrated encouragement, strength and hope.

The competition offered these house bound people the opportunity to carve out a small space in their day to dedicate to the art of photography, which took on the role o f a genuine therapist against the monotony, loneliness and isolation that many people were experiencing. It helped relieve the mind of worries, tensions, and fears. The daily pursuit of getting the perfect shot allowed the participants to cultivate patienc e, to appreciate the beauty in small things, to

• Eduardo Gentile, Pasta

• Ida Buzzelli Mosesso

• Annalisa Giampaolo 22 | GPU MAGAZINE

• Lidia Rosato

TEST ID 19 become friends with their camera, and to create a world where hair escaped from hats, umbrellas were not fully opened, people wore natural but not impeccable expressions. A world filled with bold geometry and evocative shadows. From studying masterpieces created by their forefathers, the students started studying everyday life. A study that became more and more personal, almost introspective as the themes helped them to express their passions, desires and hop es.

The number of participants grew daily; from the initial 20, it soon rose to 70 or 80 daily entries. Some days it even exceeded one hundred. However, the competition didn’t stop at the edge of our region. Thanks to the power of the web, photos soon cam e in from all over Italy as well as countries as far away as Norway, the USA, India, Sri Lanka, to name just a few. Many of the photos were published in English on the Facebook page and were seen in all corners or the world, naturally arousing

the interest and curiosity of many people.

The vast majority of the photos were taken by enthusiasts with a simple smartphone, rather than professionals with expensive cameras. However, the photographs were extremely interesting and sometimes even technically flawles s. So much so that they aroused the appreciation of prestigious international photography associations which, consequently, officially recognised and supported the competition.

One notable participant was the 80 year old widow who lives alone in her house. She spent her afternoon designing the photo which she then took on her smartphone. In the evening, she would send the photo via WhatsApp to her son, who understood the Internet better than her. Another story is that of a young Indian boy, a dreamer and object of derision for his friends and bject of derision for his friends and family who laughed at him for taking his daily photographs until he too was rewarded for his family who laughed at him for

taking his daily photographs until he too was rewarded for his participation and thus earned the enthusiastic and proud appreciation of his entire village. participation and thus earned the enthusiastic and proud appreciation of his entire village.

Thanks to the Academy’s extraorThanks to the Academy’s extraordinary yet fruitful adventure, photography has become a dinary yet fruitful adventure, photography has become a genuine expression of man’s inherent ability to face the most difficult and dramatic situations, such genuine expression of man’s inherent ability to face the most difficult and dramatic situations, such as what the entire world is experiencing right now. Yet more than that, the competition has shown as what the entire world is experiencing right now. Yet more than that, the competition has shown that we can draw stimuli from tough times and use them for reflection and personal growth as well that we can draw stimuli from tough times and use them for reflection and personal growth as well as cultural enrichment.as cultural enrichment.

• Chriatiano Maraschio

• Barattoli Claudia, Gentile

• Cocco Adalgisa

• Anna Cascianelli FALL WINTER 2021 | 23

PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKS OF GPU MEMBERS EXHIBITED IN YUNNAN PROVINCIAL MUSEUM OF CHINA

ME AND MY FAM ILLY

by Guo Jing, the exhibition curator

On July 1st, 2020, with the recommendation from GPU China, eight GPU Members had their photographic works included in the exhibition “Me and My Family”, and exhibited in Yunnan Provincial Museum of China. The photo exhibition is the fifth part of the original large-scale exhibition “MOSO: Family · Marriage · Dialogue”, which will be on display at the museum for eight months. The photo exhibition “Me and My Family” curated by Guo Jing and presented by GPU China selected works of photographers from 30 countries across five continents, which enables more people to feel the family love and warmth behind the photos, demonstrating the charm of diverse cultures and triggering respect, tolerance and appreciation of cultural diversity. The GPU members are Manolis Metzakis from Greece, Claudio Calosi from Italy, Marija Milovanovic from Serbia, Simon R Leach from UK, Ahmed Albusaidi from Oman, Rafik Kehali from Algeria, Mohamed Njah from Tunisia, and Vladimir Jovanovski from Macedonia. To highlight the theme of “One World”, one of the walls of the exhibition was uniquely designed in the shape of world map, and the exhibiting artists were invited to share their values about family, art and artistic process with the audience on the topic of “Me and My Family” in the form of videos. The combination of static and dynamic photography builds an international bridge of artistic exchange for the contemporary and traditional cultures. The special design and abundant contents were favored by the viewers. They perceived the charming cultures from all over the world, and each photo reminded them of their own families. We are all small parts of the entire globe which in turn consists of millions of constitutes.

• Vladimir Jovanovski 24 | GPU MAGAZINE

The other four parts of the exhibition “MOSO: Family · Marriage · Dialogue” are “Their Stories”, “Yongning – Forever Peaceful Land”, “Traditional Family and Marriage of Mosuo”, “Inheritance and Innovation – The Past and Present of Mosuo”, displaying the profound cultural connotations and historical origins of Mosuo ethnic group, presenting the well-known matriarchal society and walking marriage, and showing the social transformation and people’s change of their view towards family and marriage through the juxtaposition of old and new photos. The original exhibition took four years to prepare as a result of the coconstruction and assistance of Yunnan Provincial Museum to the Lugu Lake Mosuo Folk Museum in Lijiang, in order to support the protection, inheritance, research and display of Yunnan ethnic minorities’ cultures. The exhibition is innovative in content and realizes the transition and integration of traditional and contemporary photography. The exhibiting design is diversified with the integration of dynamic videos, static images, and conceptual installations. There are both exhibition sections and experience sections in the area division, which invigorates the entire exhibition and gets the audience involved, and also arouses their thinking and emotions. Furthermore, the international element of the world map demonstrates the multicultural harmony from one nation to the entire humanity. The exhibition will be displayed at the Yunnan Provincial Museum of China till February 28, 2021.

• Lesek Poladovska

• Marija Milovanović Maksimović

• Manolis Metzakis

• Lina Youmor Jones • Mohamed Njah

• Ahmed Al Busaidi FALL WINTER 2021 | 25

GPU China members’

EXHIBITION

15th Huangshan (Yixian) International Photography Exhibition

From November 14 to 20 of 2020, the Group Exhibition of GPU China Members was staged successfully at the Huangshan (Yixian) International Country Photography Festival in China, displaying outstanding photographic works from a total of 55 GPU Chinese members. The selected works, ranging from galloping horses and spectacular landscapes to iconic modern architecture and folk life, give viewers a glimpse into the distinctive customs and cultures worldwide. In a sense, the group show is a manifestation of GPU China members across the globe perceiving and capturing the shared features of diverse cultures in an artistic way. And photography, as a medium for international cultural and artistic exchange, is rapidly gaining popularity among the mass population. 26 | GPU MAGAZINE

The exhibition was held in Xidi Scenic Area, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Yixian County, drawing more than 20,000 visitors on a daily basis. The works on display won unanimous praise from the audience. At the venue, viewers constantly stopped to appreciate the photos, talking and gasping in admiration. Some even took pictures after appreciating the exhibits for a while. This is the second time of GPU Chinese members’ exhibition presented at the festival. Yixian County enjoys good reputations such as “Picturesque Chinese Village” “Chinese Utopia”, etc., and the Huangshan(Yixian) International Country Photography Exhibition is held annually with the 15th edition this year, and it’s one of the best photo festivals in China.

The exhibiting photographers are: Ban Chunmin, Chen Weiping, Chen Ying, Chen Shuduo, Chen Ji, Chen Yu'e, Feng Yanben, Fang Xianyun, Fan Juemian, Gan Dengrong, Guo Xiaolong, Han Qiang, Huang Longqi, Jiang Aizhen, Jin Nanyang, Li Zhaoqing, Liu Chao, Lou Guishan, Li Yue, Liu Xuzhong, Lu Shengfu, Mao Yafeng, Ma Yaping, Nie Yongxing, Peng Xianliang, Sun Dunfu, Sun Qingsheng, Song Aihua, Wen Guo, Shen Jianfeng, Shang Ye, Tang Shumei, Xie Bangguo, Xu Yunxiang, Xu Xiaowen, Xiong Jian, Xia Yi, Yang Qingfu, Yuan Yongjie, Yan Jinglong, Yin Quanlin, Yang Yiming, Yang Liu, Ye Nan, Yu Changren, Yang He, Yu Bingwei, Yu Mei, Zhu Yanqin, Zhou Jingqi, Zhou Wanqin, Zhu Shengshu, Zhang Yongjiang, Zeng Wei, Zhu Quantang (55 GPU Chinese members in total). The exhibition was curated by Guo Jing, curator and GPU Vice President.

GPU WEBINARS Organized by Saeed Al Shamsi

During 2020 hard days of lockdown, GPU invited established photographers from different parts of the world to run webinars open for participation for GPU members and everyone else. Guest lecturers presented their portfolios and explained their workflow, working with light, techniques, ideas, and execution in various photography genres. At the end of every session, there was time open for questions from participants and discussions.

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GPU CRO WNS by Crowns & VIP Officer Claudio Calosi

CROWN 1

Ahmad Bengin, Syria Al Lawati Maitham, Oman Almosawi Maryam, Bahrain Alrashdi Salem, Oman Anupam Chakraborty, India Ban Jozsef, Romania Bartha Erika, Romania Biswas Suvojit, India Chen Weiping, China Chen Ying, China Chen Yu'e, China Clement Romain, Luxembourg Duke Michael, UK Fang Chunping, China Gan Dengrong, China Guo Xiaolong, China Halliburton David, UK Hamzi Riyad Ahmad, Saudi Arabia Hanssen Vegard, Norway Haumataki Tuula, Finland Hristozov Nikolay, Bulgaria Huotari Tapani, Finland

Catherine © Lamboporou Eva

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Jauhiainen Jarmo, Finland Jeannin Laurent, Belgium Jiang Chunhui, China Kang Jian, China Kara Eray, Turkey 1 Laina Aggeliki, Greece Lei Zunhui, China Letchmanan Ramesh, Singapore Li Fang, China Li Hanxin, China Li Hong, China Li Yue, China Liang Jiuru, China Liu Guoqin, China Lu Gang, China Lu Shengfu, China Luo Zaohua, China Ma Yaping, China Mitra Suman, India Moreno Cendros Maria Nuria, Andorra Naini Sreeram, India Nie Yongxing, China Panja Pritam, India Pollak Ladislav, Slovakia Price Robin, UK Reunanen Timo, Finland Sanyal Trina, India Sarb Vasile, Romania Segev Hanoch Noki, Israel Shehab Huda, Kuwait Shen Shenghua, China Sun Chengbo, China Sun Peiwen, China Sun Qingsheng, China Suo Nan, China Suomu-Virtanen Piia, Finland Trivedi Munindra, India Tuomikoski Pauliina, Finland Wang Huijue, China Wang Wenwei, China

Wang Yihua, China Wang Yonghe, China Wen Zuopei, China Widodo Sugiarto, Indonesia Xia Xuejun, China Xie Changshun, China Xing Haihong, China Xiong Jian, China Xu Jin'an, China Xu Weixiang, China Xu Zhi, China Yan Jinglong, China Yang Shenghua, China Yang Sisong, China Yang Xuebiao, China Ye Wei, China Yi Du, China You Fuqiang, China Yu Changren, China Yuan Yongjie, China Zhai Guangsheng, China Zhang Hua, China Zhang Tianming, China Zhou Jianguang, China Zu Hanju, China Zu Hui, China

CROWN 2

Abdulla Duaa, Saudi Arabia Adriani Maria, Indonesia Agaskar Swapnil, India Ajar Setiadi, Indonesia Al Busaidi Samir, Oman Albahrani Seraj Hussain, Saudi Arabia Alhammad Zakaria Abdulah, Saudi Arabia Alkhawaher Zahra Jafar, Saudi Arabia Almabadi Abdulrahman, Saudi Arabia Almasoud Naif Ahmed, Saudi Arabia Arcan Burhan Bahadir, Turkey

Happy old man © Guo Xiaolong

Ba Yin, China Bajkó Csaba, Hungary Banerjee Nilendu, India Bikfalvi Zsolt, Romania BS Venkatesh, India Cathie Brian, UK Chaudhuri Debasish, India Chen Kunping, China Chen Mingchong, China Chen Potse, Taiwan Das Mayurjyoti, India Davies Tony, UK De Cort Daniel, Belgium Debieve Albert, France Debono Johann, Malta Dey Mainak, India Dickinson Barry, UK Dickinson Christine, UK Doblander Roman, Austria Ficarelli Daniele, Italy Gawde Suwarna Raghunath, India Ghosh Narendu, India Giridharan Vijay, India Gustavson Corliss, Australia Hornbostel Hans Peter, Germany Huilgol Ajit, India Hung Yuk Fung Garius, Hong Kong Jokinen Juha, Finland Kartal Orhan, Turkey 2 Kazazis Georgios, Greece Koprulu Filiz, Turkey Korpela Antti, Finland Lazar Eszter Emese, Greece Lie Robert, Indonesia Mäki Jarmo, Finland Mandal Biswajit, India Marasinghe Ashane, Sri Lanka Mazzola Renzo, Italy Meenakshisundaram Suresh, Oman Mohan K S Manju, India

Life © Wang Xuepeng

Naini Sreeram, India Negoita Bogdan Mihail, Romania Nguyen Minh, USA Origer Jeff, Luxembourg Pal Arijit, USA Paul Tapas Kumar, India Petersohn Dagmar, Germany Pranab Sarkar, India Raunio Risto, Finland Rondel Brigitte, France Roychowdhury Subhra, India Sanguinetti Tachibana Hajime, Chile Sarb Vasile, Romania Secmen Ozgur, Turkey Simonen Pia, Finland Sinha Biswanath, India Sokolskaya Valentina, USA Synnevaag Roald, Norway Tallier Frédéric, Belgium Vakalapudi Suresh Kumar, India Xu Yiping, Australia Yeoh Jin Huat, Malaysia Yu Ningtai, China

CROWN 3

Abbott John, Australia Al Qahtani Amani, Saudi Arabia Athavale Bhaskar, India Banerjee Abhijeet Kumar, India 3 Choudhury Ratnajit, India Datta Shourjendra, India Ehrenreich Irene, Austria Fieni Eugenio, Italy Filiaggi Nadia, Australia Hu Lin, China Lambropoulou Eva, Greece Madhukar Mohite Samir, India Mantykangas Jarmo, Finland Molero Gutierrez Florentino, Spain Peng Jiongxin, New Zealand

Retter Silvana, Germany Saha Subho, India Sim Kim Pheng, Singapore Tomassi Antonella, Italy Tong Jiangchuan, China Trek Shehan Anthony, Sri Lanka Wiemer Thomas, Germany Wong Loretta Yat, Hong Kong

CROWN 4

Alameer Amal, Saudi Arabia Baladakis George, Greece Choi Lewis Ka-Yin, Hong Kong Das Sharmali, India Gaberthuel Walter, Italy Halvas-Nielsen Herdis, Germany Kazepidis Vasilis, Greece Lim Guek Cheng, Malaysia Lin Wolfgang Tat Chi, Hong Kong Luo Wenjie, China Mitra Piyali, India Morata Alain, France Mysore Anitha, India Okoniewski Tomasz, Poland Pal Udayan Sankar, India Schmidt Barbara, Germany Stuppnig Stefan, Austria Tangmanpoowadol Hansa, Thailand Teo Chin Leong, Singapore Tommi Massimo, Italy Tse Kwok Kei Daniel, Hong Kong

CROWN 5

Bandara Pandula, Sri Lanka Debevec Igor, Slovenia Meinberg Volker, Germany

Adam and Eva

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GPU VIPS by Crowns & VIP Officer Claudio Calosi

VIP 1

VIP 2

Ajar Setiadi, Indonesia Al Busaidi Samir, Oman Al Qahtani Amani, Saudi Arabia Alameer Amal, Saudi Arabia Baladakis George, Greece Boddi Simone, Italy Catania Gottfried, Malta Fieni Eugenio, Italy Hung Yuk Fung Garius, Hong Kong Kazepidis Vasilis, Greece Kismet Feridun, Turkey Lie Robert, Indonesia Malek Nasser Haji, United Arab Emirates Molero Gutierrez Florentino, Spain Morata Alain, France Retter Silvana, Germany Stuppnig Stefan, Austria Teuschel Peter, Germany Trek Shehan Anthony, Sri Lanka

Alkhamis Abbas, Saudi Arabia Catania Gottfried, Malta Debevec Igor, Slovenia Hassan Ahmed Mohamed, Egypt Lim Guek Cheng, Malaysia Pal Udayan Sankar, India Peng Jiongxin, New Zealand Ryu Shin Woo, South Korea (Rep. of Korea) Samoyault Guy B., France Sim Kim Pheng, Singapore Teo Chin Leong, Singapore Trek Shehan Anthony, Sri Lanka

VIP 4

Alameer Amal, Saudi Arabia Ebrahim Isa, Bahrain Lambropoulou Eva, Greece Lin Wolfgang Tat Chi, Hong Kong Meinberg Volker, Germany Molero Gutierrez Florentino, Spain Samoyault Guy B., France Tangmanpoowadol Hansa, Thailand

VIP 5

Calosi Claudio, Italy Schmidt Barbara, Germany Tommi Massimo, Italy

Iofoten © Boddi Simone

Agnesoni Mauro, Italy Albahrani Seraj Hussain, Saudi Arabia Almosawi Maryam, Bahrain Arcan Burhan Bahadir, Turkey Chen Potse, Taiwan Choudhury Ratnajit, India Clement Romain, Luxembourg Coumbias John, South Africa Doblander Roman, Austria Fanos Nestor, Greece Kazepidis Vasilis, Greece Koprulu Filiz, Turkey Letchmanan Ramesh, Singapore Li Chen-You, Taiwan Mazzola Renzo, Italy Pal Arijit, USA Price Robin, UK Sinha Biswanath, India Taher Sawsan, Bahrain Tansu Gulay, Turkey

VIP 3

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Cheeta and impala © Claudio Calosi

A new life © Baladakis George

Chefchaouen © Ebrahim Isa

Scene at the sunse © Trek Shehan

Dernier efforts © Samoyault Guy

Nenet children © Fieni Eugenio

Water needs © Alkhamis Abbas

FB 2018 © Morata Alain

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Rise and shine © Hung Yuk Fung

Palace guard © Teuschel Peter

Rugby boy © Alameer Amal

The wayang maker © Lie Robert

Sound of faith © Tangmanpoowadol Hansa

1125 © Malek Nasse Haji

Working family © Lin Wolfgang

Peter in action ©Sim Kim Pheng

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Meerkats on the alert © Catania Gottfried

Stories from red lips © Kazepidis Vasili

Cars © Kismet Feridun

Greensward in the setting sun © Pengh Jiongxin

Krill colored pant © Meinberg Volker

Blue Insularis 7 © Teo Chin Leong

Children and tires © Yeoh Jin Huat

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Repose © Pal Udayan Sankar

Hong Kong space museum© Schmidt Barbara

Desert workers shadow © Al Busaidi Samir

Deaparture and arrival © Al Qahtani Amani

Acamar © Molero Gutierrez Florentinno

Fisherman © Ryu Shin Woo

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Rain and end © Tommi Massimo

Victoria 0138 © Stuppnig Stefan

A floor from above © Labropoulou Eva

Ballet in a tunnel of love © Retter Silvana

GPU TIT LES by Titles Officer Saeed Al Shamsi

APHRODITE 2020 Al Busaidi Samir, Oman Al Hamad Zakaria, Saudi Arabia Alameer Amal, Saudi Arabia Alqahtani Amani, Saudi Arabia Bhaskar Athavale, India Chen Kunping, China Chen Mingchong, China Deng Youdong, China Eray Kara, Turkey Feng Ping, China Gao Feng, China Guo Xiaolong, China Huo Tian, China Kismet Feridun, Turkey Kyprianou Klea, Greece Lang Jiancheng, China Lazar Eszter Emese, Greece Letchmanan Ramesh, Singapore Li Peiguo, China Li Shaoqing, China Liang Ruihua, China Lin Wolfgang Tat Chi, Hong Kong Lv Ning, China Mao Xiaochu, China Negoita Bogdan Mihail, Romania Paraskevopoulou Georgia, Greece Sankar Pal Udayan, India Sarb Vasile, Romania Sheng Alice, USA Tong Jiangchuan, China Wang Hijue, China Wang Xuepeng, China Wei Fangru, China Xiang Bangjing, China Xu Ping, China Yang Xinyu, China You Fuqiang, China Yu Changren, China Yu Ningtai, China

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Zeng Wei, China Zhan Sam, USA Zhang Yan, China Zhao Li, China Zhao Weimin, China Zheng Guohua, China Zhou Jinye, China 2021 Chen Weining, China Chen Weiping, China Chen Yu'e , China Chen Zhiqiang, China Chong Kit Han, Malaysia Cui Baoguo, China Dai Lianqi , China Deng Shugang, China Doblander Roman, Austria Duaa Abdulla, Saudi Arabia Faisal Khalaf, Bahrain Feng Yanben, China Gan Dengrong, China Hajime Sanguinetti Tachibana, Chile Huang Xuefeng, China Jiang Chunhui, China Jin Huat Yeoh, Malaysia Kuang Haichun,China Li Hanxin, China Li Yue , China Liu Ming , China Liu Xuzhong, China Lou Guishan, China Lu Shengfu, China Luo Yun, China Luo Zaohua, China Ma Liqiang, China Margaret Salisbury, UK Mei Long, China Mohammad Awadh, Kuwait Peng Wenbo, China Qiu Yuan, China Rania Balachouti, Greece Roald Synnevåg, Norway Robert Lie, Indonesia Robin Price, England Shen Shenghua, China Sheng Yaojian, China Trina Sanyal, India Wang Mingsheng, China Wang Wenwei, China Wang Xiaoying, China Wei Huanyun, China Xiong Jian, China Xu Deqi, China Xu Jinan, China Xu Weixiang, China Xu Yuefan, China Xu Zhi, China Yang Suqing , China Yomn Almonla , Saudi Arabia Yuan Yun, China

Zhai Guangsheng, China Zhang Jiyuan, China Zhang Shengli , China Zhang Shushou, China Zhang Yong, China Zhang Yue, China Zhang Zuping, China Zheng Gang, China Zhong Tian, China Zhou Yongyu, China Zhu Shengshu, China

HERMES 2020 Alameer Amal , Saudi Arabia Banerjee Abhijeet Kumar, India Causse Eric, France Davies Tony , Wales Ehrenreich Irene , Austria Lambropoulou Eva , Greece 2021 Al Qahtani Amani , Saudi Arabia An Xiping, China Chen Kunping, China Hasudorfer Frank, Gemany Kazazis Georgios , Greece Kismet Feridun , Turkey Konsolaki Elftheria, Greece Lin Wolfgang Tat Chin, Hong Kong ( China) Negoita Bogdan Mihail, Romania Sheng Alice , USA Stuppnig Stefan, Austria Tong Jiangchuan, China Vrzic Lijljana , Serbia Xu Ping, China Yu Changren, China

ZEUS 2020 Frenzel Volker , Gemany Htet Hein , Singapore Ibrahim Isa , Bahrain Schmidt Barbara, Germany Tsoulellis Efstratios, Greece 2021 Malek Nasser Haji, UAE Millin Robert, UK

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City painter.jpg © Zhou Jinye

Kulase dasara © Al Ameer Amal

Inside and outside the carriage © Wang Hijue

The charm of the sea © Lv Nang

Field scenery © Chong Kit Han

Buddha window © Cheng Mingchong

Goldenea Kreuz © Doblander Roman

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A flock of cranes meet the sun © Shen Shenghua

The princess © Tong Jiangchuan

Delta © Kismet Feridun

Galloping ceaselessly © Liang Ruihua

Pasture © Hang Zhiven

Mountain soul © Fang Ping

Camel shadow © Gao Feng

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Zhang Shuzhou © Waxwing 1

Winter © Li Peiguo Causse Eric © Duo

Happy family © Mao Xiaochu

Egret look down © Chen Kunping

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? ©?

The favored one © You Fuqiang

Red Lisboa Airport © Lie Robert

Coal miners © Zheng Guohua

Gracefully slender figure © Deng Youdong

Boy © Alqatani Amani

Lighthouse # 2 © Zhan Sam

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Buddha light ©Wei fangru-

Nature Clay Cracks © Al Busaidi Samir

Church Time ©Lazar Eszter Emese

Once upon a time © Huo Tian

Ladder to the sky © Vrzic Ljiljana

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Love in Poetry © Yu Ningtai

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