Sublimity In Sienna

To hold a moment in time is a very magical experience for any artist and their audience. Whether it be a painter, poet or photographer, the single moment is fundamental and crucial to capture.

The Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) are a perfect example of showcasing this devotion in art. Started in 2015, thousands of truly stunning images are judged and critiqued by a panel of esteemed and influential photographers. In 2017, the awards welcomed a wealth of weather-related images with snarling thunder, twisting tornadoes and howling winds. The feeling of the images really followed through last year in the 2018 competition.

Since its humble beginnings, up to 48,000 entries are submitted from around the world every year. Last years award ceremony was held at the Teatro dei Rozzi theatre in Siena, Italy (hence the name). With storytelling and splashes of colour being adamant in the entries, the images also held a strong political focus on the developing world. The winners spanned ethnicities, coming from different corners of the world – Germany, Chile, Malaysia and the USA. The prestigious Photographer of the Year award was presented to Bangladeshian documentary-journalist, K M Asad, for his powerful image – entitled ‘Battle Victim’ – of a crying Rohingya refugee. Recently, Art Photo Travel (in collaboration with Siena International Photo Awards) announced that entries are open for next years awards. The 2019 SIPA contest is going to be called ‘Jump for Joy’, and highlights images that will put a smile on the face. The Siena International Photo Awards are renowned for their excellence and prestige, allowing for different artists to showcase multiple talents. This award is also a fantastic time for the viewer to take the opportunity to put down their mobile phones and look up at images that truly capture the state of the global climate.