Malaysian photographer Yuji Haikal wins runner-up at XIPA international photo awards, UAE
KUALA LUMPUR: Local photographer, Yuji Haikal, won the runner-up title at the Xposure International Photo Awards (XIPA) in the Portraiture category in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates yesterday.
With a photograph titled ” Lost In Translation “, Yuji, whose real name is Syed Muhammad Haikal Syed Mahbar, 41, was listed among 29,000 participants from around the world who participated in this award.
He also expressed his pride that the street photography movement has been able to bring Malaysia’s name to the international stage.
“I feel like I can’t believe it and at the same time I feel proud,” he said when contacted by Astro AWANI today.
The photo captures the moment of a refugee girl from Russia standing behind the mirror of a department store in the capital, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict that broke out two years ago.
Yuji interprets the image of the girl as living a life without direction, trapped in a geo-political conflict between two countries.
“Without a clear direction, his life seemed to be trapped in a mirror,” he said.
The award also entitles him to receive US$1,500 (RM6,000) in cash, in addition to his work being exhibited at the XPosure Festival Hall of Fame , as well as accommodation costs for nine days and airfare covered by the festival organisers.
First place in this category was won by Myanmar photographer Aung Kyaw Zaw, who beat five other participants in the finals. The award saw a prestigious international jury including Muhammad Muheisein, Essdras M. Suarez and Giles Clarke.
Working as an information technology (IT) trainee did not discourage Yuji from getting involved in the world of photography.
He previously made history in Athens, Greece in 2024 by winning the Book Photographer of the Year award in conjunction with the 21st International Photography Awards (IPA), becoming the first individual from Malaysia and Southeast Asia to achieve this recognition through his book titled “ Why Aren’t You Taking Photos Anymore? ”
According to Yuji, a photographer should be confident in participating in any championship if they have good photos. “If we choose not to send, we have actually given up before the journey begins. As long as we don’t try, we will never know how far our photos can go,” he added.
-Agency
