Click to win in IM klik

Cup cakes served for refreshments at the launch event

Calling all photography enthusiasts!  Get your cameras out to snap shots in the theme, “Liveable City of Iskandar Malaysia” for the IM klik Photography Competition, now on till 22 October 2014.  This competition is open to the public in the Open Category with a separate category dubbed Junior klikers, for students aged between 7 to 12. 

Organised by Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), the competition aims to provide photographers with an opportunity to showcase their talents and to encourage students to take up photography.  The IM klik Photography Competition was launched by Johor Baru Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, in the presence of IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim and Johor education department assistant director, Md Hasidin Zaini.

Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad at the launch event

The advent of smart-phones with photography features allowed almost everyone to become budding photographers but there are skills involved to create a stunning shot.  

As such some activities are planned to nurture the participants’ interest in photography and equip them with skills to help them become better photographers.  The IM klik Photography Competition also features a talk on photography and workshop by Andrew Boey of the Nikonian Beyond Photography Academy.  Students of Raffles University Iskandar will also present a special photography exhibition.

The panel answering queries in the
Question & Answer session

Tan Sri Shahrir said that while Legoland Malaysia and Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Nusajaya are interesting recreation attractions, we should also preserve our heritage sites for future generations.  

He encouraged participants to look beyond everyday images and find scenes that are unique to Iskandar Malaysia.  He said that competitions such as this would add value to our properties and community because good photographs can record the true identity of Iskandar for posterity. 

Datuk Syed Mohamed agreed that this is an important competition as the photographs will document the very soul of Iskandar Malaysia and these photographs will be preserved as a record for future reference. 

As Iskandar Malaysia is taking shape, Shahrir observed that the “hollowing” of Johor – when young people left for better opportunities in the capital city – is now seeing a reverse trend.  In fact, people are choosing to live, work and play here and more young people are coming back as well as new settlers are coming to stay in Iskandar Malaysia.

Aptly designed cup cakes!

Participants can enter the competition by submitting entries on line before 22 October.  Judging of all entries will begin on 27 October and the winners will be announced on 14 November at an awards ceremony.  

Participants stand to win up to RM4,000 in the Open Category and RM1,500 in the Junior Category together with vouchers, photography merchandise and certificates.  The winning photographs will be displayed at the IM klik Photo Gallery as part of ISKARNIVAL 2014 later this year.  For competition rules and guidelines, and to register for the Photography Workshop, go to website: www.imklik.com

P S: The competition was launched at the DoubleTree by Hilton JB and when refreshments were served, I was amused to see that the creative decoration on the cup cakes aptly matched the event’s theme!  Take a moment to look closer – can you guess what is that design on each cup cake?

/pl