A photo competition named “Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques in the Eyes of Photographers,” will be held at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh during the Haj season this year. Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information, the exhibition will highlight the historic Haram expansion projects, which have been continuing since the time of King Abdul Aziz. Mohammed Aabis, director of information and publication for cultural affairs at the ministry, said the competition was organized to encourage Saudi professional and amateur photographers. ‘The competition aims to collect a large number of beautiful pictures of two holy mosques,” Aabis said, adding that cash prizes worth SR 100,000 would be given away to winners. The competition will feature external pictures of the two holy mosques, architectural designs, engineering works, minarets, domes, doors, windows, stairs, and columns and their components. The photo contest will also focus on the architectural beauty of the mosques’ interior parts including columns, ventilation, flooring, ceilings, minbar (platform), mihrab, (prayer niche), Qur’an stands, Zamzam water distribution areas, and scenes of pilgrims and worshippers inside the mosques. All Saudi men and women can participate in the competition. “The entry should match to the main topic of the competition. All participants can submit a maximum of three photos, which must be taken by them and not copied from others,” Aabis said. The entries should not be submitted for any other competition before and not be altered from its original form, he added. Contestants can present color and black and white photos but they should not make any writings or signatures on them. “The ministry is the sole authority to take decisions on the entries and it has all the right to exhibit photos or print them indicating photographer’s name. Interested photographers may send an application form in word file attaching three high-quality photos in not less than 300 dpi to the e-mail: V-A-GCC-2011@HOTMAIL.COM The deadline for applications is Dul Qaada 1, 1433H and the result would be published on Dul Qaada 15 1433H while the entries would be exhibited on Dul Hijjah 1, 1433H. The following cash prizes await the winners: First Prize: (for two persons) SR 10,000 each; Second Prize (for two persons) SR 8,000 each; Third Prize (for two persons) SR 7,000 each. Ten prizes of SR 5,000 each will also be distributed. “All winners and participants will get certificates,” Aabis said. From arabnews