(SINGAPORE, 2 November 2020) – Sony Electronics concludes its third installation of the Alpha Creators Contest in Singapore, awarding its Grand Prize to Sim Zhe Yong, 25, an Assistant Architect, for his #SonyBeTheChange photo-series, titled A Second Look. His images, shot on the Sony Alpha 7C, Sony’s latest compact full-frame camera, showcased a side of Singapore that highlights the struggles of people that go unnoticed.
The photography competition, which saw more than 1,252 entries from Singaporeans who shared their stories of embracing change – cumulates in an in-store photography exhibition at the Sony Store at 313@Somerset, running from 31 October 2020 until 3 January 2021. More than 100 shortlisted photographs and stories will also feature in a virtual gallery exhibition.
“The Sony Alpha Creators contest was introduced as a platform for both aspiring and professional photographers to advance photographic culture and develop their passions. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for everyone, and we wanted to empower Singaporeans with the opportunity to express their creativity and share their stories of change during this time,” said Mr. Nathaniel Neo, Head, Digital Imaging Marketing, Sony Electronics (Singapore).
“I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to be a part of the Sony Alpha Creators contest. It would be great if there were more opportunities like this for aspiring Singaporean storytellers to push the boundaries of photography and challenge the perceptions and expectations of the audience,” said Mr. Sim Zhe Yong, Winner, Sony Alpha Creators 3.0.
The Grand Winner
SIM ZHE YONG
A Second Look documents a side of Singapore that showcases the struggles of people that go unnoticed and tells the story of people who are ‘fighting’ for different things in life. For his photo-series, Zhe Yong took a step back to better understand who he was shooting and what was happening around him. Regardless of the duration, each interaction gave him a snippet of life from their perspective. This enlightening experience redefined his photography journey as he was able to approach and see things differently instead of taking everything at face value.
Semi-Finalists
YEAN CHIN
Celebrating our Heroes highlights the human spirit that shines through adversity. Heroes who healed Singaporeans, healthcare workers, who were the first line of defense. Heroes who built the city, migrant workers, who performed backbreaking work for extended hours under harsh tropical climate. Heroes who fed Singaporeans, hawkers, working long hours in tiny stalls. Heroes who kept the environment clean, cleaners, who laboured on despite their increased workload. Heroes who played their part and were socially responsible and demonstrated solidarity and unity.
LAWRENCE TAM
Forging ahead reexamines how to approach photography whilst being socially responsible. Continuing photography through this period made Lawrence realise it is not about him, it is more than that. He decided to capture the decisive moments of ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things. Through the camera, he witnessed how people have overcome adversities, rose to the occasion, and put others before themselves. His role as a photographer is to help Singaporeans remember the hurdles we have overcome for a different and better tomorrow.
IZHAR RAZALI
Resilience documents Izhar’s love to travel and capture moments on the street. However, with travel limitations, he adapted by taking his photography back to where he started. He found the experience of revisiting streets of Singapore during these challenging times to be inspiring, humbling and filled with passion, resilience, and determination. The energy and expressions shared through the eyes of the people around him allowed him to understand the meaning of resilience. This pandemic opened his eyes to things he had failed to appreciate. He believes that we will get through these trying times and emerge stronger.
Prizes
PHASE 1
Semi-Finalists:
4 x SGD $1,000 Cash Prize
PHASE 2
Grand Winner: 1 x Sony Alpha 7 III or choice of Sony product worth SGD $2,500
Runners-up: 3 x SGD $1,000 Sony Store Voucher
The Sony Alpha 7C
The semi-finalists shot their photographs using the Sony Alpha 7C, which is the world’s smallest and lightest[i] full-frame body. It combines Sony’s full-frame image quality, advanced AF capabilities and versatile video shooting functions in a stunningly light and compact design. The new camera features a 24.2MP (approx. effective) 35mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and BIONZ X™ image processing engine, offering high sensitivity, outstanding resolution, 15-stop wide dynamic range and high-speed image data processing.
[i] Among full-frame interchangeable-lens digital cameras with optical in-body image stabilisation mechanism, as of Sept. 2020. Sony survey.
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