Saturday, July 14, 2012

Standard Chartered Bank Launches Capturing Timeless Vision, a Photography Competition



Standard Chartered Bank is the oldest international bank in the Philippines. This 2012, it celebrates its 140th year in the country and takes this opportunity to mark the milestone through various community initiatives. The programs SCB started is an affirmation of its commitment to the Philippines beyond its contributions to the nation's economic growth.


According to SCB officials, the bank has always been passionate about making a difference in people's lives especially those who are most in need. Earlier this year, they announced a donation of US$1M to the Philippines for implementation of sight-saving programs over the next three years. Dubbed Seeing is Believing, the program will involve partnerships between the bank, CBM International and the Cataract Foundation of the Philippines wherein they will conduct eye screening tests as well as cataract operations and refraction correction. They also aim to address, in general, eyesight issues among the youth.


In addition to the Seeing is Believing commitment, SCB also launched Capturing Timeless Visions, a photography contest that endeavors to capture the timeless essence of the Filipino spirit through a camera's lens. According to Mahendra Gursahani, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank of the Philippines, "We thought of no better way to capture the timelessness of the Filipino spirit and the beauty of the Philippines than through the lens of our many professional and amateur photography enthusiasts."

A study done by SCB shows that almost $200B, the size of the Philippine economy, is lost across the world from people who are blind and cannot contribute to their economies. Gursahani affirms that with their $1M pledge to the Seeing is Believing program, they will be able to deploy those funds in the most effective ways in the next three years.


The competition has three categories:
- Values captures the qualities that make Filipinos a cut above the rest, from the spirit of bayanihan and hard work, to strong family ties and courtesy.
- Heritage honors the Philippines' rich traditions and colorful history
- People celebrates the country's most precious assets, the hardworking, resilient, and cheerful Filipinos themselves.

There are two divisions for contestants. The Professional level is open to photographers who currently receive, or have received payment, for their photographs. The Enthusiast level is for hobbyists who have not received any payment for their photographs. Entries must be taken using digital or film-based cameras. Ross Capili, artist/photographer and proprietor of One Workshop discourages the use of camera phones and tablets so as not to compromise the resolution of the photographs when they are printed out in large format.


Contestants may submit as many entries as they want per category but may only win once. Three of the best entries in the Professional Division will take home P100,000 each, while three winners in the Enthusiast Division will receive P50,000 each. There will also be three runners-up and 20 Juror's Choices selected from each division. The best entries will be auctioned off to charity for the benefit of the Seeing is Believing campaign while others would be donated to museums.

Standard Chartered Bank have started accepting entries last July 10. Deadline of submissions will be on  September 1. Send your entries to One Workshop, Inc. at Suite 324 LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air II, Makati City.

To know the complete mechanics of the competition and download the entry form, please visit  www.standardchartered.com/ph/capturing-timeless-visions/index.html



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