I’m honored to be part of the Jury panel of the inaugural Malaysia Day Photo Contest 2024. It’s a delight to see a good number of quality images submitted encompassing various perspectives with some thoughtfully executed. Bravo to these inspiring Artists, Congratulations!
Congrats to all the winners and participants. It was really heartening to see so many submissions and inspiring to see all the diverse perspectives and interpretations of what Malaysia is like from everyone's respective vantage points. Due to the high quality of entries, it was difficult to choose the winning entries and I really very much enjoyed the discussions with the other judges. Ultimately, I think we collectively settled on the most deserving submissions, ones that best represent the theme and creativity of the respective photographers. Syabas!
Judging a contest as wide as this subject allows was not easy. What was easy though are the photos of quality that was submitted, allowing us to find the gems in the rough. Many had ideas of what Hari Malaysia would be visually, and some managed to capture the moment that communicated it to all and sundry - and even those who are jaded by the torrent of photos that come our way daily. The winners thought out their snaps and snapped it with some degree of skill and control of light and perspective. Much thanks for hopefully enjoying what you captured, sending it in for the world to see. May your photo journey continue and keep inspiring us.
It was interesting yet challenging for us judges to decide on the winners. I’m happy to see the spirit of Malaysia is on most photographers’ minds as they took these photos. Congratulations to all winners!
Congrats to all winners! Such an honor to be part of the esteemed judging panel for this competition. The effort and creativity displayed through each submission were truly inspiring- they not only showcased exceptional skill but also captured the essence of our nation's vibrant culture, history, and diversity.
Amri Ginang’s journey into photography began in the early 1980s during his studies in London. Immersed in the world of visual arts, Amri (known to his clients as AG) discovered his passion for photography, which soon became the focus of his career. Upon graduating, he honed his craft as a photographer’s assistant for two years before securing a position as an in-house commercial photographer in Sweden.
In Sweden, AG specialized in fashion and beauty photography, collaborating with some of the most renowned creative directors, makeup artists and stylists in Stockholm. His talent and innovative approach quickly distinguished him in the industry. As a freelancer, AG’s reputation grew, leading to numerous assignments from across Asia.
By the late 1990s, AG returned to Kuala Lumpur, where he established himself as one of the most sought-after commercial and portrait photographers in Malaysia. His extensive portfolio includes high-profile clients and projects across Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta.
Today, AG continues to captivate audiences with his work, balancing a diverse portfolio of portrait, commercial, and fine art photography. His unique blend of experience and artistic vision ensures that each project is approached with creativity and precision.
Azul Adnan is a photographer and educator. He teaches photography at a multimedia college and an NGO for underprivileged children. His photos have been published in the media and he has written articles for local photography and travel magazines. He published his first photo book 'Jalan' in 2023.
His works have been exhibited at the National Art Gallery Malaysia and Stadium Merdeka, and internationally at exhibitions and festivals in London, Jeonju, North Carolina, and Zurich.
He is a regular speaker at the Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival and has been a panel judge for several photography competitions. He organizes workshops and photowalks around Kuala Lumpur.
Jahabar Sadiq is a Malaysian, curious about life and inquisitive about the world we live in. Sometimes, he'll write or snap a photo of all that he sees and feels. Otherwise, he just plays with camera gear.
Sinsee Ho is a self-taught and award winning photographer based in Kuala Lumpur. She is an active contributor to top stock media agencies. When not making content for stock, she indulges in street photography, discovering joy in the surprises of the mundane and believes poetry and art can be made out of the most simple, everyday occurrences. Her accolades include the Grand Prize winner in the 19th Annual Smithsonian Mag Photo Contest and 2nd Prize winner for People/Lifestyle category, International Photography Awards (IPA) 2022. Her work has been exhibited in international group shows in Paris, Tokyo and Singapore. She is also the Founder/Curator of the IG page, Street Photo Asia (@streetphoto_asia).
After graduating with honours in Actuarial Science from the University of Kent, We Jun first started his career in finance, then consumer durables, before pursuing filmmaking full-time in 2012. For two months in 2014, he apprenticed under Oscar-nominated Tim Hutchinson (“Willow”) in Art Direction at Pinewood Studios Malaysia. In 2015, he directed the short film, “Coaster”, mentored by Baltasar Kormákur (“Everest”). Several of We Jun’s short films have been selected for international film festivals. We Jun’s debut feature, “Hungry Ghost Diner”, had its world premiere in 2023 at Bucheon International Fantastic Festival in South Korea, where it was awarded the NETPAC Award for best Asian feature film by a jury from the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC).
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
ALOR SETAR
BATU PAHAT
BUKIT MERTAJAM
GEORGETOWN
IPOH
JOHOR BAHRU
KANGAR
KAJANG
KLANG
KOTA BAHRU
KOTA KINABALU
KUANTAN
KUALA LIPIS
KUALA TERENGGANU
KUCHING
KL - BUKIT BINTANG
KL - PETALING STREET
KL - BRICKFIELDS
KL - PUTRA - CHOW KIT
KL - KAMPUNG BARU
MELAKA
MIRI
MUAR
PAPAN
PUTRAJAYA
PULAU PANGKOR
SANDAKAN
SEGAMAT
SEREMBAN
SG. PETANI
SITIAWAN
TAWAU
TAIPING
Kim Boon is a passionate Malaysian photographer known for his ability to capture powerful stories through his lens. Specialising in corporate storytelling and portraiture, he brings out the essence of every moment. Whether photographing people, places, or products, his work is renowned for transforming the ordinary into extraordinary, creating visuals that convey deep emotion and meaning.
As an Official Fujifilm X-Photographer, Kim Boon works closely with the brand in Malaysia, focusing on education and workshops. He dedicates his time to teaching young photographers, including university students, and sharing his experiences and skills with the wider community.
Beyond his professional work, he is drawn to the streets and communities of Malaysia, capturing and getting inspired by the untold and extraordinary stories of everyday life of the ordinary people.
In 2023, he embarked on a personal journey to explore 50 locations across the country, seeking the heart of what defines Malaysia. He also initiated the 1st Hari Malaysia Nationwide Photowalk in 2024, uniting over 850 photographers across 33 locations, celebrating Malaysia Day on 16 Sep 2024 through the art of photowalking.
His deep connection to both his craft and his community inspires his continual pursuit of meaningful storytelling through photography.
