"Only in the Mediterranean"

Photography Competition

30 June - 17 September 2017

Visit Our Website for Full Info and Prizes

The famous Dutch Painter, Vincent Van Gogh once wrote, “the Mediterranean has the colour of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don't always know if it is green or violet, you can't even say it's blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has taken on a tint of rose or gray”. He was obviously describing the sea itself, but this statement very much applies to the people and cultures of the Mediterranean region.

Along its rich and eventful history, the Mediterranean area has witnessed the rise and fall of very first ancient civilisations; Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Phoenician, Islamic and others. Civilization as we know it today stems from the ideas, inventions and encounters of various Mediterranean peoples and cultures. It is the region that gave birth to architecture, writing, science, law and religion.

Since ancient times, people across the Mediterranean have moved, intermingled and established extensive cultural and trade contacts. They have migrated and settled in flourishing parts of the region, bringing about cultural diversity and economic prosperity. The Mediterranean region as such presents a mosaic of societies and cultures that, while influencing one another, they still portray their distinctive culture and tradition.

Our photo contest aims at capturing the spirit of the Mediterranean peoples and cultures through the eyes of an amateur photographer. The goal is to display the distinctiveness and peculiarity of the diverse peoples and cultures of the Mediterranean. Whether it is a passionate street salesman in Napoli, a Marrakech snake charmer or an Egyptian Tanoura dancer, the contestants’ photos have to capture the uniqueness of a Mediterranean tradition, culture or custom that speaks for itself.