The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is one of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions. Established in 2011 in Dubai, the award celebrates outstanding visual storytelling while promoting artistic and cultural excellence on a global stage. It also plays an important role locally by encouraging appreciation for photography within the Emirati community.
For the latest edition themed “Power,” the competition’s $200,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Italian photographer Gianluca Gianferrari. His winning image captures a breathtaking moment on Mount Etna in Sicily, where fiery bursts of lava erupt into the night sky while glowing fragments scatter across a blanket of white snow. The dramatic contrast between fire, ice, and starlight creates a scene that feels almost otherworldly.
Scroll down to explore the award-winning photographs from this year’s competition.
