Panama wins first place in International Photography Contest

A Panamanian photographer has won first place in the photo contest “Por Ser niña” an international photo competition celebrating the empowerment of girls throughout Latin America.

This was the fifth edition of the competition, organized by Plan International, had participating photographers from 12 countries in Latin America, and an independent jury selected in each country.

The professional category of the contest had winners from Panama, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. The award ceremony took place in Panama City on Monday, where International Plan, active in more than 70 countries, gave the awards to the winners in three award categories: professional, open and "small giants".

The first place in the professional category was won by Grey Diaz of Panama, with "Agua Viva. Diaz’s photo was of a young Panamanian girl from Embera commarca. The photographer spoke to her being “so positive, so optimistic, so cheerful" despite a living instead with ”difficult access" in the jungle province of Darien, where the only public service is water. The photo expresses ”how despite being a place with little access, a place of poverty, water can change the lives of girls and children.

The second place in the professional category went to Mauro Humberto de Araujo, Brazil, with "Future Year"; and the third was for the photo "I want to be a designer," Dominican Scarlette Miranda.

In the open category awards were won by Colombian photographer jheison Pabon, Dominican Flor E. Zapata Santana and Jean Carlos Capuñay, of Peru.

In the category of "Small giants" children of Paraguay, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Brazil took the honors.

There will be an exhibition in Panama with the winning photos until February 24 at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.

Feeling inspired? Join the Coronado Frame & Foto Photo contest! See rules and regulations here.