JOIN USA three-member team from Delhi's Jamia Milia University trumped teams from six continents on the spot photography contest which aimed at highlighting global environmental issues.
"Finding wealth and glamour in Cannes is like a cakewalk but it was very difficult to find waste in the city," says Farhat Bashir Khan, who led the team to produce two award wining photos titled "Cry of the big Cat" and "Midas Touch."
Out of participation from students of 60 of the world's top universities, six teams comprising 12 students and six tutors from Belgium, South Africa, Australia, North America and Mexico were shortlisted and flown to Cannes to participate in the week long World Photography Awards, beginning April 14.
"We had to look at the darker side of the city and its residents. The theme was the environment and the team was asked to portray opposing aspects of the city through two images, representing the glamour and wealth as well the darker side that wealth can bring," says Subi Chaturvedi curator and guest faculty at Jamia.
The winning duo of Neal Kartik and Pranab Kumar Aich along with their guide Farhat Bashir Khan, took home the prize which included high end professional photography equipment worth over Rs 35 lakhs courtesy sponsor Sony.
The award also provides opportunity to showcase their work in some of the world's biggest and most prestigious galleries in a travelling exhibition.
Experts drawn from big photography giants like Panos, National Geographic magazine, Geo Germany and legendary photographers like Tom Ang & Mary Allen Mark formed part of the judging team.