ON normal days, especially during the weekend, 55-year-old Khoo Kar Hin would hop on his motorcycle and ride around Balik Pulau to take photos.
The avid photographer stumbled upon a breathtaking scenery one day; a beautiful sunset with bright golden sunbeam at Pantai Malindo, Balik Pulau.
Khoo quickly took out his camera and capture the wonderful moment.
He submitted his photo, entitled Magnificent Sungai Burung at Pantai Malindo, for the Balik Pulau Festival 2020 Photography and Art Competition (DSLR / Mirrorless Category). The photo turned out to be the winning photo for the category.
The theme for the category was ‘Kerohanian Alam Semulajadi’.
He took home a Canon EOS M50 EF M 15 45mm IS STM Kit, a 3D/2N hotel voucher at Executive Pool Suite at Lexis Suites Penang, RM1,000 cash and a certificate of participation.
His friend Lim Teng Beng, 59, also won the Balik Pulau Festival 2020 Photography and Art Competition (Mobile Phone Category) with his photo entitled ‘Happy Hour’.
The theme for the Mobile Phone Category was ‘Kesejahteraan Insan dan Komuniti’.
“I was riding my motorcycle and I passed by a canal in Sungai Burung one day.
“I saw a group of children enjoying themselves in the canal and the sun was setting on the backdrop.
“Without wasting much time, I went over and capture the beautiful moment with my mobile phone.
“At first, the children were quite afraid of me but I told them not to be scared and continue to enjoy themselves,” he said after receiving his prize at the ceremony in Lexis Suites Penang on Dec 12.
Khoo and Lim, both retirees, were among 10 winners of the photography competition.
Meanwhile, 10 students aged seven to 17, bagged RM300 and a certificate of participation each for earning the Top 10 positions.
The theme for the Art Competition was ‘Perpaduan Budaya dan Bangsa’.
The competition’s chief judge SC Shekar said the organiser received about 1,600 entries in total.
“We had a difficult time picking the best photos. Everyone gave their best.
“The Balik Pulau Festival 2020 Photography and Art Competition was an excellent way to bring the community together.
“The people became careful and were more aware about their surroundings.
“The public should use photography as a tool to tell a story. It is a powerful medium. A picture is worth a thousand words,” he said in his speech.
There were four judges for the competition.
Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd imaging communication products division head Albert Mah said the festival provided the opportunity for the young and the seniors to showcase their talents in art and photography.
“I love Penang for its beautiful people and its culture,” he said.
Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said he was happy that the inaugural Photography and Art Competition that was organised by the Balik Pulau Parliamentary Office received such a huge response.
“The judges chose the winning entries based on the message behind the photos and how closely the entries abide by the theme.
“Art unites the people. A city without art is a city without a soul,” Muhammad Bakhtiar said.
The invited guests were treated to a sumptuous meal after the ceremony.
Also present were Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail and Lexis Suites Penang general manager Ben Ho.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian