Photo of Vietnamese ethnic minority woman, children wins prestigious international award

Malaysian Edwin Ong Wee Kee won the $120,000 prize with a photo he took during a recent trip to northern Yen Bai Province. Mother’s Hope captures a H’Mong mother with a speech disorder holding her children.

HIPA said on its official website: "Edwin Ong Wee Kee was honored with the Grand Prize for his photo documenting an intense human moment. The feelings of a Vietnamese mother whose speech disorder did not prevent her from feeling hopeful and a sense of strength for her children."

Kee said he loves to travel with his camera. He had pulled over on the side of the road while in Vietnam to capture this intimate moment using his Nikon D850 and an 80-400mm lens.

HIPA offers total prize money of $450,000, the largest of any photography award. It is also one of the most inclusive awards because there are no fees, no barriers to entry in terms of age, photographic status, gender, or nationality.

Wee is actually a full-time traditional Chinese medicine physician.

Other awards included best general photography, portfolio photography, aerial photography, the main theme photography, and special recognition.

The theme this year was "Hope." Season nine of HIPA opens later this year for submissions with the theme "Water."