Vietnamese photographer bags another international award

Phan Thi Khanh’s photograph of children going around in a circle, some of them on stilts, was named second runner-up in the travel, lifestyle, documentary, street and portrait category.

The photograph was taken in Gia Lai Province during a traditional festival celebration. It is one of 17 prize winners chosen from 4,358 submissions from 632 professional and amateur photographers from 44 nations, organizers said.

The photo taken by Phan Thi Khanh of children playing during a traditional festival in Gia Lai Province. Photo courtesy of LightsFlare Photography Awards.

The other four prize categories in the LightsFlare Photography Awards 2020 are: wildlife and macro; landscape, cityscape and long-exposure, drone and aerial, and mobile.

The judging panel shortlisted 100 finalists and selected the 17 entries for the awards. The 100 photographs will be displayed in an online exhibition, organizers said.

According to the contest's website, the competition allows photographers to showcase their own visions of a subject and "everyone is free to use any technique."

Khanh, a native of the northern province of Thai Binh, lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2017, she bought her first camera to pursue her passion for photography. The 35-year-old has since won over 30 awards at home and abroad.

Her ‘Washing water lilies’ photo received the most fan votes in AGORA Work 2020 competition earlier this year, earning her a $1,000 prize.

Last year, one of her photos was selected among 50 shortlisted for the AGORA award, organized by AGORA, a platform for photography lovers worldwide.