Test Drive | Page 8

Eastern Partnership Photography Authors of the best photo presentations of their countries in the Eastern Partnership revealed National juries of photo contests, having one common name My Country in the Eastern Partnership, have announced names of 25 best authors. The winners went to en plein air photo sessions in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. More than 200 photo amateurs and professionals submitted their works. Breathtaking landscapes, fascinating cultural traditions, non-ordinary people, and amazing architectural sights – all these can be found in the pictures, which were sent to the juries from May 28 until June 30, 2014. The contests were organized simultaneously; therefore, in each country of the Eastern Partnership, except Georgia, 4 winners have been announced. The more generous Georgian jury awarded 5 prizes. Moreover, some of the juries have also allocated additional prizes for those participants who came quite close to the winners. Moldovan and Azerbaijani participants were judged by national juries; Georgian and Armenian juries helped each other to judge works from their countries, while Belarus and Ukraine decided to switch juries: the Belarusian jury judged Ukrainian participants, while the jury from Ukraine identified the winners in Belarus. Here is the statistics of the contest: Moldova – 42 participants, 365 photos; Armenia – 26 participants, 130 photos; Ukraine – 707 photos from 90 authors; Azerbaijan – 650 photos from 52 photographers; Georgia – 28 participants and 363 photos; Belarus – 46 participants and 515 photos. The photo competition My Country in the Eastern Partnership became possible thanks to the EU-financed project SAY CHEESE! Eastern Partnership Family Album. The organizers of the initiative hope that it will help neighbors in the region to understand each other better and have a new look at themselves, at their own problems and aspirations. Winners of the contest got a chance to take part in a photo plein air in one of the Eastern Partnership countries. Read further to see their contest works, as well as photos taken during the plein airs. Info: The project SAY CHEESE! Eastern Partnership Family Album. Capacity Building, Networking and Promotion of Thematic Eastern Partnership Photography is financed by the European Union within the Eastern Partnership Culture Program. Best works of all winners have been published at he project’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ThematicEasternP