The Government Information Bureau is once again holding the “Precious Moments in Macao” Photography Competition and the competition’s online portal is now open. Participants may submit their works online from 9 May.

The aim of the competition is to chronicle the developments and events of Macao over the past year, and to select a suitable photo to be the cover of the Macao Yearbook, which is published by the Government Information Bureau.

The competition is co-organised by the Government Information Bureau, eight photography organisations and four media associations.

Submitted photos should depict changes in the cityscape and the bright side of people’s lives over the past year to underscore Macao’s best qualities. Since the introduction of the competition’s online portal, the response from participants has been overwhelming, drawing outstanding works on a variety of themes.

This year the competition includes a new prize – the Special Feature Prize, and the theme of this year’s special feature is “Fun in Learning”, which aims to highlight the Macao SAR Government’s support for talent training and active engagement by Macao people.

Anyone wishing to enter can visit the website http://photo.gcs.gov.mo to register and upload their works from 9 May (00:00) to 30 May (24:00).

Winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes in the “Precious Moments in Macao” 2014 Photography Competition will receive cash prizes of 8,000 patacas, 5,000 patacas and 3,000 patacas respectively, in addition to a trophy.

A total of up to 50 Merit Prizes will also be awarded and their winners will each get a certificate as well as a cash prize of 500 patacas (Note: the final number of merit prizes will depend on the standard of competition entries). In addition, the Editorial Committee of the 2014 Macao Yearbook will select from the entries the winner of the Yearbook Cover Award, who will receive a cash prize of 5,000 patacas, and winners of the Special Feature Prize will each receive a cash prize of 1,000 patacas (the actual number of winners will depend on the number of suitable entries).

The competition is co-organised by eight photographic associations and four media associations, namely the Photographic Society of Macao, Photography Salon Society of Macao, Macao Association for the Promotion of Photographic Art, Macao Association of Photographers, Macao Multimedia Photographic Art Association, Macao Association of Photographic Art, Macao Camera Lens Art Association, Macao Digital Photography Association, Macao Media Workers Association, Macao Journalists’ Club, Macao Journalists’ Association and Macao Media Club (listed in no particular order).

Winning works and outstanding entries will be featured in a public exhibition, including entries to be used as the cover of the 2014 Macao Yearbook and its full-page illustrations.

Information pamphlets about the competition are available from the 12 co-organisers; Princess Photography Equipment; Nice Photography Equipment; Foto Digital Fantastic; Digital Hang Seng; Foto Digital “Ieng Fo”; Digital Chi Pak; the Government Information Centre; IACM libraries and activity centres; Cultural Affairs Bureau libraries; DSEJ education centres; the University of Macau; Macau University of Science and Technology; Macao Polytechnic Institute; Institute of Tourism Studies; Academy of Public Security Forces; University of Saint Joseph; City University of Macau; Kiang Wu Nursing College; Macau Institute of Management; Macao Centre of Continuing Studies; and the Macao Association of Civil Servants.

Judging will take place on 22 June 2014.