Global Photographic Union

MAGAZINE ISSUE 09
Autumn/Winter 2018.

WILDLIFE
by Pierluigi Rizzato

BRIEF MEMOIR OF NAIMAN NEW CROWNS,

by Eleftheria Konsolaki VIPS & TITLES
EXPLORING & TRACKING KASHMIR
HOME IN A BACKPACK
by Muna Al Zaabi
by Imrana Kapetanović
GPU ALL OVER THE
CAMEL BELL ON SILK ROAD
WORLD - EXHIBITIONS by Guo Jing
© Maung Thi Ha, “Plastic and recycle” VIP 3

© D’Eramo Umberto , “FFSS” , VIP 1

 A word from the President..
Dear friends around the world,
This was a fruitful year full of accomplishments and activities for
GPU! A year which has brought us forward in new ideas, ideas that
can be realized in current time and that will bring our association
closer to more photographers and people who love photography
around the world.
Let me refer first to the most important things that have already
been done: In the field of charity work of GPU, we printed and do-
nated to the children hospital in Beograd in Serbia, 56 photos of 46
members of GPU making this way the children who are hospitalised
there happy and making nicer the place where they are spending a
difficult time of their life; GPU with the other photographic associa-
tions took part in an international photographic forum which took
place in Oman. By the end of August along with the government of
Naiman in Inner Mongolia of China, we co-organized the 1st China
Naiman Camel Bell on Silk Road International Photo Festival which
was attended by photographers from all over the world. In this fes-
tival were invited to the presidents of FIAP, PSA and RPS. We also
collaborated with the nonprofit organization Envision Kindness for
the organization of an international competition having as subject
“Our world is kind”. We held print exhibitions of our members’ pho-
tos in Turkey - in Ankara and Adana, in China - in Naiman of Inner
z letter.
Cover image by
Eletheria Konsolaki; Aphrodite title
Mongolia as well as in the Yixian International Photographic Festival
2018 and in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Moreover, some of the important things that we have scheduled to
do: Continuing our charity work and give joy to people who need
it by donating photos of our members and thus making the place
where they live more beautiful; The organization of the first GPU
international photographic competition for young photographers,
below the age of 25 with free participation; Founding of the “World
photographic Centers” around the world - places which are going
to host exhibitions of members of the association, where speeches
are going to be given along with workshops and other photographic
activities. The existing cooperative clubs in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and
China will be incorporated in those centers along with the newly
founded centers in the United Arabic Emirates, Sri Lanka, FYROM
and Azerbaijan. Moreover, I have to refer to the high acceptability
the distinctions of our association have. The number of photogra-
phers around the world applying for the GPU titles is in constant
increase.
Our most expected biannual event is in prepa-
ration: GPU Photo Festival which will take
place in a particular area in Romania in July
of 2019. You will be informed of the details
about the festival in the future by the news-
As a closure, I’d like to wish you a happy, full
of health, 2019. year with good light and
beautiful photographic experiences.

Metzakis Manolis
GPU ZEUS, GPU CR5, EFIAP/p, ESFIAP, PSA
GPU President

Contents
GPU MAGAZINE
G l o b a l P h o t o g r a p h i c U n i o n
Autumn/ Winter 2018.

Executive editor &

Graphic design 02 Wildlife/Nature photography
by Pierluigi Rizzato
Marija Milovanović Maksimović
Home in a backpack
GPU Secretary General 06 by Imrana Kapetanović

10 Ahmed Bennani
by Saeed Al Shamsi

12 Exploring & Tracking Kashmir

by Muna Al Zaabi
“Camel bell on silk road”
Co - Editor
15 by Shangtuf team/ Guo Jing
Manolis Metzakis A brief memoir of Naiman
GPU President 18 by Eletheria Konsolaki
GPU in Baku, Azerbaijan
Back cover by 20 by Marija Milovanović Maksimović
Jovanovski Vladimir; Hermes title
22 GPU exhibitions

24 GPU Cowns

25 GPU Titles

28 GPU VIPs
www.gpuphoto.com

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 1


The Wild, Fierce and
Beautiful
Wildlife/Nature photography
Text and photographs by Pierluigi Rizzato
I’m involved in nature photography for over thirty-five years
ago. And really, I’m very fond of nature more than of photog-
raphy. I like to be in the field, I like to get excited in observing
animal behavior, in discovering new (at least for me new...)
events in the animal world. In Italy, I studied (and photo-
graphed ...) birds and mammals, but I traveled a lot all over
the world. Several trips organized to Alaska and Kamchatka,
with the grizzly bear as the first goal.
It is fantastic to face a grizzly, to have a giant in front of you,
alone. You have to know the grizzly behavior, you mustn’t
make any mistake in your action: it can be very dangerous for
your life. But the adrenaline is at the highest level ! Totally I
spent more than 70 days together with grizzlies, often alone,
and it has been very very thrilling. Of course, a lot of nice
shots have been taken, but the most important thing, for me,
is to live with animals. More than thirty years ago I went to
2 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.
“Male leopard ” © Pierluigi Rizzato
Kenya, and from that time, dozens and dozens of safari (the
meaning of the word “safari” from Kiswahili language is “trav-
el”) have been organized by me. All the times I’m the guide
and the driver of my rented car. I drove in many African coun-
tries, yet my preferred area is the Serengeti National Park and
surrounding areas, in the north of Tanzania. I like to be in the
less crowded plains, looking for predators. The plains which
stretch beyond sight and fade into fiery sunsets, the unlim-
ited expanses of grass which conceal the silent footsteps of
felines, offer extraordinary opportunities for an exciting and
suggestive vision.
And I like to follow all day and even more days the same indi-
vidual or the same pride or family. It is incredible how many
things you can see and learn to stay for a long time with the
same animal(s).
 “Hunting dogs” © Pierluigi Rizzato
And exactly this is the secret to get the best shots in nature
photography: the knowledge of the subject that you are tak-
ing the picture! This is absolutely necessary: you have to know
in advance what will happen in a while, what and how the an-
imal will move or will hunt. It is not easy to sit still for hours,
watching an animal and waiting for the event to occur, under
a scorching sun. But the emotions that surge when you cap-
ture the moment, which will never again happen the same
way, in the eternal recurrence of life, are a just reward for the
long and nerve-wracking watch, the effort of carrying heavy
photographic equipment, the hardship of sometimes uncom-
fortable positions. In this dimension, the usual marking of time
disappears: haste no longer exists and basing oneself on the
apparently slow, but in reality inexorable rhythm of the rising
and setting sun, one may forget the clock, and begin to move
in harmony with the motion that regulates every life form,
“Superb starling” © Pierluigi Rizzato
“Zebras in the morning” © Pierluigi Rizzato
plants, animals and men.
It is enough to leave the confusion of voices and noises in the
city, to reach the countryside or the green edges of urban spac-
es, to discover and observe an undaunted nature. Our eyes are
no longer trained, but with patience and perseverance, we will
be able to catch surprising and unexpected animal presences.
The important thing is not to be in a hurry, and not to give up
if at first, you don’t succeed.
It often happened that entire days of careful observation went
unrewarded, that I missed the encounter I had hoped for or
failed to shoot significant pictures. However, the desire to be
present at the event, the extreme expectation, have always ir-
resistibly stimulated my return to those places. Also, in fact, the
discovery of new events and new patterns of behavior con-
GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 3
 “Four jackals” © Pierluigi Rizzato
firmed to my satisfaction that the vital cycle of nature goes
on, and that obviously, it was I who had failed as a spectator,
who had got the place or the time wrong.
George Schaller, one of the most renowned ethologists, well
describes the sensations provoked by the beauty of this par-
adise: “Beaming with hope and full of dreams, the Serengeti
is where we find what we are searching for. At least once in
a lifetime, everyone should make a pilgrimage into uncon-
taminated nature, to pause before its marvels and discover
the wonder of a past which has almost disappeared. If I had
to choose a place on Earth with these characteristics, I would
choose Serengeti. This is the place where the proud ghosts
of the human past reside, here the animals are searching
for their destiny, living monuments of a time when we wan-
dered over the prehistoric earth. To witness that contained
pace of life restores vigor to our exhausted souls and lets us
“ Lioness hunt” © Pierluigi Rizzato
4 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.
conquer the feeling that we belong to the world of nature.
No one returns unchanged from Serengeti.”
To follow predators in their search for food, to foresee which
gazelle will fall prey to the cheetah, to observe for hours the
silent waiting of the lioness lying in ambush in the grass, to
watch the birth of a gnu and its first significant minutes of
life, are moments which provide unique and unforgettable
emotions. This is why, when I am asked why I keep return-
ing to Africa, to the Serengeti, the words of Hemingway, in
“Green Hills of Africa”, inevitably surface in my memory: “I re-
ally loved that country, I felt right at home, and when some-
one feels at home far away from the place he was born, it
means that those places were made for him (…) I would have
gone back to Africa (…) where I liked to live, really live, not
just spend time.”
“Jackal and vulture” © Pierluigi Rizzato
“ Love fighting” © Pierluigi Rizzato

Pierluigi Rizzato
has been a photographer for over thirty five years, de-
dicating great passion and commitment to his work
in nature photography. His images rely on a profound
understanding of the characteristics of his subjects,
which he has acquired through study and research,
and patient observation on the field. He is one of the
members of the Italian team that won 13 FIAP World
Cup, gaining the first individual prize in 2003 and in
2016. His photographs have earned him more than
600 awards abroad, winning photographic contests in
57 countries in the world.

Pierluigi is organizing photographic trip/workshop

in Africa, mainly in the Serengeti, with small group of
photographers (usually four), and he is the guide and
the driver. Contact : pierluigi.rizzato@gmail.com

“Havy rain” © Pierluigi Rizzato Pierluigi’s “lightweight”

machinery

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 5

 HOME IN A BACKPACK
On a tedious path to a better, safer future...
Reportage : Migrant crisis;
Balkan route in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Text and all photographs by Imrana Kapetanović

By official data, Bosnian and Herzegov-

inian border crossed around 10 000 mi-
grants with children. Some of them are
refugees from war areas, but a lot of them
are running from poverty, searching for
some better future somewhere in the West.
Velika Kladuša, as the final point at the north-
west of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last
months is the last station on Balkan route and
entering point to the European Union. For the
last past months migrants heading towards the
EU are placed in the city Velika Kladuša, trying
every day to pass the border and continue their
journeys.

A man on an improvised bed

6 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

 The shelter Improvised showers
Living conditions

Conditions in which these men, woman and children live

are just undescribable. Although a small group of national
and international volounteers are trying to ease their life at
the moment, the government is not doing almost anything
and they are living on the edge. «I can not remember when
I slept in a normal bed, I forgot that feeling», said one man
to me, who is traveling for more than two years now, trying
all the time to go through but without success. «Last time
when I tried to go to the EU I came to Slovenia, all by foot.
And I thought this i sit, I am finally free – and they caught me
and returned to Velika Kladuša.»

Clothes and showers are with cold water, but they are hap-
py that this is possible at all. Everybody takes care of their
own clothes. One man from Afganistan, Mustafa, said that The laundry area
he comes from very poor family. Clothes he got here is
much better than he used to wear at home, and intends to
keep it through all of his journey.
Shelter
«Everything is improvised. At the moment I am trying to
«save» jeans form one migrant.» said Petra, volounteer from
Austria. «Iti s hard for everybody here, but families are suf-
fering the most. Men who travel alone or in groups do not
have to worry about small kids. Families do.»

Families live in a meadow, under tents. Hoda, mother of

nine month Sylvia sad that the worst part is a toilet. And
that is something they need to do every day.» They are not
wearing a lot of things with them, the most important is to
have everything for the baby.

A lot of them sleeps «under the stars», mainly people who

come to Velika Kladuša for the first time. Volounteers are
Volunteer repairing the jeans
building tents for them but this summer the climate changed
at the Balkans, every day is raining a lot and improvised
camp is constantly full of mud and dirt and improvised tents
are collapsing. They are trying every day to continue their
journey further on to Western Europe. Ali, a man from Afgan-
istan, tried more than 60 times to get through. He misses his
family very much and his goal is to go to Paris, work as a wall
painter, earn some money and go back. «I miss my family
very much. I am married and I have four children. All I want
is to provide better life for them back home in Afganistan. I
grew up in a very poor family, I didn’t even finish elementary
school because I had to work. I do not want that for my chil-
dren. I am traveling for more than two years now, I’ve been
beaten, humiliated, I was even locked up in jail for a week…
But I am not a criminal, I am just trying to have better life.»

Family living in a tent in the middle of the meadow

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 7

Food distribution by volunteers

SOS Kitchen

Food is distributed every day to the camp, but ma-

jority of the food is prepared in SOS kitchen, run
by three war veterans who opened the kitchen
for people at the border and they are doing ev-
erything for free, preparing a food from donations
they got from the locals. Story about SOS Kitchen
is the most positive story in Bosnia and Herze-
govina at the moment. It is story about humanity,
story about solidarity, story about being a human,
story about friendship. Everything started in Feb-
ruary 2018, when Asim, one of three men who are
running the kitchen, decided to close the restau- SOS kitchen
rant he had because of lack of money and interest
for such a place. And than, one day, he saw a man
standing in front of the ex restaurant. They com-
municated with mimic. Asim asked him weather
he is hungry. The guy said yes, and he got into
the kitchen to prepare some scrumbeled eggs for
him, from theleftovers in the ex restaurant. And
than, the next day, there were more of them… so
Asim decided to reopen the kitchen, despite the
thing that he just closed his business and that the
kitchen will work illegally. Refik and Halil joined
him. Although Halil is an amputee, he is serving
meals every day to refugees.

Asim, Rafik and Halil at the restaurant

Migrants playing games at the field Dinner time

8 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

Shelter in the city of Sjenica

Refugees spend their days mostly hangning

around, and they are always in contact with their
families and friends. Iti s very important to them
that their phone battery is always fully charged
and to have Internet access. Small caffee close to
SOS kitchen is providing free wi-fi, so if they are
not in camp, they are in front of the caffee. And
they all want to go to the European Union. Just
few of them expressed interest to stay here. «Iti s
never boring with these people. I will say to you
once again: people are very nice here. You have
beautiful country, culture, mountains, nature, riv-
ers… believe me, I know, I went through it by foot.
Keep it that way, I am continuing my journey.»

Imrana Kapetanović
GPU Representative for
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Imrana is professional photographer from Sara-

jevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is the owner of
photo studio TNT and she is running her own pho-
tography school, delivering workshops for young
journalists and media professionals. In last 10
years she participated and initiated many projects
covering various subjects on discrimination in BH
society, as in many regional art projects, seminars
and photography colonies and camps. She is also
engaged in humanitarian work, including position
of volunteer photography teacher in Sarajevo’s Or-
phanage.She held 11 solo exhibition, participated
in more than 160 group exhibitions and received
several prestigious awards. Currently she is com-
pleting two separate MA programmes tackling the
question of photography as a way of communica-
tion through election posters and woman in work
environment.

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 9

 © Ahmed Bennani

Awakening the concscience through art

Artist: Ahmed Bennani
On a first glance, one would simply be struck by the sheer beau-
ty of Ahmed Bennani’s work. It is indeed beautiful: the organ-
ic shapes, the daring colours, the light, the transparency, the
contrasts between the black background and the picture in the
foreground. The technique and aesthetics are impeccable. Is it by Saeed Al Shamsi
photography or painting? It is both. Photography and painting:
Two layers, superimposed to form unique pieces. The shapes
are embroidered cloth, aren’t they? They are indeed cloth.
Embroidered silk and lace. Connoisseurs of Moroccan culture
could happily spot the rich embroideries and place them on a
map according to their region of origin.

They are the kind of works any art lover would love to see on
the walls of their favourite room and talk about for hours with
friends.  

But if you keep looking, there’s a second layer underneath the

apparently randomly hanging cloth. Noticed the bodies? You
see the women wrapped within the richly embroidered cloths?

Now, all types of art references come to mind. From classical

painting to Helmut Newton’s famous nudes. The beautiful na-
ked bodies in black and white. Anonymous women, standing,
laying full length or showing only body parts. Are these lasciv-
ious postures? Are they wrapped up like some precious pres-
ents? They seem like frozen, in expectation. Are these erotic
pictures? For the not so well informed about Bennani’s work,
this could seem like a series of works about a sophisticated se-
duction game.

A well-informed eye, on the other hand, would see further than

just the alluring aesthetics and the voluptuous shapes. They
would see the awkward postures of the bodies, the discomfort,
the uneasiness when the body seems to be living. In a different
scene, the body is lifeless, wrapped in a mortuary drape, show-
ing only the top of the body.

© Ahmed Bennani

10 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

© Ahmed Bennani

The cloth is no longer a luxurious wrapping, but a trap.

Bennani is not a man of many words, but his palette is
full of tools and imagination. He uses symbols of Moroc-
can culture to talk about Moroccan women. He reinter-
prets the “litham” (a small veil that covers the mouth and
sometimes the nose, tied behind the head, worn to com-
plete the traditional Jellaba outfit). In Bennani’s hands
the litham is larger than life: over 4 meters long instead
30 centimetres, long enough to cover the whole body.

When asked if he’s an activist, Bennani replies: “I’m no ac-

tivist, it’s too a strong word for me”.  Let’s call him an artist
with a social conscience. Bennani exercises no judge-
ment. He uses photography and painting just like a writ-
er would use words to express his views and concerns
© Ahmed Bennani
about women in his country.

His message is universal, however. Simone de Beauvoir

said at the very beginning of her essay “The Second Sex”:
“one isn’t born a woman, one becomes one”, meaning
that society prescribes a role and a place for women.
Bennani’s women endure the same process. They are
born human beings and morphed into social roles with
or without their consent, with more duties than rights.

© Ahmed Bennani © Ahmed Bennani

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 11

 EXPLORING & TRACKING
Text and all photographs by Muna Al Zaabi
“Kashmir is like a heaven on earth” common line we hear all
the time, but is it really? I decided to explore that heaven and
signed up for a group trip to Kashmir in June 2018.
It is indeed one of the most beautiful places I have visited.
Its welcoming and warm nature, diverse culture, beautiful
people and unique architecture speak of authenticity, great-
ness and humanity. Srinagar, the city of the houseboats and
shikaras (small wooden boats for transport from the house-
boats to the city). Why houseboats when the land is so huge?
Srinagar
12 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.
KASHMIR
Kashmir has a special status with the India union, where peo-
ple from outside the state are not allowed to buy lands, there-
fore, they came up with the houseboats, and those became
a part of the Kashmiri lifestyle. Srinagar is one of the most
romantic and peaceful cities in Kashmir, where I was able to
experience the rich heritage, beautiful cool climate, diverse
religion, authentic sofis music and their special hot drink
called “Kehwa” which is a traditional green tea with spices and
almond.
Srinagar
 At Gangapal mountain
Early morning at dawn, using a shikara I was taken to the
floating market, another experience I cherished, where big
shikaras carry merchants of jewellery, vegetables, seeds and
flowers start their day at dawn to earn a living, using their
charming smiles and friendly personalities.
Another thing I noticed in Kashmir is its diverse religions
such as Muslim with the majority population, Hinduism and
Buddhism. They all have a common cultural heritage in lit-
erature, arts, crafts, pilgrimages and music. I visited two of
their old mosques, beautiful architecture, the color green is
everywhere, which reflects heaven.
Hiking in Kashmir is another lifetime experience. Ganga-
pal is a mountain range in the Himalayas with 3,600 height
and three days hike. Apart from its stunning natural scen-
Srinagar
ery with clouds touching the mountains, foggy trees, snow
patches, reaching the lake after two days trekking was a
great reward.
I was able to live a lifetime experience in just three days,
where I met different types of people and learned so much
about their different ways of living. The Gaddis a tribe of
people who played the flute, I was fortunate to meet one of
them and listen to their enjoyable romantic Kashmiri music.
The most interesting people I had met during this hike were
the Bakarwal tribes. Every year, these herder families travel
between the Jammu’s Himalayan mountains and the mead-
ows of Kashmir with their flocks of cattle, horses, goats and
sheep. Regardless of the weather, rocky, dangerous roads
and harsh environment.
The Gaddis
GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 13
 The bad weather did not spare us either, and we had faced
one of the strongest storms while camping on the moun-
tain where the tents flew, and we had to use animal huts for
shelter, in addition to the freezing winds and rain which we
did not prepare for. Surviving such storm had changed our
perspective on life and taught us to prioritise our lives better.

Muna Al Zaabi
E-FIAP, GPUCR3, VIP1

GPU representative for UAE, also active as a

board member of Emirates Photographers
Society.
Holder of Msc in Technology and innova-
tion management and working at Dubai
Electricity and Water Authority as Innova-
tion manager.
She won over 70 awards on local and international exhibitions,
as well participated as photography competition judge (local
and international).
Specialized in Travel and Street Photography.
She had 2 solo Exhibitions, in UK and UAE and was a part of sev-
eral group exhibitions: in UAE, Morocco, Turkey, Oman, Saudi
Arabia and China.

14 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

 “CAMEL BELL ON SILK ROAD”
1ST CHINA NAIMAN INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL
“Camel Bell on Silk Road” 1st China Naiman International Pho-
to Festival was successfully concluded on Sep 4th. Themed on
“Camel Bell on Silk Road”, the festival aims to actively respond
to and promote the Belt and Road Initiative to showcase
unique culture, customs and traditions along Silk Road coun-
tries, to strengthen understandings and friendship among
nations, and to achieve mutual benefits and win-win situa-
tion. The festival has drawn the attention of renown photog-
raphers at home and abroad, receiving about 20,000 images
of 1384 photographers from 52 countries. It is an unprece-
dented gathering for photographers at international level
where they witness the charm of Silk Road culture through
photography.
This edition of festival is jointly organized by Global Photo-
graphic Union(GPU), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Photographers Association, Naiman Banner Committee of
the Communist Party of China, Naiman Municipal Govern-
ment, Shangtuf Image and Art Development Co. Ltd., etc,
Exhibition of photos of GPU members
by Shangtuf team/
Guo Jing
and is supported by three other major photography insti-
tutes, FIAP, PSA, RPS, as well as other photo groups across the
globe. On behalf of GPU, Saeed Al Shamsi delivered a speech
at the opening ceremony on Aug 31. Guo Jing, the GPU board
member, was invited as chief curator of the festival to plan ex-
hibitions along with other prominent international curators.
Besides, a selection of 50 GPU member images, and several
solo exhibitions by GPU members Saeed Al Shamsi, Daniel De
Cort, Christine Lindebrings, Ola Allouz and others, were dis-
played and well received at the festival.
Following the trend of the era and tightly focusing on the
demands of the cross-cultural exchange of photographic art,
this event invites many international photographic organi-
sations to join it. Through a series of activities such as inter-
national photographic conferences, photographic lectures,
exhibitions, photo tours, the organizer hopes to achieve de-
velopment, integration and innovation of photographic art
across borders.
Outdoor venue
GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 15
 Saeed Al Shamsi, GPU GB member giving the speech about GPU

Grand opening

Grand Opening

On Aug.31, “Camel Bell on Silk Road” First China Naiman In-

ternational Photography Festival commenced with a grand
opening at Suede scenic Spot, attracting more than 80,000
audiences.

Several performances such as the Nadam Fair, a parade of the

special folk-custom, folk songs and dances, and the horse-
head fiddle performance, fully displayed the unique culture of
Mongolian ethnic group in China, providing for photographers
Lectures
who gathered here to create wonderful photographic works.

2018 “Ecological Desert” The 3rd Naiman Banner National Pho-

tography Exhibition was inaugurated, and awards were pre-
sented to photographers at the opening ceremony. A jury of
12 known photographers selected exhibitions with outstand-
ing performance, awards such as Top 10 Overall Outstanding
Photographers, Outstanding Documentary, Nature and Envi-
ronment, Creative Art, and Landscape Photographers were giv-
en at the opening ceremony. Besides, the festival also awarded
nine photographers who have made great contribution to pro-
mote Naiman, Mr. Saeed Al Shamsi, president of Photographers
Society of Emirates and GPU board member, was given a special
award for his efforts to Naiman.

Exhibitions
Forum
The festival exhibited a large number of brilliant photographic
works from more than 30 countries, China, United States, United
Kingdom, Austrailia, Italy, Greece, India, UAE, Japan and more.
The Exhibition is divided into 5 sections with 12 parts, among
which Special Theme Exhibitions includes The Lucie Awards
Masters Exhibition, Chinese Masters Photography Exhibition,
International Photographic Organizations Exhibitions, The Silk
Road Countries Photography Exhibition, “Environmental Con-
servation”, “Peace”, and “Development” Photography Exhibition,
Group Photography Exhibition from Four Ancient Civilizations,
40th Years of China’s Reform and Opening-up Policy Under
Lens of Overseas Photographers Exhibition, Shangtuf Members
Award-winning Photo Exbhition, as well as other exhibitions
featuring on Naiman and Mongolia.

Tv interview with Guo Jing, GPU GB member and Chef curator of

the exhibitions

16 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

3. Lectures by renowned photographers

During the festival, renowned persons from photo industry in

China and abroad gave lectures, including Housein Farmani, Pres-
ident of Lucie Foundation, Keith Gillett, PSA Exhibition Standard
Director for Asia, Jeff Moorfoot, former president of Ballarat Pho-
to Festival, famous photographer Robert van der Hilst, Meisheng
Zhou, world heritage image expert.

Besides, photo groups and individuals from more than 30 coun-

tries were united and participated at “Environmental Conser-
vation, Peace, and Development” forum hosted by Zang Ce, a
well-known Chinese literature and photography theorist. André
Rouillé, the historian of photography and professor at Université
Paris 8, France, also attend the forum. Together, they initialled an
initiative responding to current issue on Environmental Conser- Tradional hand works
vation, Peace, and Development.

4.Photo Tour and Charitable events

The festival also organised 4-day tour around Naiman, group

wedding of 56 ethnic groups in China, Miss Desert pageant, Na-
daamu festival, and other local custom and traditions were held
where photographers were thrilled to photograph to document
the beauty of the land. At the meantime, China Photo Press also
organized a ceremony to appoint Tunmiao as its base for photog-
raphy to help the village.

Apart from that, Photographers Night was held on Sep 2nd where
photographers attending the festival gathered to sing and dance
to share the beautiful moment in Naiman.

Ethnic costumes

Tradional sports

Ethnic dance

Group desert wedding Tradional costumes at photo tours

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 17

© Eletheria Konsolaki by Eleftheria Konsolaki

A BRIEF MEMOIR OF NAIMAN

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you
didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from
the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain

Undoubtedly, the area of Naiman is a place where a traveler
and photographer can fulfill a lot of wishes: wishes for amaz-
ing landscapes, deep culture, ancient and unique architectural
structures, traditional and modern contrasts, kind people, spe-
cial tastes.
For a young European citizen, like me, when there is some
free time from the overloaded everyday life, travel in Europe or
North Africa is the best solution. But to travel to a geograph-
ically far away destination like Naiman is not an easy choice.
But this is one of the reasons I love GPU. Because one day,
out of the blue, an invitation for a photographic festival for this
-far away from me - land arrived. So everything was organized
quickly, and one month later I was travelling to Naiman Banner,
in northern China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Definitely, I was thrilled that I would travel to such a unique
destination, but I was even more excited that I would have the
chance to meet there some friends from our GPU big family
and attend a huge festival of photographic art. After more than
30 hours of travelling, and after I used a car, a taxi, several bus-
es and four airplanes, I was there! Guo Jing (GPU Gov. Board
member and Naiman festival curator) and her team welcomed
us warmly. Our GPU fellowship grew bigger with Mr Saeed Al
Shamsi (GPU Gov Board member), Ola Allouz, Yousif Alhosani,
Daniel De Cort, Kristien Lindebrings and Subrata Bysack, all of
them also GPU members.
From August 29th to September 4th all of us, among many
more festival participants from China and all over the world,
had the opportunity to attend multiple activities. Not only we
had the chance meet important people of photography world

© Christien De Cort-Lindebrings © Eleftheria Konsolaki

18 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

© Subrata Bysak © Subrata Bysak

and learn about their work (like Hussain Farmani, founder of

the Lucie awards) but also to view several high level exhibi-
tions (among them was also a big GPU members exhibition
as one of the main sponsors of the festival and also GPU solo
exhibitions for the GPU members invited at the festival). We
attended grand ceremonies in which several photographers
were honored. And at last but not least we had the chance to
fulfill one of our deepest wishes: to take memories of Naiman
with us forever. So we visited the open air local markets, the
desert, the traditional Mongolian yurts, the Naiman beauti-
ful countryside with its imposing Buddhist temples and the
agrarian utopia outside the huge Chinese cities.

We had the opportunity to explore the uniqueness of this

non-touristic and very special area of the world, and this is
mostly owed to GPU that with is international activities and © Daniel De Cort
connections gives the chances to its members not only to
promote their photographic work but also to ‘’allow and en-
courage cultural exchange’’.

© Christien De Cort-Lindebrings
© Eleftheria Konsolaki

Eleftheria Konsolaki
Aphrodite, GPU CR2

is a high school literature teach-

er. Works in GPU as technical &
logistics support, covering vari-
ous issues and tasks. In photog-
raphy for several years, with pas-
sion and enthusiasm.

© Daniel De Cort

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 19

 GPU IN BAKU, AZERBAIJAN,
19TH-20TH OCTOBER 2018.

by Marija Milovanović Maksimović

GPU Secretary General

GPU organized and displayed the 50 members’ printed

photos at the exhibition at “Gallery 1969” in the city center
of Baku, Azerbaijan, with the courtesy of Rauf Umudov and
AFB- Azerbaijan Photographers Association (Azərbaycan
Fotoqrafları Birliyi) who welcomed us with the great hos-
pitality. The works displayed at the exhibition were from
50 GPU members, all from different countries and with the
works internationally recognized.

The AFB president Mirnaib Hasanoglu opened the exhibi-

tion, and GPU president Manolis Metzakis gave a speech
about GPU and its members and introduced Mr. Rauf
Umudov, the vice president of AFB, as the new GPU repre- Baku, Flame tower © Marija Milovanović Maksimović
sentative for Azerbaijan. We want to thank also Mr. Nurlan
Tahirli, who was in the organization and he ensured that
everything is going smoothly as our guide and translator.

The same day, GPU governing board members and Mr.

Rauf Umudov were hosted in the TV show on the national
frequency, talking about culture, photography and GPU’s
place on the worldwide stage.

On the 20th October, our host organized the meeting

of local photographers and GPU in Ataturk Merkezi cen-
ter, where governing board members (Manolis Metzakis,
Claudio Calosi, John Law, Marija Milovanović Maksimović,
Saeed al Shamsi, Freddy Laheye and Guo Jing) of GPU held
the presentation about our association and also the intro-
duction of AFB was shown by the president of Azerbaijani
photoassociation, Mirnaib Hasanoglu. A lot of local pho-
GPU governing board members and Rauf Umudov at the
Opening of the exhibition © Nurlan Tahirli

Opening of the exhibition © Nurlan Tahirli President Manolis Metzakis presents the plaque to Rauf Umudov
© Nurlan Tahirli

20 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

 GPU and friends © Nurlan Tahirli
GPU presentation at the meeting with photographers
© Guo Jing
Meeting © Guo Jing
9. GPU hosted at the tv show © Guo Jing
At one of the exhibitions of a very lively photographic scene in
Baku © Nurlan Tahirli
tographers attended the meeting, as well as the older
generation of acclaimed Azerbaijani photographers,
which are present on the international and domestic
stage for several decades. Governing board members
answered on many questions asked about GPU activity
and work, and it was discussed as well about the con-
temporary photography trends in the world. We were
also introduced with Azerbaijani contemporary pho-
tographers and their works at three exhibitions (one
solo and two groups), that took place in the center of
Baku on those two days.
GPU also held the governing board meeting, where
new ideas and plans were introduced, new strategies
developed, issued discussed, all in favor of future GPU
growth and improvement.
With this new activities and meetings, GPU has broad-
ened its community and worldwide coverage, welcom-
ing new countries and more members, allowing more
diversity and continuing with new cultural exchanges
where all of us are connected not just with common
interest photography, but also with the vast treasure
– friendship.
GPU governing board meeting
GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 21
 GPU PRINT EXHIBITIONS
& PRESENTATIONS
Prepared by
Marija Milovanović Maksimović
GPU Secetary General

BESIDE TWO BIG EVENTS IN NAIMAN, CHINA AND BAKU , AZERBAIJAN

ABOUT WHICH YOU CAN READ IN SEPARATE ARTICLES, GPU HAS ORGA-
NIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL MORE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
AROUND THE GLOBE:

TURKEY, ANKARA & ADANA

40 PRINTS EXHIBITIONS MAY 2018. & OCTOBER 2018.

The GPU selected members photos were exhibit-

ed in large prints in Ankara in TFSF gallery, where
president Manolis Metzakis and vice-president
John Law attended the exhibition and the second
exhibition was in “Sefa Ulukan art gallery” in the
city of Adana, where John Law gave a presentation
about GPU.
This exhibition was chosen as one of the “ Mobile
Exhibitions of TFSF(Photographic Arts Federation
Of Turkey), and it will travel to other association
galleries all around Turkey.
GPU representative for Turkey Sefa Ulukan orga-
nized and carried out both showings.

CHINA, LUYONG, THE 26TH FEDERATION OF ASIAN

PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MEETING
PRINT EXHIBITION SEPTEMBER 2018.
GPU was invited to attend the 26th Federation of Asian Photographic
Art Meeting on Sep.15 -24, 2018 in Luoyang, Henan. On behalf of GPU,
Ms. Guo Jing, GPU board member and GPU China Representative was
present at the Meeting and the GPU Members Exhibition was show-
cased at the main exhibition venue during the event.
Ms. Guo Jing also introduced GPU in details during the event, expressed
the wish to carry out more interaction with FAPA in the future, to achieve
the beautiful vision for the development of international photography
and the encouragement of cultural exchanges among photographers.
The exhibition from GPU members was presented exquisitely at the
Meeting. The high quality images were well received among its viewers.
Besides, numerous solo and group exhibitions, including Flower and
the World” International Photography Exhibition, FAPA Silk Road Image
International Federation Membership Organizations Photographic Ex-
hibitions, Silk Road Image-Award-winning Image Exhibition, provide a
world-class visual feast for the viewers. Apart from exhibitions, several
photography art appreciation session, lecture and photo tour in Luoy-
ang were arranged. Throughout the events, photographers are able to
talk and learn from each other, and most importantly, document and
promote the beauty of Luoyang to other part of the world.

22 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

 MOROCCO, RABAT
RABAT LUMIERE 1ST FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE L’ART PHOTOGRAPHIQUE, JULY 2018

Jointly organized by GPU, The Belt and Road Initiative into North
Africa & Photography Art Exchanges to celebrate 60th anni-
versary of China-Morocco diplomatic relations. Guo Jing, GPU
board member and GPU Representative in China and Mustapha
Meskine GPU Representative in Morocco planned the event.
John Law, GPU vice-president held the presentation of AV show
of over 100 GPU members images from 2018 photobook as
audio visual show from GPU Foto-festival 2017 held in Greece.

GERMANY, UNTEREISENHEIM
PRESENTATION, SEPTEMBER 2018.
At the big cultural event by name “Kulturherbst Untereisenheim”,
“Bild Genuss” (Picture enjoyment) was held as a Meet and Great for and
from photographers and all other photo lovers, during two weekends
(22./23.09 and 29./30.09.2018), and the event gathered over 1800 visi-
tors. Our most active GPU member from Germany, Jerry-Louis Ruff held
the presentation about GPU, its presence on international photo scene,
licensing, titles and membership benefits.

CHINA, YIXIAN INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL 2018

GPU MEMBERS EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT, NOVEMBER 2018.

GPU as one of the internationally renowned photographic institutions,

has always actively supported and participated in international photo-
graphic art exchange events. At China Yixian International Photo Fes-
tival, GPU featured 50 members artworks displayed in main exhibition
venue, which were selected among GPU members all over the world,
to bring a unique visual experience for Chinese audiences. Beside the
group exhibition, there were 4 solo exhibitions with the photos from
these members: Nurlan Tahirli from Azerbaijan, Xu Xiaoven and Wang
Yunshin from China and Mustapha Meskine from Morroco. Every splen-
did work was well received, and local TV stations has specially filmed and
reported in the GPU members exhibition area. In addition, in the part of
“ Silk Road Country Photography Joint Exhibition” at this festival, GPU
as one member of Silk Road Photography Alliance was involved as well,
some outstanding members works were presented in the joint exhibi-
tion, showed 10 countries different customs along the belt and road.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, SARAJEVO

PRESENTATION, NOVEMBER 2018.
GPU representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Imrana Kapetanović, held the
first GPU introduction session to young enthusiasts who just started with their
exhibition participations and collecting valuable points and distinctions. She
presented the av show of the images from the latest GPU donation exhibition
as well as the explanation of the mission and vision of the organization, guid-
ing through the exhibitions and distinctions.

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 23

 GPU CROWNS
CROWN 1
Austin Joan ............................ UK
Azzopardi Manweli ................ Malta
Bandara Pandula ................... Sri Lanka
Banerjee Abhijeet Kumar ...... India
Barbier Gerard......................... France
Bolgov Ruslan ........................ Lithuania
Davies Tony .............................. UK
D’Eramo Umberto ................. Italy
Ekstrom Jan ........................... Finland
Falcone Francesco ................ Italy
Gudem Roy ............................... Norway
Guerreiro Amparo .................. Greece
Harris Graham ....................... Australia
Kilic Mustafa .......................... Turkey
Ivanova Teodora .................... Greece
Pal Udayan Sankar ................ India
Rondel Brigitte ...................... France
Secmen Ozgur ......................... Turkey
Sen Ashim .................................. India
Shaaban Ahmed Abdel Hamid . Egypt
Trek Shehan Anthony ........... Sri Lanka
Win Wunna ............................. Myanmar
CROWN 3
Alkhamis Abbas ...................... Saudi Arabia
Bandara Pandula .................. Sri Lanka
Choi Lewis Ka-Yin ................. Hong Kong
Das Sharmali .......................... India
Geus Serge .............................. France
Lim Guek Cheng .................... Malaysia
Maung Thi Ha ....................... Myanmar
Teuschel Peter ...................... Germany
Wanna Tigh .......................... Myanmar
YeŞiltaŞ Bekir ........................ Turkey
24 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.
byCrowns & VIP Officer
Claudio Calosi
CROWN 2
Abu Shalwa Mofeed ............................ Saudi Arabia
Alabdrabareda Ali ................................. Saudi Arabia
Bandara Pandula ................................... Sri Lanka
Bhattacharyya Saurabh ...................... India
Causse Eric ................................................. France
Choi Lewis Ka-Yin .................................. Hong Kong
Filiaggi Nadia ........................................... Australia
Halvas-Nielsen Herdis ........................ Germany
Joyraj Samanta ........................................ India
Kazepidis Vasilis ...................................... Greece
Konsolaki Eleftheria ........................... Greece
Maung Thi Ha .......................................... Myanmar
Pal Udayan Sankar .............................. India
Perera Dinesh Rukmal Ayantha .. Sri Lanka
Rusu Adela Lia ......................................... Romania
Taher Sawsan ............................................ Bahrain
Teuschel Peter .......................................... Germany
Tomassi Antonella ................................... Italy
Tommi Massimo .......................................... Italy
Vaidya Prashant ....................................... India
Vrentzou Pelagia ..................................... Greece
Win Wunna ................................................. Myanmar
Rondel Brigitte ......................................... France
Secmen Ozgur ............................................ Turkey
Sen Ashim ...................................................... India
Shaaban Ahmed Abdel Hamid ........... Egypt
Trek Shehan Anthony ............................ Sri Lanka
Win Wunna .................................................. Myanmar
CROWN 5
Teo Giap Chiu .............................................. Singapore
© Marketaki Xrysa “Nikos ”
2018. GPU TITLES by Titles
Officer
Saeed Al Shamsi

APHRODITE

Almuhanna Yousef .................... Kuwait

Banerjee Abhijeet Kumar ....... India
Bhattacharyya Saurabh ........... India
Choi Lewis Ka Yin ...................... Hong kong
Choudhury Ratnajit ................. India
Datta Shourjendra ................... India
Dubois Steeve .............................. Mauritius
Hassan Ahmed Mohamed ...... Qatar
Htet Hein ....................................... Singapore © Htet Hein “Marina regatta”
Konsolaki Eleftheria ............... Greece
Law Evren ................................... Turkey
Marketaki Xrysa ....................... Greece
Morata Alain .............................. France
Pandula Bandara ..................... Sri Lanka
Suer Mehmet Masum ............... Turkey

© Datta Shourjendra “Life”

© Hassan Ahmed Mohammad “Life”

© Dubois Steeve “Desert”

© Bhattacharyya Saurabh “Summit“

© Suer Mehmet Masum “Attack ”

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 25

 © Law Evren “Hamam”

© Choi Lewis Ka Yin “Dusk”

© Almuhanna Yousef “Walking alone ”

© Choudhury Ratnajit “Expressions”

© Banerjee Abijeet Kumar “Lajla”

© Morata Alain “Deb 2” © Pandula Bandara “The origin of pure Ceylon godness”

26 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

 HERMES

Di Candia Lorenzo ...... Italy

Jovanovski Vladimir ... FyroM
Khatri Sharifa .............. India
Ruff Jerry-Louis ....... Germany
Sanjoy Sengupta .......... India

© Di Candia Lorenzo “Belvedere ”

ZEUS

Baladakis George ........ Greece

© Khatri Sharifa “Monrocks”

© Baladakis George

© Sengupta Sanjoy “Sea of rocks”

© Ruff Jerry-Louis

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 27

 GPU VIPS byCrowns & VIP Officer
Claudio Calosi

VIP 3

Maung Thi Ha ................................ Myanmar

Nagy Lajos ..................................... Romania

© Tomassi Antonella “Oana ”

VIP 2

Alkhamis Abbas .............................. Saudi Arabia

Lim Guek Cheng ............................. Malaysia
Maung Thi Ha ................................ Myanmar
Tomassi Antonella ......................... Italy
Tommi Massimo ............................... Italy
Wanna Tigh .................................... Myanmar

VIP 1

Baladakis George ........................... Greece

Bolgov Ruslan ................................. Lithuania
D’Eramo Umberto ............................ Italy
Maung Thi Ha .................................. Myanmar

© Baladakis George “Portrait 2 ”

© Bolgov Ruslan “Orbites of the Venus”

28 / GPU Magazine . Autumn/Winter 2018.

© Lim Guek Cheng, “Praying “
© Alkhamis Abbas - “Child Faces “

© Tommi Massimo “La lezione volge al Termine“

© Nagy Lajos “Across the river”

Wanna Thigh © “ Life is a journey”

GPU Magazine. Autumn/Winter 2018. / 29