Hanoi-based Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan was recently selected as one of six creatives to watch in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The honor, named the 6x6 Global Talent Program, is an initiative organized by The World Press Photo Foundation, which recently announced the results on its website.
According to the post, 6x6’s ultimate goal is “to connect visual storytellers around the world, particularly those that might not be well known outside of their own region, to a global audience.”
By shining the limelight on these up-and-coming photographers, the foundation seeks to develop a more diverse visual representation of the world. The plan is to feature six talents from one of six global regions every four months for two years.
This cycle, Vietnam’s Maika Elan was part of six faces from Asia-Pacific to be featured. She joins a cohort of five other photographers: Hannah Reyes Morales from the Philippines, Huiying Ore from Singapore, Matthew Abbott from Australia, Sirachai Arunrugstichai from Thailand, and Yoppy Pieter from Indonesia.
The final six from Asia-Pacific. Photo via World Press Photo.
The six were selected from hundreds of candidates in the region listed by a roster of prestigious visual professionals from all over the world. To qualify for a nomination, prospective photographers must be endorsed by a visual creative expert and are required to submit at least two photo projects to be reviewed.
Once they get through to the final six, the winners will collaborate with World Press Photo to promote their work to a global audience.
6x6 Global Talent also includes photographers from South America, Europe, Africa, North America and Asia – apart from Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Maika Elan is the pseudonym of Hanoi photographer Nguyen Thanh Hai. She rose to fame internationally for her photo essay ‘The Pink Choice,’ which highlights the daily life of LGBT couples in Vietnam. The project went on to clinch the 1st prize in the Contemporary Issues category of the World Press Photo Contest 2013.
Some shots from Maika Elan's award-winning project 'The Pink Choice'. Photos by Maika Elan via maikaelan.com.
[Top photo via Scape]
