A photo of sunrise over a pedestrian bridge located near Al Aweer Vegetable and Fruit Market in Dubai by Rolando Batacan has emerged as the overall winner in the global photography competition organised by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA).

More than 5,000 entries from more than 40 countries showcased the vital role played by concrete in supporting economies, connecting communities, and building innovative structures all over the world.

The contest titled “Concrete in Life” was open to professional and amateur photographers via social media and online. It was split across three categories (Urban design, Practical concrete, Small scale concrete) with the entries demonstrating the widespread and diverse use of concrete across the globe.

Batacan won the prize in the practical concrete (Amateur) section, while Pedro Ajuriaguerra Saiz clinched it in the Urban design and use (Professional) for his snap at Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, Spain and Corin Gibbon in the urban design and use (Amateur) category for his photograph of Le Corbusier’s Capitol Complex, India.

Jason Chowdhury got the top prize in the practical concrete (Professional) category for his snap taken at Harbin (China); Emman Foronda in the small scale concrete (Professional) category for his phioto at Lobo, Philippines and Santiago Aleman in the small scale concrete (Amateur) category for his snap at La Mancha, Spain.

The overall winner who won the $10,000 top prize was chosen from the individual category winners, who each won a $2,500 category prize.

On the entries, CEO Benjamin Sporton said: "We were stunned and delighted by the breadth, beauty and creativity of entries we received. The competition has really shown just how important a role concrete plays in our everyday lives, and how many different uses we have for it."

"We are overwhelmed with the quantity and standard of the entries, and a huge thank you to everyone who took part," stated the top GCCA official.

On the winning snap, ‘Sunrise in Dubai’ Batacan said: "This photo shows one section of the pedestrian bridge located near Al Aweer Vegetable and Fruit Market in Dubai. Imitating life's cycle, these workers cross the bridge every day in the morning and back in the evening after real hard work."

"To be the winner of ‘Concrete in Life’ means a huge amount to me. The concrete bridge shown in my photo traverses the busy Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road in Dubai, used by Asian expats mostly working as porters in the fruit and vegetable market. That’s the bridge’s practically usage, but it’s symmetry against the backdrop of Dubai portrays architectural beauty. That’s the fascination of Concrete in Life,” he added.

On his winning snap, Ajuriaguerra Saiz said: “My son runs on the exterior facade of the science museum of Valencia, Spain. It is a white concrete facade designed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. In that area there is a small pond that reflects part of the facade generating the effect of an eye.”

On the Le Corbusier’s Capitol Complex snap, Gibbon said: "The visit was a real highlight of a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip that I undertook with my wife last year. Given my interest in concrete architecture, to visit Chandigarh really was a dream come true!"

The judges panel included:

•John Fairley, Photographer and Creative Director of Curious Productions (and designer of theCconcrete in Life trophies)
•Gian Luca Barone, Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects.
•Benjamin Sporton, Chief Executive of the GCCA.

As one of the most widely used man-made materials on the planet, concrete can be found all around us: in the houses we live in and the offices we work in; the roads we drive on and the pavements we walk along; in the bridges that connect us; the windfarms that provide us with energy; and the sea barriers that protect us, said the top GCCA official.

"As the authoritative voice for the cement and concrete sector across the world, the GCCA is working to highlight how concrete is a resilient, versatile, innovative and often beautiful building material that shapes the world we live in today. Whilst also working to ensure it is a sustainable, safe and durable solution for the needs of future generations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service