image015A photography exhibition, which featured the winning entries at the Global IME Nepal Photo Contest, organised by the Photo Journalists’ Club, an umbrella organization of the photo journalists of Nepal was held in Nepal Art Council (NAC) in Babarmahal in the Capital, on Thursday. The exhibit was inaugurated, by Hem Raj Dhakal, executive director of the IME Group, following an award ceremony where the winners of the contest were felicitated. The exhibition featured a total of 150 photographs. Dipak Ratna Bajracharya had bagged the premiere prize—Photo of the Year—along with a cash purse of Rs 1,00,000. Meanwhile, Navesh Chitrakar won the first prize under Nepal Smile category; Naresh Shrestha under IME Daily Life; and Navesh Chitrakar under Arghakhanchi Cement News category. Likewise, Ramesh Kumar Poudel won the award under Nepal Telecom Nature and Wildlife category and Dinesh Shrestha won the first prize under Ghumphir 2073 Culture and Tourism. Surbindra Kumar Pun bagged the top prize under Model Global Visa Consultancy Sports category, while Nabin Baral topped the Photo Story category. The winning entries were selected out of a total of 6,670 submissions received from around the country and were judged by a panel of judges chaired by eminent Indian photographer Prashant Panjiyar. Speaking during the exhibit, Hem Raj Dhakal, executive director of the IME Group, said, “these contests not only promotes the talents but also help bring the countless issues lurking around the country through the art of photography.” Actress Priyanka Karki and Deepa Shree Niraula had also come to the exhibition to look at the photographs. The exhibit ended on September 6.