On November 29th, 2013, the Screening Committee convened at the Asahi Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters to select 130 prizewinning photographic works. Six total works from both overseas as well as within Japan were selected for a special prize; they and all the Japanese prize winners will be announced in the December 23, 2013 edition of the Asahi Shimbun.
After screening the entries in the 74th International Photographic Salon (sponsored by Asahi Shimbun and the All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies with support from Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc.), the Screening Committee has selected a total of 130 works, comprised of 80 from overseas and 50 from within Japan, including six special prize winners (three from overseas and three from Japan). There were 5,395 entries from 40 countries, with the greatest number from Iran (1,582 entries). Together with the 3,410 entries from within Japan, a total of 8,805 entries were received. The works were judged by an 11-member panel led by photographer Takeyoshi Tanuma.
Winning entrants were led by Iran in the overseas division with 22 works, followed by Vietnam with 13, India with 10, Bangladesh with 5, Sri Lanka and Lithuania with 3 each, Spain, South Korea, Moldova, Romania and the United States with 2 each, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, France, UK, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Oman, Singapore, Sweden and Taiwan with 1 each.
In Japan, Mie had the highest number of winning entrants with 6, followed by Saitama, Aichi and Fukuoka with 4, and Iwate, Hyogo and Hiroshima with 3.
General Review: Takeyoshi Tanuma, Screening Committee Chairman
The uniqueness of the International Photographic Salon stems from the notion that because it includes entries from both Japan and overseas, it highlights the character of many diverse countries and regions. Beyond the different themes and motifs on display, we have also gathered works numerous enough to illustrate the vast possible differences in color contrast and print tone. The state of world affairs and economic conditions at certain moments in time is reflected within the sheer number of overseas entries; each work allows us to see the world in context.
Also, although composites and photo-processed works are accepted in this contest, it is worth noting that many of the prizewinning works chosen on this occasion were created through various intricate techniques such as those previously employed in Europe and other regions.
This is a mysterious portrait of a man made to look as if he is a nymph being born from the trunk of a giant tree. His long life history is clearly conveyed in this photograph through the use of tone and color.
巨木の幹から浮き出て来た精霊のようにも見える不思議な雰囲気を持つポートレートだ。この人物の長い人生の歴史が写し込まれているような作品である。写真の色調がそれを彷彿(ほうふつ)させている。
This photo of figures studying hard in a sloping classroom within a desolate forest is impressive. The special features of the area and the lifestyle of its people are well-captured here. This snapshot obviously has a tale to tell.
荒涼とした森の斜面の教室で一生懸命学んでいる姿が印象的。地域の特性や生活文化などの情景をうまく写し込んでおり、物語を感じる作品だ。
In this simple composition, the contrast between a baby’s darling face and a hairy arm make for an attractive photograph.
シンプルな構図の中で、赤ん坊のかわいらしい顔と無骨な手の対比がこの写真の魅力になっている。