The ＂Humanity Photo Awards＂2009 Awards Ceremony is by far the largest number of countries invited, the largest, highest-level event. 143 awards winners from 25 countries attend the activity in total. After the ceremony, we received many congratulatory and thanks letters from photographers all over the world.
Documentary Awards Winner Benno Neeleman from Holland: From ＂Suspicion＂ to ＂trust＂
I first participated in the HPA in 2006 and won the first prize in the Daily Life category. I was so excited about that message that I could not wait to get to Dazhou. As it took pretty long to get a follow-up message, my impression about HPA and CFPA was not very positive. ＂What kind of organization is this＂? ＂Are they really serious＂? And so on...! Now after two times being treated by the CFPA/HPA I have to apologize for my thoughts. My impression was clearly a wrong one.
First in Dazhou in 2007 and now in Guangzhou I had such a great time and was treated as a VIP guest. This all was just possible by Mr. Shen Che, the president of CFPA, personal energy put in the whole thing. Please, accept my thanks to Mr. Shen Che in this.
I will never forget your sweating in these days (...and not only from the temperature in Guangzhou), but I will especially not forget your smile and kind words. I am sure you did a great job for the prizewinners, the HPA, the CFPA and so on, and so on.
I already decided to take part in the next HPA and even if we do not meet in 2011, I will consider you as a good friend and somebody with a great heart for the humanitarian issue and photography in general. The world will look completely different with just a few more people like you!
Documentary Awards Winner Bartolome Hafalla from Philippines: Share the happiness with my relatives in hometown
After a week long stay in Guangzhou, I can＇t help but feel overwhelmed with joy deep in my heart about one of the most unforgettable experience. I had learning, sharing and humbling at that. I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Shen Che. All of this would not be possible without him, having one of the biggest hearted people I know.
I took part of the same two years ago, being documentary awardees again, and very much excited to go home to my village to share to the village, the good news, stories about how the president and organization accepted us with open arms.
I still have a lot of things running in my thoughts about the whole experience right now, but I really would like to thank you again for everything, that includes CFPA ever helpful staff.
Hoping that I be part of the next Humanity Photo Awards, and will have the chance to see everyone again.
Nomination Awards Winner Rudi Moeridjan from Surinam: My Mother and Motherland Are Proud of Me
We are shocked at the news of his mother＇s death during the activity. President Mr. Shen Che immediately sent our sympathies to him:
We condole with you upon the loss of your mother. On behalf of 40 thousand CFPA members, please accept our deepest sympathy to you. We are also a family and we will together with you whenever, wherever. As a Nomination Awards winner of HPA 2009, I think your mother will be very proud of you, your country will be very proud of you and we are all very proud of you!
Rudi Moeridjan＇s reply:
Many thanks for you condolences addressed to me and my family, also on behalf of the CFPA, its 40.000 members and their mighty president Mr. Shen. The last talk that I have with her was the call to her from the White Palace hotel after the evening of the awards ceremony. I told her everything about the past days, the unforgettable moments, the ceremony itself and also about my short and quick writing speech. In her words addressed to me on that moment I could hear and also get the feeling of her intense happiness in her weakening voice. I never had the feeling that her blood-illness was taken her so quickly to the dead.
…
One more time, my family and I also thanked you all for your deepest sympathy and my country and the Surinaamse Fotografen Vereniging (Sufov the photographic association of Suriname) will be also proud of what I reached.
Final Jury Dheeraj Paul from India: Take My Son Together to Join in WFPA
I am missing HPA 2009 and everyone. It was a wonderful experience to be invited as a Jury. This is really a great honor for me.
I would also like to thank all the HPA and all CFPA members for the wonderful stay and all their warm hospitality. I would like my son who is 12 years and I to join the WFPA. Send me the details.
There are many other photographers giving us meaningful and unforgettable words. Because of the limited length of the article, we have to stop here. But we can feel the emotions between the lines, including gratitude, miss, passion and pleasure…when it was time for departure; our tear, embrace, recall and faith bind us to each together. Whenever and wherever we are in the future, we are proud to say that we are belongs to HPA! |
