WINNERS

Empty Mountain

  • Photographer
    Olga Fried, United Arab Emirates
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention

Empty Mountain is a long-term project about spirituality, explored through my connection to Jebel Hafeet. Jebel Hafeet (translated from Arabic as empty mountain) is located at the edge of the Rub' al Khali desert between Abu Dhabi and Oman. Despite its name and its ruggedness the mountain is the opposite of empty. The sense of spirituality, mysticism and ancient wisdom is so overwhelming there, it feels almost anecdotal and cliched. I photograph this project on expired aerochrome infrared film and orthochromatic Washi paper film.