WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. These forms of life include microorganisms, fungi, plants, and animals, including the communities that they form and the habitats in which they live in.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity is “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”
Biodiversity provides us with air, water, food and materials for medicine, clothing, and shelter. Millions of people rely on biodiversity for livelihood and a host of ecosystem services. However, due to the continuous growth of population and overexploitation of biological resources, this “web of life” is now under serious threat.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
A POWERFUL COMMUNICATION TOOL
Communicating biodiversity conservation has always been challenging.
Humans are so diverse that you have to think of ways
to get the message across while transcending
differences in age, culture, language, race, values,
religion, and beliefs, among others. One effective tool
to communicate the values of biodiversity and to
promote appreciation to life forms is through
photography—a form of art where you can deliver any
message without even saying a word; a form of art that
can produce powerful images with messages that can
be understood by everyone regardless of their
differences.
Roger A. Tingle
First Place, 2020
PHOTOGRAPHY:
A POWERFUL COMMUNICATION TOOL
Communicating biodiversity conservation has always been challenging.
Humans are so diverse that you have to think of ways
to get the message across while transcending
differences in age, culture, language, race, values,
religion, and beliefs, among others. One effective tool
to communicate the values of biodiversity and to
promote appreciation to life forms is through
photography—a form of art where you can deliver any
message without even saying a word; a form of art that
can produce powerful images with messages that can
be understood by everyone regardless of their
differences.
Roger A. Tingle
First Place, 2020
WHAT IS ZOOMING IN ON BIODIVERSITY?
Zooming in on Biodiversity is a photo contest open to all nationals of the 10 ASEAN Member States, conceptualised by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).
This 2024, connect with nature through the Zooming in on Biodiversity Photo Contest! With the theme Biodiversity in Action, the main category of this year’s contest is Caught in the Act, which hopes to capture biodiversity in action in its natural habitat. These may include animals playing, feeding, hunting, settling down for sleep, and many more actions and interactions.
Participants may also submit photos taken in ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) under the AHP category to highlight the natural and cultural richness of these protected areas.
This year’s TikTok Challenge is called #BiodiversiToks, which invites participants to share their stories about biodiversity by creating original content (visual arts, prose, poetry, music, and performance among others) while promoting biodiversity conservation.
OBJECTIVES:
Through this ASEAN-wide contest, ACB aims to:
- promote appreciation for the ASEAN region’s biodiversity;
- increase audience engagement and interaction in ACB’s social media platforms
- encourage conservation of the Region’s wildlife species; and
- promote the ASEAN Heritage Parks
MAIN CATEGORY:
Biodiversity in Action: Caught in the Act
Photo submissions should show biodiversity in action in natural habitats. Submissions may include, but are not limited to:
- animals interacting with their surroundings
- animals in action
- relationships among species
SPECIAL CATEGORY:
Life in ASEAN Heritage Parks
This special category will highlight the natural and cultural richness of ASEAN Heritage Parks. Photos should be taken in any of the 57 declared AHPs.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Relevance to the theme – 40%
Composition – 20%
Creativity – 20%
Technical Excellence – 20%
MECHANICS
General
- The competition is open to all citizens of ASEAN—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Employees, consultants, and individuals with active contracts with the ACB associated with the competition, including their relatives up to the first degree of affinity and consanguinity, are not eligible.
- Registration is FREE of charge.
- By submitting an entry, the participant grants the ACB the right to use the photos and contents on educational and other promotional materials of ACB with appropriate credits to the owner/creator.
- Deadline for submission is on 31 August 2024, 23:59 GMT+8. Entries submitted after the deadline of submission will not be accepted.
- AI-generated images, captions, and other forms of content are strictly prohibited.
Photo Contest
- The photo contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. A participant can send up to five (5) entries ONLY, taken between 2019 and 2024.
- Photos must be taken within the ASEAN region: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.
- Entries must be submitted through the official contest website at https://zoomingin.aseanbiodiversity.org/.
- Photographs must neither be previously submitted, in whole or in part, to other competitions, nor published in any printed or electronic media.
- Acceptable digital alterations include cropping, reasonable adjustments to exposure, contrast, and colour correction. Photos should not contain watermarks, date stamps, or any additional text and graphics.
- File size of the photo entry must be at least 2 MB.
- The top 25 finalists will qualify for the People’s Choice Award. Entries will be uploaded on the ACB’s Facebook page on 7 September 2024. The photos with the most number of reactions until 23 September 2024 will be selected as the winner of People’s Choice.
PRIZES
Get the chance to win:
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
AHP CATEGORY
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
AHP CATEGORY
The top 25 finalists will qualify for the People’s Choice Award. Entries will be uploaded on the ACB’s Facebook page on 7 September 2024. The photo with the most number of reactions until 23 September 2024 will be selected as the winner of People’s Choice.
Deadline of submission: 31 August 2024, 23:59 GMT+8
Note: The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) will not ask for payment at any stage of the contest. The ACB will only use its official Facebook and TikTok accounts and email address zoomingin@aseanbiodiversity.org to reach out to participants.
Share your stories about biodiversity! This Tiktok Challenge is open to participants of all ages.
Post short videos inspired by or about biodiversity through any form of creative content (e.g. storytelling, visual arts, prose, poetry, music, performance)
Follow and tag the ACB’s official Tiktok @ASEAN_biodiversity.
Use the hashtags #WeAreASEANBiodiversity and #BiodiversiToks
We will comment on the post to acknowledge the entry.
The People’s Choice Award will be granted to the entry with the most number of hearts until 23 September 2024.
Other Mechanics:
- The competition is open to all citizens of ASEAN—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Employees, consultants, and individuals with active contracts with the ACB associated with the competition, including their relatives up to the first degree of affinity and consanguinity, are not eligible.
- Registration is FREE of charge.
- By posting an entry, the participant grants the ACB the right to use the contents on educational and other promotional materials of ACB with appropriate credits to the owner/creator.
- AI-generated images, captions, and other forms of content are strictly prohibited.
- Entries can be in your native language (with English subtitles) or in English.
Here are some examples for your inspiration
- Baya Putih ari Tasek Merimbun- Jang Elroy Anak Ramantan (Elroy) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8JFYCsnq9c&list=PLHuCJX1p-vRrGEtSktsP7NM_0I3MHQchF
- Small Village in the Big Forest- Somvang Norlintha (Vang) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34jzUQtDJ4c&list=PLHuCJX1p-vRq0k2INer5ZIY5nZZukSPK6
- Hutan Yek (My Forest) – Chorus of the Forest- Lavinya Kalai Chevan (Lavinya) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGQqBDmXLg4&list=PLHuCJX1p-vRqnJkCE25WPYZCPK319Gorh
- Sa Yakap ng Kitanglad (In Kitanglad’s Embrace)- Landscape- Celine Murillo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEvqvgd8dag&list=PLHuCJX1p-vRp7x_sNBH0qW40DUQ1rNhEa
- A Literary Trail of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve- Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips (Cheyenne) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79hYcbgVHLQ&list=PLHuCJX1p-vRp9neWAJrcucPqMMSY0GN7D&index=1
Criteria for Judging :
Relevance to the theme – 40%
Creativity – 40%
Execution – 20%
Prizes
Note: The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) will not ask for payment at any stage of the contest. The ACB will only use its official Facebook and TikTok accounts and email address zoomingin@aseanbiodiversity.org to reach out to participants.
Creativity Award, 2021
Pavina Vongsouvanh – Lao PDR @pamouvina #duet with @antoinettetaus #weareaseanbiodiversity #WeAreASEANBiodiversity ! @asean_biodiversity. #Laos #13south road #dondaeng island #NamTheun river #paksonghighland coffee #tadfanewaterfall #nakaidistrict #phouphamarn
People’s Choice Award, 2021
Maria Fe Felicilda – Philippines @mariamafe27 Help Earth to be a better place. 💚💚#DUET with @Antoinette Taus @ASEAN_Biodiversity #WeAreASEANbiodiversity ♬ Coastline Cruising-JP – Big Thunder
Third Place, 2021
Danny Ocampo – Philippines
People’s Choice, 2021
Aung Chan Thar – Myanmar
First Place, 2021
Kyaw Kyaw Winn – Myanmar
Second Place, 2021
Tran Viet Linh – Viet Nam
People’s Choice, 2021
Aung Kyaw Zaw – Myanmar
Third Place, 2021
Arturo B. De Vera Jr. – Philippines
Second Place, 2021
Kyaw Zay Yar Lin – Myanmar
First Place, 2020
Roger A. Tingle
Second Place and People’s Choice, 2020
Karl Vincent L. Dimaculangan
Third Place, 2020
Yusuf Bin Madi
ASEAN Heritage Parks Category, 2020
Konyi Calisto
First Place, 2018
Daniel Ocampo
Second Place, 2018
Asep Ayat
Third Place, 2018
Kyaw Kyaw Winn
First Place, 2015
Hans Tangmanpoowadol
Second Place, 2015
Kyaw Kyaw Winn
Third Place, 2015
Ho Van Dien
First Place – Amateur Category, 2013
Jose Melencio M. Brillo
Second Place – Amateur Category, 2013
Aldrin Cuadra
Third Place – Amateur Category, 2013
Aditya Nugraha
Second Place – Professional Category, 2013
Nikki Sandino Victoriano
Third Place – Professional Category, 2013
Fahreza Ahmad
People’s Choice, 2013
Wilfredo Leonado
First Place – Student Category, 2009
Christine Marie Bangero
Second Place – Student Category, 2009
Lee Zcho Yee
Third Place – Student Category, 2009
Karlo Emmanuel Victoriano
First Place – Amateur Category, 2009
Helena Kalsom Binti Elias
Second Place – Amateur Category, 2009
Diadem Gonzales
Third Place – Amateur Category, 2009
Victor Visuna
First Place – Professional Category, 2009
Chalid Nasution
Second Place – Professional Category, 2009
Al Benavente
Third Place – Professional Category, 2009
Kyaw Kyaw Winn
First Place and People’s choice, Feed Your Child Some Bait
Duong Cong Son – Viet Nam
First place, Buhabi: Buhay sa gabi
Ferd Torres – Philippines https://www.tiktok.com/@ferd_torresssss/photo/7408076627541904647
Second Place, Ukit Kaalaman: Philippine Spotted Dear Leaf Art
Edimar Paclibar – Philippines @ukit_dahon Philippine Spotted Dear Leaf Art 🍃 @asean_biodiversity #weareaseanbiodiversity
Third place, Birding is fun! But it is more rewarding if we do it ethically.
Ahmad Amir Isqandar – Malaysia @wildwithamir Birding is fun! But it is more
People’s choice, The Role of Technology in Speeding Up the Fight Against Biodiversity Loss
Mark Cedrick Capareda – Philippines @cdoyakkxcapareda The Role of Technology in Speeding Up