Egyptian Photographer Yasser Mobarak Wins at Paris Photo Awards 2023

Egyptian photographer Yasser Alaa Mobarak was announced as the winner of the Gold Prize in the ‘Architecture/Buildings’ category at Px3 Prix De La Photographie Paris with his photograph of Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects following a competition in 2007.

The design of Heydar Aliyev Center featured elaborate undulations, folds and inflections, a product of Zaha Hadid Architect’s search for a contemporary interpretation of Azeri culture, turning the surface into a pure architectural landscape.

With the building’s homogenous skin - which is covered in rhythmic panels - acting as the background, Mobarak managed to encapsulate the design features in his shot as well as the rest of his photography in Baku, which explored further perspectives. The award-winning shot featured a girl walking by the centre, displaying the sheer scale of the building.

Hailing from Alexandria, Egypt, Mobarak is a serial award-winning photographer. In fact, the same shot at Baku previously led him to get awarded Travel Photographer of the Year by National Geographic, at Sony World Photography Awards and Vienna Photo Award.

Photography Credit: Yasser Alaa Mobarak