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Taittinger-sponsored award wins world’s best food photo prize

A magnificent shot, Praying with Food, breaking a day-long fast at a Hindu temple in Dhaka, taken by Bangladeshi photographer Noor Ahmed Gelal, has seized this year’s crown at Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2018, the world’s leading celebration of the art of food photography and film.

Gelal was presented first with his trophy by Lynn Murray, Marketing Director, Hatch Mansfield, UK distributor of Champagne Taittinger which sponsors the Food for Celebration category which Noor won.

Then he was announced as overall winner, receiving his £5000 prize from Andy Macdonald, who heads up Pink Lady® in the UK, headline sponsor of the Awards. The announcement took place in front of an audience of five hundred guests at a glittering Champagne Taittinger reception packed with celebrities from the food and photography world, at the Mall Galleries, London on Tuesday 24 April 2018. Host for the evening was the legendary TV presenter and chef Prue Leith.

The competition was fierce,” says Macdonald, “there were 8000 images entered from 60 countries and the standard was exceptional.

Noor’s shot stood out from the rest, however, for the way in which he made the subject matter so fascinating and distinctive.

The judging panel this year, chaired by internationally-renowned food photographer David Loftus, included Vitalie Taittinger, Marketing Director, Champagne Taittinger, Emily Luchetti, Chair of the James Beard Foundation, NYC, culinary superstar Ferran Adria, Wajmar Yaqubi, Global Photo Director, Buzzfeed, His Excellency Ali Bin Thalith, Secretary General, HIPA.

Champagne Taittinger is delighted to be the celebratory toast for the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year awards and proud to be the sponsor of the Food for Celebration category of Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2018.