Edwin Ong Wee Kee

Edwin Ong Wee Kee
Born1974 (age 49–50)
Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
NationalityMalaysian
Known forPhotographer

Edwin Ong Wee Kee (born in 1974 in Sibu, Malaysia[1]) is a Malaysian photographer and a traditional Chinese medicine physician. Ong shot to fame when he became the first Malaysian to win the grand prize of the 8th Hamdan International Photography Award.[1]

Career

Ong describes himself as a keen enthusiast, his full time profession is as a traditional Chinese medicine physician.[2] He is a late bloomer and his interest in photography only started in 2010. Since then, he has taken part in numerous photography contests organised locally and internationally. He is a holder of MPSA (Master of Photographic Society of America) since 2018 as well as a life member of the Photographic Society of Sibu for which he once served as a vice president.[1]

In 2019, he became the first Malaysian to win the grand prize of the 8th Hamdan International Photography Award.[3] Later media reports that the winning photograph may have been staged.[4] Ong dismissed the accusation and said that the photo was taken spontaneously.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sibu-born Ong wins 8th Hipa". Borneo Post. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ^ Risch, Conor (14 March 2019). "$120K HIPA Grand Prize Goes to Malaysian Photo Enthusiast Edwin Ong Wee Kee". PDN Pulse. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ^ Scott, Lauren (March 2019). "Malaysian photographer grabs $120,000 HIPA grand prize with image of Hope". Digital Camera World. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. ^ Schreiber, Hope (March 2019). "Winner of $120,000 photography prize reportedly staged photo of Vietnamese mother". Yahoo Lifestyle. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  5. ^ Emma, Lipi (19 March 2019). "Photographer Edwin Ong says winning photo not staged". The Star. Retrieved 20 March 2019.