News & Media

Registration for SXM Aviation Photography Contest, Toppix Ends Friday

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (Tuesday, November 4, 2014) Registration for this year’s edition of the Aviation Photography Competition, Toppix ends this Friday when the contest officially kicks off at 8:00am with a briefing to all registered participants. Participants can register online at www.sxmairport.com/events.php.

The theme of this year’s competition will finally be revealed at the briefing and the rules and regulations will further be outlined. Photographers who are not able to register in advance can also do so at Friday’s briefing at which time the $20 registration fee will also be collected from each participant. Proceeds from the registration fee will go to the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, organizers disclosed at a recent press conference.

TOPPIX 2014 will be held from November 7 – 14. The competition is open to all comers, unlike last year when employees of the airport were not allowed to participate.

TOPPIX “godfather” Robert Cijntje, said the aviation photography contest is now open to participants 16 years old and above, who could submit a maximum of three entries digitally. “The photographer that comes closest to the theme will win the competition,” he said.

The three judges who will select the winning entry are young, innovative photographer Pritchard Gibson and veteran cameraman Peter Gunn, and world-renowned international photographer, Max Dereta.

The sole winner will receive a prize of US$2,500. The winning photograph along with the best five entries will be displayed at SXM Airport as was the case with last year’s winners. The prize-giving ceremony will be held at the airport on November 14, 2014.

Some 26 photographers have already registered for the event, according to Cijntje, including three from abroad – the USA and UK respectively.

“This is one of the last events we will be organizing in celebration of our 70th anniversary,” said Kalifa Hickinson, SXM’s Corporate Communications Specialist. “Judging from the success of last year’s competition, we’re all very excited about organizing it again this year,” she said.