Edwin Ong Wee Kee Explained

Edwin Ong Wee Kee
Birth Place:Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Nationality:Malaysian
Known For:Photographer

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sibu-born Ong wins 8th Hipa. 20 March 2019. Borneo Post. 20 March 2019.
  2. Web site: $120K HIPA Grand Prize Goes to Malaysian Photo Enthusiast Edwin Ong Wee Kee. Risch. Conor. 14 March 2019. PDN Pulse. 20 March 2019. 4 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200604031428/https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2019/03/120k-hipa-grand-prize-goes-to-malaysian-photo-enthusiast-edwin-ong-wee-kee.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Malaysian photographer grabs $120,000 HIPA grand prize with image of Hope. Scott. Lauren. March 2019. Digital Camera World. 19 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Winner of $120,000 photography prize reportedly staged photo of Vietnamese mother. Schreiber. Hope. March 2019. Yahoo Lifestyle. 19 March 2019.
  5. Web site: Photographer Edwin Ong says winning photo not staged. Emma. Lipi. 19 March 2019. The Star. 20 March 2019.