ROME: Kuwaiti photographer Ali Al-Zaidi has won two prizes in the Italian Siena International Photography Awards (SIPA Contest). Up to 2,500 photographers from 100 countries took part on the contest. The international contest, held as part of an art festival in Italy's historical city of Siena, announced that Al-Zaidi won the bronze medal in one category and the jurors' award in photographing people's lives.

The leading global 18 jurors voiced their admiration of Al-Zaidi's photos, 10 of which were chosen to be displayed in the SIPA Contest gallery network, entitled "Behind the camera," that are open till end of November. Al-Zaidi is known for his many travels around the world.

He expressed pride of the awards which "raise high the name of Kuwait in the wide-scale competition," one of the largest worldwide. He dedicated the victory to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The leading photographer, who won more than 40 international awards, stressed that Kuwait is rich with talented and gifted youth in all fields. - Kuna