#IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer Contest

CEBU, Philippines – Two office workers, a car salesman and a barista are stepping out of their comfort zones and into the challenges of becoming the first AirAsia Travel Photographer for 2015 - in the #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer contest. Jointly organized by AirAsia and ThinkDharma Inc., exclusive distributor of Nikon Digital Cameras, the contest is in partnership with AirAsia's global loyalty programme, BIG, which will award winners with over 200,000 BIG Points or its equivalent free flights to any of AirAsia Group's 100 destinations.

To be assisted by multi-awarded photographers from the Philippines and Malaysia as personal coach, four pre-selected contestants, namely Velvet Lagman-Macasaet, an executive assistant and marathon runner; Sarah Garcia, hotel front desk officer; TJ  Nepomuceno III, car salesman; and Paul Delfin, an indie music fan and barista, are traveling across Asia for one week starting July 21. Online voting via www.airasiatravelphotographer.com will be opened to the public on August 20, with Nikon cameras and BIG Points to be given away to lucky voters. The Grand winner will be announced on September 11.

AirAsia Philippines Chairperson Maan Hontiveros led the launching of the contest with Strategic Partnership Head Jenny Au and Senior Marketing Manager Caroline Wong of AirAsia BIG. Meanwhile, ThinkDharma Inc. is represented by Abrigo Merin, Chief Executive Officer of OPAL, and Paolo Salazar, Head of Business Unit.

Four multi-awarded photographers and respected leaders in the industry are part of the AirAsia Travel Photographer contest as mentors to the four contestants.  Nikon Pros George Tapan, Raymond Cruz, Parc Cruz and AirAsia's resident photojournalist Adam Lee are traveling around exotic places in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, helping contestants capture their best entries across a range of categories that include landscape, food, portrait, architecture and travel.

To be updated with AirAsia Travel Photography contest, one may use #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer and get the latest updates via twitter.com/AirAsiaPh or facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines.