Space of Light Award – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Space of Light competition, centered around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, attracted global attention with over 30,000 submissions from 70 countries. Among them, 1,600 were time-lapse projects. I entered the competition with only days left before the submission window closed and against the odds, my work placed 3rd overall.

This achievement was deeply humbling and transformative for my creative journey, reshaping how I approach storytelling and persistence in my work.

DATE Awarded Feb 2025

PHOTOGRAPHER John Macharia

Location Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

01  

Planning & Challenges

The competition ran for a full year, yet I only decided to execute my project in the final 15 days. My first attempt involved an overnight photography session under a special permit, allowing me to work in the mosque’s most peaceful and serene hours. While the images were beautiful, I felt they didn’t capture the full essence of the mosque’s life and interaction.

Ten days before submission closure, I pivoted to create a time-lapse project instead. With little time left, the challenge was immense — but careful planning became my biggest ally.

Storyboarding: I scripted a clear plan of what to capture, focusing on how light, architecture, and people interact.

Timing: I deliberately chose a Friday to highlight the interaction of visitors and worshippers during prayers.

02  

The Shoot

On the scheduled Friday, I began shooting at 9:00 AM and continued until 9:00 PM without breaks. The goal was to document a full cycle of the day, capturing:

– The movement of worshippers and visitors across the mosque’s vast spaces.
– The interplay of sunlight, shadows, and architecture throughout the day.
– The transformation of the atmosphere from morning calm to the spiritual energy of Friday prayers.

Despite exhaustion, I maintained focus by moving across different vantage points of the mosque, maximizing coverage with a single Canon R6 camera and two lenses:

– 24mm Tilt-Shift – to emphasize architectural precision and symmetry.
– 70–200mm – for details, human interaction, and compressed perspectives.

03  

Post-Production

After the shoot, I returned to Dubai and immediately began editing. The next 9 days were spent in intensive post-production, stitching together a seamless narrative that blended architecture, light, and human presence.

With only 6 hours to the competition deadline, I successfully uploaded both the time-lapse and images.

04  

Outcome

In early February, I received an unexpected call inviting me to the award ceremony. With no prior knowledge of the results, I was both stunned and humbled to learn that I had secured 3rd place.

From over 30,000 global entries and 1,600 time-lapse submissions, my work stood out — a recognition that validated both the creative risk and perseverance it took to complete the project in such a short time frame.

05  

Key Takeaways

Creativity thrives under pressure — limited time forced me to think differently and elevate my approach.

Storyboarding is critical — having a written script gave direction and clarity in a high-pressure shoot.

Persistence pays off — years of honing craft prepared me for a moment like this.

Recognition matters — this award reshaped how I see my creativity and reaffirmed my role as a visual storyteller.

✨ Placing 3rd in the Space of Light competition remains one of the most defining milestones in my career, reminding me that even under immense time pressure, vision and dedication can create extraordinary results.