The winners of the sixth International Artistic Photo Contest that was launched four months ago have been announced.

The contest was co-organised by the Vietnam Association of PhotographicArtists (VAPA) and the International Federation of Photographic Art(FIAP).

Candidates participated in three sections – OpenColour, Open Monochrome and Vietnam Images through Your Lens (forforeign photographers only).

The photo Rising Planet byMikhail Bondar of Ukraine won the FIAP Gold Medal, while Tam Tau(The Trio) by Ha Van Dong won the VAPA Gold Medal in the Colour section.

In the Monochrome section, Vietnamese photographers Tran Thiet Dung and Nguyen Quang Tuan won Gold Medals.

Tran Huu Tri from France won a gold medal in the third category for aphoto of a Kite Festival in the coastal province of Vung Tau .

The contest attracted 1,602 photographers with 11,000 entries from 55 countries and territories.

"We received a record number of entries and entrants," said Vu Quoc Khanh, president of VAPA and a FIAP official.

"This is the first time we opened a contest for digital photos,received entries via email. This method helped attract internationalphotographers," Khanh said.

"The event aims to helpVietnamese photographers improve their skills, especially in takingprofessional art photos, as well as expanding exchanges withinternational counterparts," he said.

The work by the entrants can be seen on web site www.contestvn2011.com./ .