His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the fourth edition of the International Festival of Photography “Expojer”, which lasts until September 22, at the Expo Center Sharjah, with the participation of more than 357 global photographers 1112 photos in 46 individual and group exhibitions, documenting the joys, sorrows and beauty of the world, and the participation of major leading brands in photography.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah then witnessed the opening session of the festival, where international photographers: Aidan J. Sullivan, Amy Vitaly, and Ray Wales, biography of their creative experiences with photography, the journey that led them to uphold the passion for photography, embrace his human and aesthetic message.
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi inspected the exhibitions' pavilions, where he was acquainted with the work of a group of international photographers hosted by the festival, and stopped at the exhibition «face to face with life», and read the photographic work on display, and listened to special explanations from the photographer Lanting, who briefed His Highness on his experience documenting the magic of nature and the intertwined natural life from the Amazon to Antarctica.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was briefed on the exhibition which won the Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship, which was launched by the festival during its first session, to realize its vision to strengthen the capabilities of professional photographers and amateurs, and the opportunity to achieve wide fame and success in various fields of photography. His Highness inspected the wings of the participating parties, familiar with the most important services provided by photography, in addition to trade fairs that include the latest equipment and technologies in the field of photography.
The most powerful weapon
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, said that the picture is the strongest weapon in the media, and that it is stronger than the text, as it does not need translation, and will reach everyone and understand it, explaining that the world without images lacks a large part of his memory Individual and collective, stressing the role of the image in uniting those who speak different languages about one idea and one position.
"If man had not discovered the picture, how would mankind have documented the moment that the first man had landed on the moon, or had a climber arrived at the summit of Everest, what would the world look like if wars, famines and natural disasters had not been documented, had we not seen and witnessed the joy of people and their celebration of their heritage and events," How will all these stories be transmitted through the word, which will not be able to collect all those aesthetics and put forward, because man needs a strong and direct evidence in order to interact with ideas and events ».
The Chairman of Sharjah Media Council said: “We organize the Sharjah International Film Festival every year to celebrate the beauty of art and emphasize its lofty message. When we look at the creative images that came from all over the world, we see the stories of people, we know them and their habits so that communication with them is easier, we see nature. We are working towards this sustainability, and we stand at the creations of global photographers hosted by the event annually, to learn through their lenses to the details in life we would not know without them ».
A daily passion
Aidan c. Sullivan said that photography is the daily passion that accompanies photographers wherever they go around the world.It is not a profession but a responsibility.
“Photographers spend days and months facing danger, living the most difficult moments in conflict and natural disasters, and many of them are losing their lives on these journeys,” Sullivan said. “In order to convey a single sight, document the moment and stay forever, being a photographer means living in isolation. Everywhere, in the streets, alleys, and forests, this is our role, to confirm our role in life and to convey the details as accurately as it is ».
“I worked in the field of photography for 45 years, during which I got to know a lot of situations and entanglements in this life, and I have seen the work of a lot of photographers and benefited from them, and here we are meeting with a group of international photographers, maybe a lot do not know each other, but they get to know each other Their work, and communicate among themselves, and exchange knowledge and experience, to pass it on to future generations, this is the goal of (Exposer), and the purpose of our presence in it ».
Face the world
Amy Vitale, the award-winning photographer of the World Press Photo World Press Photo Contest, during a visual presentation of her work, underscored the role the image plays in promoting human connections, noting that the photographer's mission is to highlight the voices of others. And the definition of their presence in life.
"The camera gave me the strength to face the world. When I visited Guinea-Bissau to cover the civil war, I learned about another life hiding behind the war, a whole life, people, memories, worries, and one day a child asked me: Do you have a moon in America?" This question would have kept me in a state of constant wonder about the lives of others, how they perceive us, and how this world is vast and full of stories. ”
“I experienced hunger and touched the suffering of others. "I believe that we are all interconnected in one way or another."
The language of creativity
Photographer Ray Wells, who has worked for the Sunday Times for 25 years, said: “Photographers are not good at talking. “The internationals, to meet on the land of Sharjah and exchange creativity, beauty and knowledge, what it offers (Expoger) reflects the keenness of Sharjah to invest in the future and support innovations of different and diverse».
He said «three photos led me from a young age to learn about the art of photography, and I was able after many years to see what is not seen through the lens, there are a lot of talents that lie in the hearts of young photographers and amateur, so we must pay attention to and develop them and upgrade their capabilities and creative areas, because we know that Every militant photographer is looking for his own image, and goes on his tiring and arduous journeys to reach them. .