Opened by Sultan bin Ahmed and continues until February 15

"Xposure" launches the creativity and experiences of 70 photographers from around the world

• Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi during his tour of the festival.

  From the source

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His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, witnessed yesterday the opening of the activities of the sixth edition of the International Photography Festival "Xposure", which is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Office, and will continue until February 15 at the Expo Center Sharjah.

And 70 photographers from around the world will participate in the festival, presenting more than 1,600 pictures and inspiring artwork, through 45 individual and group exhibitions, presenting with a visual artistic vision influential features from the experiences and stories of societies around the world, and highlighting the important role of photography in influencing the lives of individuals, and preserving on the environment and objects.

The Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Office, Tariq Saeed Alai, said, in a speech, that the renewal caused by the image in our consciousness may be the key to the shift towards a firm commitment to the issues of the world, and it may be the recurring shocks that our awareness needs, to realize that the beauty of the world is not an issue whose existence is taken for granted, It remains and is stable and is not affected by changes, but rather an issue that needs to be worked on in order to keep it alive.

He added: “This year, we are facing a renewed cycle of the International Photography Festival (Xposure), whose features were drawn by the cameras of the best photographers in the world. This is in the hope that they will convey their message to the conscience of each of us.”

In an opening presentation to the festival, photographer Chris Rainier addressed the rapid environmental changes and their impact on the loss of our planet's cultural and biological diversity, and likened these changes to a continuous tsunami that causes the extinction of many species of animals, as much as it causes losses in the cognitive aspect, traditional identities and indigenous cultures such as languages, The wise practices that humans lose were an important factor for sustainability and survival.

In her speech during the opening session, Whitney Johnson, Vice President of Photography and Visual Experiences at National Geographic, emphasized that the power of the image helps people connect with each other, by conveying inspiring stories that tell people who go through similar experiences that they are not alone, noting that The world shares the same conditions during the outbreak of the pandemic, in which the images played an influential role, during which photographers ventured, exposing themselves to danger in order to transmit scenes from all over the world.

She pointed out that the images help to understand the experiences of individuals and societies from different cultures, and that the images showed over two years the extent of flexibility and adaptability and facing the threat of the epidemic, pointing out that it is impossible for the viewer to turn his back on the influential images.

And she talked about a picture of one of the victims of the Covid-19 virus, which in the first hours of its publication achieved more than a million views, and helped make governments and societies more alert to the seriousness of the epidemic.

After the opening ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi toured the various corridors and pavilions of the festival, through exhibitions, halls and corners of media agencies and specialized companies.

His Highness listened to a detailed explanation from the participating photographers about their works displayed within the festival, the details of their stories, and the circumstances they reflect. His Highness was also acquainted with the technical aspects of the participating photos and the techniques used in capturing them.

His Highness visited the pavilions of the participating and sponsoring parties, which offer various participations that emulate the arts of photography and its message, and support young photographers in various events and initiatives.

Photography and its issues

The sixth edition of the International Photography Festival “Xposure” celebrates the art of photography and its issues, and over seven continuous days, it presents activities that range from training sessions and workshops, in addition to sessions for evaluating artworks.

This year's edition of the festival will host an environmental summit tomorrow under the slogan "Save the Oceans", to shed light on the challenges and risks caused by pollution of the seas and oceans, with the participation of a selection of the world's most famous photographers, most notably: Steve McCurry, and the American photographer James Nactwe, who specializes in documenting wars and social crises. and photojournalist Brian Skerry, known for his passion for photographing wildlife and the underwater world.

• The festival presents 1,600 inspiring images and artworks through 45 solo and group exhibitions.

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