The ninth edition of the Sharjah International Photography Festival “Xposure,” held under the theme “Nothing Bigger Than the Image,” concluded its activities. The festival featured over 300 professional photographers, including leading pioneers in photography, directors, and visual arts creators from around the world, through 100 art exhibitions, 2,500 photographs, 50 specialized workshops, and a series of inspiring dialogues and sessions.
The festival offered a unique experience for amateurs and professional photographers, providing opportunities to develop their skills and engage in 50 specialized workshops led by a group of global experts and photographers, combining theoretical and practical live experiences.
The festival kicked off with a series of interactive workshops, including “How to Capture the Best Photos Using a Smartphone,” presented by British photographer Rob Irving, who highlighted the potential of smartphones in photography and how to utilize lighting and composition to produce images with a comprehensive visual sense. Among the prominent workshops was “The Art of Interacting with the Image,” which encouraged photographers to go beyond the traditional concept of photography by building a deeper connection with their subjects, understanding how to draw inspiration from their surroundings, and using light and composition consciously to produce vibrant images that tell impactful visual stories.
The “Mastering Shutter Speed: Capturing Motion and Unique Moments” workshop, aimed at enthusiasts of dynamic photography, provided hands-on training on control techniques, motion tracking methods, continuous zoom, and deliberate camera manipulation, alongside advanced composition and angle techniques, giving images a lively character.
The festival also featured the “Road to Xposure” exhibition, organized by the Arab Photographers Union, as one of the key visual stations redefining the concept of photographic storytelling. It combined heritage, technology, and human spirit, offering a living testament to Arab creativity, where photographers’ lenses converged to document scenes from history, culture, and nature.
The exhibition saw participation from 338 photographers, who submitted 941 photographs, all subjected to adjudication. A total of 108 works were selected, with 30 photographs chosen for public display.
