Xposure X Darya: Open-air cultural hub ramps up fest's appeal
The International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025, the Middle East's largest celebration of visual storytelling has returned to Sharjah for its 9th and biggest-yet edition in Sharjah's swanky new hub 'Aljada' with a complete reimagination of how culture, family, and community converge.A first-time collaboration, Xposure X Darya is an open-air cultural hub; a vibe.
Anchored in open-air vitality, the space has been curated for every member of the community to find joy, creativity, and inspiration — not just behind the camera, but in every aspect of life. Here's some of the many experiences on offer:A feast for food lovers: Savour the sights and smells of diverse cuisines at food joints and cafes dotted across the open area.
From local favourites to international flavours, your taste buds are in for a treat.A play haven for kids: Family-friendly doesn't begin to cover it. Your little ones will find hours of joy in the thoughtfully designed children's open areas, leaving the grown-ups free to explore.For the hands-on creative: Whether you're a hobbyist or simply curious, take advantage of interactive workshops running throughout the festival, led by global experts passionate about their craft.
An urban getaway: Open spaces make Xposure X Darya the perfect spot to unwind, collaborate, or simply enjoy a backdrop worthy of any photo.At its core, Xposure 2025 remains a celebration of the lens — offering insight into how photographers and filmmakers capture, challenge, and change the way we see our world.
With the addition of Darya, the festival bridges the gap between art and life.Xposure X Darya 2025 is an invitation to linger, learn, and let the sights and sounds of Aljada reawaken the senses. Whether you're a seasoned photographer, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply a lover of compelling stories, this is the space where the image becomes an experience.
The festival runs until February 26 at Aljada, Sharjah, and is a free-to-attend exhibition. For details and more information, visit https://xposure.net.Venezuelan photographerParticipants honed their skills in impactful storytelling through images under the guidance of celebrated Venezuelan photographer Ana Maria Arevalo Gosen at a Focus Group session titled 'Eyes on the Impact' at the 9th edition of the International Photography Festival, Xposure, at Aljada, Sharjah on February 21.
Amateur as well as professional photographers shared their ideas for creating impactful stories – on tackling climate change and rising sea levels, portraits of artists on stage, and conserving giant armadillos. Gosen encouraged them to rethink their creative processes and discover new ways to align their work with ethical and community-focussed goals, thus ensuring storytelling becomes a meaningful force for change.
National Geographic Explorer, whose impact-driven projects have addressed women's rights, social justice and environmental issues, Gosen referenced her own work on Unomia – an invasive coral species from Indonesia, which harmed Venezuelan waters affecting the livelihood of its coastal people. Her images helped garner community and governmental action.
Participants applied her six-step process – goals, audience, platforms, call to action, success metrics and creativity – to think up a project that they wanted to create impact with. They identified their audiences and collaborators, platforms and action plans systematically under her gentle and friendly prodding.
'What is the ultimate change you want to achieve by telling your story, and secondly, what is a more specific goal you could set to contribute to that change?' She asked them to give them four minutes to visualise each step. She distinguished between strong and weak calls to action, and the advantages of various communication platforms.
Through reflection and storytelling, the group sharpened their photojournalistic talent into a co-creative process that honoured the integrity of those portrayed while addressing ethical challenges and emphasising social impact.Madrid-based Gosen, who has won numerous awards, was also scheduled to hold a five-hour workshop on Intimacy and Photography on February 22 for photographers of all aptitudes apart from a presentation titled 'Eternal Days: How Access and Trust Shaped my Work in Latin American Prisons' on February 26.
The talk will offer an intimate perspective, through compelling photographs, on the hidden worlds of incarcerated women in Latin American nations Venezuela, El Salvador and Guatemala.Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs till February 26. It features 100-plus galleries, over 300 renowned photographers and over 2,500 pictures.
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27-02-2025
- Sharjah 24
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi attends closing of Xposure
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Sharjah 24
26-02-2025
- Sharjah 24
Xposure concluded its 9th edition with over 30000 visitors
Allay confirmed the successful conclusion of the 9th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, which saw a wide attendance exceeding 30,000 visitors. This was the first edition held in Aljada area of Sharjah, establishing the festival as a leading global platform in the world of photography and visual arts. In exclusive statements to "Sharjah 24," Allay emphasised that the festival attracted a select group of international and local photographers, offering interactive workshops, panel discussions, and specialised art exhibitions. This made it an exceptional event for photography enthusiasts and those interested in the visual arts. The large turnout highlights the festival's importance in enriching the artistic and educational landscape in photography and enhancing Sharjah's role as a global center for visual creativity. He expressed gratitude and appreciation to the participating photographers, workshop presenters, and everyone involved in the festival, commending the efforts of the organising teams that contributed to providing an exceptional experience for visitors and participants. He affirmed that 'Xposure' will continue to evolve and expand in future editions, remaining a primary destination for photographers and artists from around the world.
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26-02-2025
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Landscape photographers capture fragility of planet
Landscape photography is an intimate dialogue between the photographer and nature, a process of emotional expression, and a journey into the raw beauty of the Earth's elements. At the ongoing 9th International Photography Festival (Xposure), two celebrated landscape photographers – Isabella Tabacchi and Filip Hrebenda – took the stage to share their profound artistic perspectives. Tabacchi took the audience on an emotional voyage across some of Earth's most majestic and fragile locations. 'Landscapes are not just rocks or trees,' she noted. 'A place can feel more alive than anything else, carrying our memories, our joy, our grief, or even our silence.' A session rich in personal stories, Tabacchi shared how her passion for volcanoes and remote landscapes shaped her work. Her fascination with the contrasts between calm and chaos was brought to life through stunning examples of her photography. One image, taken in Japan during the cherry blossom season, exuded serenity. 'It was a sunrise that made me feel completely at peace,' Tabacchi shared. 'I felt the gentle connection between the fleeting beauty of the blossoms and the eternal presence of Mount Fuji.' Tabacchi also shared her love for aerial perspectives, particularly her award-winning shot titled Tree of Life, taken in Iceland. 'Sometimes nature creates art so profound it doesn't need words. My job is to immortalise it and remind the world how breathtakingly fragile our planet is,' she said. Hrebenda's presentation was a philosophical ode to the elemental forces that shape our planet. Growing up amidst Slovakia's High Tatra mountains sparked the adventurer photographer's love for untamed landscapes. 'Standing on the peaks or in the heart of the wilderness, I feel small, like an ant in front of nature's grandeur,' he said. With his work deconstructed according to the natural elements, the visual montage of erupting volcanoes, icy glaciers, and windswept desert scenes transported the session's attendees into the raw beauty of the Earth. 'The elements – fire, water, air, earth, and space – are so much larger than us. They remind us of our insignificance in the universe, yet our deep connection to it,' Hrebenda said. His high-profile Born of Fire images, showing Icelandic volcanoes in full eruption, were a highlight. Equally moving was his exploration of water as an element. One of the most evocative elements was his depiction of space. Standing under the Northern Lights or the Milky Way in Iceland became moments of clarity for Hrebenda. 'It's not just the size of the universe that overwhelms you. When you look up, you realise how much is outside of ourselves. And it changes the way you see everything on Earth,' he added, visibly moved. Both photographers spoke to the collective responsibility of protecting these natural wonders. 'Photography,' Tabacchi noted, 'is not just art. It's a place where emotion meets action: a way to capture the soul of a landscape and motivate change.' Hrebenda echoed, 'People protect what they love, and they can only love what they understand. That's our job as photographers, to help them see what's worth saving.' Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs until Feb.26. Earlier, Xposure unveiled the winners of its most prestigious initiatives, celebrating the pinnacle of photojournalism and global visual storytelling. Palestinian photographer Saher Alghorra was announced as the overall winner of the Independent Freelance Photojournalist Award (IFPA), while the Global Focus Project (GFP) honoured 12 exceptional photographers highlighting their diverse works and contributions. The IFPA designed to recognise outstanding photojournalism, announced its winners from a shortlist of seven entries. In a ceremony attended by industry peers and photography enthusiasts, Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), handed over the awards.
