Latest news with #InternationalPhotographyFestival
Gulf Today
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Gulf Today
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
New York photographer covers the famous and homeless
For over three decades, Martin Schoeller has been at the forefront of contemporary portraiture. His signature close-up style scrutinises faces with an almost forensic intensity, capturing both the powerful and the powerless with unfiltered precision – always applying the same style and approach to all. Speaking at the International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025, the renowned New York-based photographer offered a candid look at his career, detailing his unconventional beginnings, the artistic ethos driving his work, and the unpredictable, often chaotic, nature of his shoots. Schoeller recalled his early financial struggles admitting, 'I was broke. I had no money'. Desperate for work, he embedded himself with the Newark police department, bluffing his way into their confidence. 'I told the press secretary I was working for a German magazine on a piece about police work in the United States. He never checked my credentials and just said, 'Okay, I have these two detectives you can hang out with.'' His big break came in 1998 when Time Out New York commissioned him to photograph Vanessa Redgrave. Over the years, Schoeller has captured an estimated 3,000 close-up portraits. The breadth of his subjects is staggering: celebrities, world leaders, athletes, the homeless, death row exonerees, and Holocaust survivors. He has consistently pushed the boundaries of portraiture, blending conceptual elements with his journalistic instincts. A favourite example was his 2003 portrait of Quentin Tarantino, taken at the height of Kill Bill's notoriety. Another classic was his portrait of Tony Hawk, in which the legendary skateboarder leaps off his own kitchen counter with his wife and two children sharing the frame. 'He wanted to be photographed in a skate park,' Schoeller admitted. 'I told his wife, 'It'll make a great Christmas card.' So she made him do it,' he remarked jokingly. Schoeller has not only documented the famous but also shed light on the overlooked. One of his most personal projects involved photographing and interviewing over 300 homeless individuals in Los Angeles. 'I set up my studio next to a food truck run by a friend's father,' he said. 'Because people trusted him, they trusted me.' A particularly poignant encounter came when he photographed a young runaway named Frisk. 'His mother contacted me after seeing his portrait on Instagram. With the help of other homeless people, we found him, and he ended up moving back home. Out of 300 stories, that was the one happy ending.' Schoeller's commitment to social issues extends to his work with Witness to Innocence, an organisation supporting death row exonerees. His multi-year project capturing the harrowing experiences of exonerated individuals culminated in an exhibition, a National Geographic feature, and a museum show. 'It took me two years to gain the trust (of the editors). At first, they thought my portraits looked like mugshots, not something they wanted to be remembered by.' The 'hardest part' Despite the changing landscape of editorial photography, Schoeller remains steadfast in his approach. 'Advertising jobs pay the bills, which lets me fund personal projects where I can lose money,' he quipped. 'But the hardest part? Coming up with an idea that makes sense and convincing someone famous to do it. You don't see the failures. But for every 10 ideas, I'm lucky if three or four happen.' As he wrapped up his talk, Schoeller reflected on his body of work with characteristic candour. 'Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don't. But if you're taking pictures for yourself first, not just for the subject, then you're on the right track.' His portraits — whether of A-listers or the forgotten — continue to resonate because they strip away artifice, leaving only the subject and their story. For Martin Schoeller, that's all that has ever mattered. This is one of the many talks at Xposure this year, where the visitors are not only getting an opportunity to immerse themselves in the brilliant photography but also interact closely with the creative geniuses behind the lens. Xposure 2025 is a free-to-attend event and will run until February 26 at Aljada, Sharjah. For more details on the programmes, workshops, exhibitions, visit:
Zawya
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Human element crucial in storytelling in age of AI, digital creators assert at Xposure 2025
Sharjah, The human element and our ability to adapt to new tools will continue to remain crucial even as we integrate Artificial Intelligence and modern technology in creating digital narratives, agreed a panel of digital creators during their discussion 'From Imagination to Reality: The Power of World-Building' at the ongoing 9th annual International Photography Festival (Xposure) at Aljada, Sharjah on Monday. The panelists acknowledged that while AI has the potential to enhance storytelling, there is an ongoing resistance to fully embracing digital methods. Siraj Jhaveri, award-winning director based in New York and Dubai, whose three-decade journey spans commercials, music videos, documentaries, digital content and VR, said the digital creative journey has been explosive and fast and compared the current moment in time to the age when electricity was invented. When asked if he could compare the age of AI with a moment in the past, Jhaveri said it was similar to the ground-breaking era when electricity was invented, and replaced labour-intensive ways of generating light sources, 'AI could replace knowledge'. 'We need to rethink what we are buying with capital and with knowledge,' he added. His parting advice for those unfamiliar with world-building or creating a fictional virtual world was to read stories as understanding the human condition was important as humans are super-complicated. Yohan Wadia, a Creative Director who is passionate about merging AI, creativity, and storytelling, noted that AI is a double-edged sword that can create worlds faster than one can imagine. He emphasised the importance of resonating deeply with the audience, even with the rapid advance of tools like Unreal Engine and generative AI: 'For me as a creator, a creative exoskeleton helps to work faster, and the power to do things or experiment with more scenarios.' He added: 'There is a democratisation of tools as so many platforms are out there and available to all. But the number one barrier or what creates a level of resistance in people's minds to AI-generated worlds is the fear of the unknown.' Arthur Baum, a Director of Photography and self-taught Unreal Engine Artist bridging his experience in cinematography and photography with virtual environments to create immersive stories, said he still wants 'to do real-life movies with its imperfections and method acting which I can't replicate in Unreal Engine'. 'The core values of storytelling and photography are the same', he pointed out while acknowledging the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of virtual sets. Baum also compared the age of AI to the age of nuclearisation as he felt it can be a weapon of misinformation. He said taking a step away from the computer, and taking a camera or going to a museum would be a better way to understand what makes a good picture or good art. The session was moderated by Bjoern Lauen, founder and executive producer of Glaswerk, a UAE-based Production House and Media Lab that produces television commercials, digital content and so on. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs until February 26.
Arab Times
24-02-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Kuwait's initiative amplifies Gaza's voice through powerful photography
SHARJAH, Feb 24: The Kuwaiti initiative "Humanitarian Photography Grant" arrived in Sharjah on Monday, following its first stop in Virginia earlier this February. The initiative carries a message of solidarity with the people of Gaza, highlighting their resilience in the face of Israeli occupation forces. The grant participated in the ninth edition of the International Photography Festival (Xposure 2025), held in the Aljada area of Sharjah. The exhibition, titled "Resilience in Gaza: Stories of Strength and Survival," blends creativity, knowledge, and discovery, drawing the attention of photography and visual arts enthusiasts. Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Office, the event runs until February 26, showcasing one of the most profound humanitarian messages. The photographs, captured by photographers from Gaza, offer a unique perspective of the harsh realities on the ground, portraying the voices of humanity that are only truly understood through firsthand experiences. The exhibition is supported by Kuwaiti humanitarian organizations, including the Nama Charitable Society, the International Islamic Charitable Organization, and the KAF Humanitarian Association of Bahrain. These organizations believe in the importance of supporting photographers working under difficult conditions in occupied territories, enabling them to capture and share the truth, balancing pain with hope, steadfastness with life. Sami Al-Rumayan, the head of the Humanitarian Photography Grant, spoke to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during the event. He emphasized that this exhibition is the second of its kind, following the first held in the United States. The exhibition reflects the initiative's commitment to supporting photographers in crisis-affected areas. "An image is not just a snapshot; it is a testimony to reality," Al-Rumayan said. He noted that photography in Gaza is not only an art form but an act of resistance against media blackouts. The grant's mission is to empower photographers to serve as honest mirrors of the events unfolding in Gaza, allowing their voices to reach the world through powerful images that reflect both suffering and resilience. Al-Rumayan highlighted the role of photography in conveying the voices of the voiceless and promoting the culture of visual documentation in the face of human tragedies. Saad Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Grant Award, also shared his thoughts with KUNA. He explained that the exhibition is part of a long-term journey to empower talent in the most challenging circumstances. The goal is to give photographers in Gaza a chance to tell their own story and present the reality through the eyes of those who have lived it, rather than through external observers. "In light of the ongoing crises, humanitarian photography has become a vital tool in conveying the truth to the world and shedding light on the suffering of innocent people," Al-Otaibi said. He added that the grant represents the commitment to supporting creative photographers dedicated to serving humanity. Al-Otaibi further mentioned that the Board of Trustees aims to provide a supportive environment for photographers involved in the grant, ensuring their work addresses impactful issues and motivates them to create visual content that drives positive change. He expressed hope that the grant would mark a turning point in the field of humanitarian photography and help amplify inspiring human stories of resilience in the face of adversity. Hussein Al-Moussawi, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Arabic magazine, also spoke with KUNA. He noted that the exhibition goes beyond art, becoming a documentation of living human history. "These photos are not just creative works; they are visual documents that carry messages for future generations, highlighting details that may otherwise be forgotten but are forever etched in memory," he said. It is worth noting that the Humanitarian Photography Grant held its first photography exhibition in the United States on February 7, titled "Through Their Lens: Untold Stories of Gaza." The exhibition featured a group of distinguished Palestinian photographers who used their lenses to convey the truth, documenting the suffering and resilience amid one of the most violent genocides in modern history.
Broadcast Pro
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Filmmakers highlight power of collaboration at Xposure 2025 panel
At the International Photography Festival in Sharjah, they discussed their experiences in screenplay interpretation, guiding actors and creative collaboration. A panel of award-winning filmmakers emphasised the importance of collaboration in every aspect of filmmaking— from screenplay selection to casting and editing—during a discussion titled Directing with Purpose: Shaping the Vision at the ninth annual International Photography Festival, Xposure 2025, in Aljada, Sharjah. Moderated by American film producer Franklin Leonard, the panel featured Emirati filmmaker Maitha Alawadi, American writer-actor Travon Free and Indian filmmaker Neel Kumar. The discussion explored the creative process, artistic integrity and the challenges of balancing vision with production demands. Maitha Alawadi, an Emirati filmmaker, who is known for her bold, diverse, and culturally authentic storytelling, noted: 'Every person in the film team is family and every thought they put forward, including kids actors, is valid. Sometimes they might surprise you with an idea and sometimes you should step back and ask what is best for the project.' She said she was a big fan of animation and fantasy works, and found the biggest thrill in finding the right actors for her projects. 'The people I cast were the perfect blend and helped to convey my reality. My vision is to develop my own methodology and voice to make Emirati culture relatable worldwide. I am into the detailed aspect of things, and it is a collaborative effort that enhances the visual,' she added. According to her, the visualisation changed when she saw the actual location, and AI also helped to generate how her characters developed. Travon Free, writer, actor and comedian known for his presence in the entertainment industry, said he always had a thing for the visual and it helped his transition to film direction and writing. 'I try to find something interesting visually so that it feels fresh. I watch a lot of movies in order to understand different directors. The more movies I watch, the better it helps to set the palette; things crystallise and you see the camera clearly. It is also figuring out where the camera doesn't go,' stated Free. He said he was extremely collaborative and followed a democratic policy in decision-making where even the interns had a say. Neel Kumar, a Dubai-based filmmaker, writer and storyteller, also followed a similar collaboration policy and took the ego out of his decisions. He added: 'When you have a powerful idea, the dots fit in. Every good director has good psychology. If there is enough for me to dig into an idea, there is enough for the actors.' Quoting Michelangelo's take on the sculpting of David, where the marble that didn't fit chipped away to create the sculpture, Neel noted that the characters developed naturally in his actors' hands. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2025 runs until February 26.
