74 photographers, 68 exhibitions and more than 50 workshops… This is the large format setting of the Xposure International Photography Festival. This event, now in its seventh edition, attracts the world’s great names in photography to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
“Transpose this beauty in a photo”
At the initiative of this Festival, the Deputy Governor of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi. This photography enthusiast believes that the success of Xposure helped him gain skills himself. “I learned a lot from Xposure because every time I meet a photographer, I ask them questions,” he explains. “Over time you start to look at things differently: you start looking at all the colors, the leading lines, so it’s a place where you can learn,” he says before adding: “I always have my camera with me, this beauty that we see with our eyes, we try to transpose it into a photo.”
Photography to make people understand climate change
The famous Hungarian photographer Esther Horvath was present to exhibit her documentary series on MOSAiC, the largest scientific expedition ever organized to the Arctic. Since 2015, she has dedicated her photography work to the polar regions working alongside scientific groups with the idea of working towards a better understanding of climate change and environmental issues there.
“I felt like I was photographing a mission to the Moon,” remembers the photographer about her work in the Arctic. “Man’s first steps on the Moon is clearly what inspires me in my work,” she confides. “When you think of this moment, it’s not thousands of pages of scientific publications that come to mind, but one thing: the photo of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon,” she points out. “That’s what I want to do in my photos: translate difficult scientific research into something very visual that allows people to understand what’s going on,” she summarizes.
“The same themes about humanity”
The Brazilian photographer Gabriel Wickbold participated in the Festival for the second consecutive year. He estimates that this event brings together ideas and cultures that feed each other.
“I’ve come this far and seeing my art flourish in a totally different culture is amazing,” he believes. “For example, I discover the same themes on humanity that I also address and they speak just as much here as with my audience in Brazil, so for me it is a breathtaking experience,” he enthuses.
“Pushing to the extreme, the limits of [ses] knowledge”
Last year, public attendance more than doubled. This makes this Festival one of the biggest events dedicated to photography in the world. And it’s not just about exhibitions: the trade show, alongside the event, showcases the latest equipment and technology and provides valuable information on manufacturers and retailers.
Asaad Abboud is managing director of Leica Camera Middle East, which is sponsoring the meeting. “It’s an inspiring meeting place for people who are interested in the same things, especially photographers who want to push the limits of their knowledge and their creativity to the limit.” he indicates. “I believe this is the place where anyone can come to learn more,” he concludes.