14 Feb 2021 Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and Tariq Saeed Allay honour photographer Giles Duley at the Xposure closing ceremony.
Imran Mojib,
Special Correspondent
The fifth edition of Xposure International Photography Festival concluded in Sharjah with a tribute to the practitioners of the art for their dedication to telling stories that must be told. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2021 also highlighted the important role the festival plays in exploring and developing talent, and in finding real opportunities for them to enter the world of photography.
As the curtain fell on the first truly international photography festival to go live after the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020, photographers as well as enthusiasts were overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the programmes Xposure offered. The masterfully curated exhibitions featuring stunning images, professional photography workshops and riveting talks by the 51 atte
He added: “They are the first to witnesses exceptional moments and open our eyes to the world. Their pictures serve as a reminder that change is needed. Their images spur awakening and rally the masses. They push for change to happen. As I explored the exhibitions, I saw that people across cultures have won over challenges. These photographs reaffirmed my belief that the trials humanity faces today will surely pass. We will overcome them, and the outcome of our experiences will reflect in greater resilience.”
Award winners
The SMC chairman and Tariq Saeed Allay, Director, Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), honoured the winners of the 2021 edition of the Xposure International Photography Awards at a gala award ceremony. The competition saw 33,187 entries from 125 countries. Hossein Fardinfard was announced the overall winner for his image ‘Blackout’.