Another Xposure has ended and as always, it was nothing short of unforgettable. I met great people, made new friends, learned new tricks, saw cool gadgets and some amazing art! But I also shared my own knowledge, exhibited my own work (something I’m very proud of…), listened to mesmerizing, shocking, too often sad and informative stories from the living legends of photography who have seen and experienced so much from their travels and adventures around the world, over the past 6 decades. What a privilege it was to be part of such event!
You see, Xposure isn’t your usual photography festival or trade fair. It’s the photography festival and a reference for all others to follow. Xposure goes far beyond the exhibition where the brands come to showcase their latest gear, where the visitors get to count pixels and compare crowd sizes at competing camera manufacturer stands!
For 4 days each year, Sharjah in the UAE becomes the center of the world as far as photography is concerned. Some of the most talented, revered, experienced, brave, legendary photographers of this world are flown to exhibit and present their work and experiences, to share their knowledge, to dazzle with their stories and teach us to be better photographers and people.
What separates Xposure from all other photography festivals is the fact that it focuses on the very essence and true value of this art form. Photography isn’t just about preserving the moments of time for posterity. It’s there to hold a mirror to the mankind so we can see ourselves better, to expose the impact and cost of our actions. Photography alerts and warns us and our future generations, it compares and sheds light on the things we can’t or don’t want to see. Photos are the invoices of our wars and transgressions, of cruelty and negligence. Photos open our hearts so we can be more compassionate, kind to one another, to the nature and the creatures who share the planet with us. Photography teaches us that we can all be creatives, achievers, philosophers, poets, nature lovers, athletes and caring people if we try to be. In the world where the lines between facts and fiction are blurred like never before, photography can re-calibrate our moral compass and brings us back on the right side of the history. This is what Xposure International Photography Festival is all about.
Photographer: Paul Nicklen
I had a chance to conduct my very first workshop at the Fujifilms’s stand as their official X-Photographer on the subject of Time Lapse Cinematography. Needless to say, it was a great experience to be a part of their amazing family of their talented photographers.
My second engagement, as a part of Xposure’s officials workshops, was about Lightroom and Photoshop for photography beginners. I genuinely like teaching what I know. The knowledge is worth nothing if we don’t pass it on.
My workshop on Lightroom and Photoshop
‘Convergence’ was the title of my own exhibition at Xposure which featured 12 of my recent, curated works. I was really impressed with the very high standard of the exhibition and the look of the mounted prints. Kudos to Xposure and their suppliers for putting the whole thing together - it was very impressive! Two of those prints, titled ‘The Two Of Us’ and ‘Beyond The Land’ each measured 280 cm in length. They looked absolutely breathtaking.
Two colossal photos managed to make even me look small: ‘The Two Of Us’ and ‘Beyond The Land’
My solo exhibition at the Xposure 2018
It’s really remarkable to think that Xposure is only in its 3rd year and is already the talk of the global community of photographers. I’m not surprised though; I know how hard all the people behind the scenes work on this event all year long to make sure it is a success. With the incredible support of the Sharjah government and its generous patrons, all the amazing people behind the scene, I’ve no doubt that Xposure is only going to get better and bigger in the coming years. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
