Inspiration can strike, even in self-isolation. Filipino photographers Carlo Zamora and and Klienne Eco have proven this with their winning entries to Xposure International Photography Festival’s weekly contest, #HomeCaptured.
The non-profit behind the festival, which is held at Sharjah’s Expo Centre every year, announced the competition on social media in mid-April. It asked photographers around the world to document their lives under lockdown or self-isolation in inventive ways.
Zamora’s winning work, for which he will receive $1,000 (Dh3,600), portrays a young person blowing a soap bubble with a curly straw. It is not the scene that is impressive, but rather the photographer’s use of light and shadow. By placing the subject against a pitch-black background and manipulating light to turn the bubble into a glistening orb, the image becomes dramatic.
Runner-up Eco turned to light painting for his entry, which won $750 (Dh2,750). His technique involves capturing moving light against another subject with a long exposure setting. His work Light Paint is an abstract work featuring folded pages reflected against a shiny surface and colourful lights in the background.
The two photographers from Manila are the latest round of winners in the competition, which is now in its second week. On April 22, Xposure awarded Fatma Zohra Hamici from Algeria and Hanan Rajab from Bahrain with first and runner-up titles respectively.
Hamici's photographic composite Tea Time showed a dynamic set-up for afternoon tea shot in high-speed. Xposure's jury noted the photographer's skilful use of photo-editing to complete the image. Rajab's portrait depicts a young boy expressing his wishes to play outside through a drawing.
Shortlisted entries, including portraits by Andy Ramos, Saad Al Hamady and Shyjith Onden Cheriyath, have children as their subjects. Each reflects the concerns of our time: Cheriyath’s son, seemingly trapped behind his coloured pencils, expresses frustration with self-isolation, while Al Hamady’s son goes through cycles of ups and downs.
The #HomeCaptured contest is now in its third week, accepting submissions from photographers worldwide via their website. A jury will review the entries based on a five-point system that considers composition, lighting, technical quality and creativity.
More information on Xposure’s contest can be found on stayhome.xposure.ae
Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
