The fifth iteration of the Xposure International Photography Festival, held annually in Sharjah’s Expo Centre, will take place in 2021, it has been confirmed.
Originally scheduled for September 2020, the event has been postponed until February 10 to 13 next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, confirmed the new dates on Tuesday, explaining why the organisers opted not to follow in the footsteps of other high-profile events and transform Xposure into a virtual festival.
“True appreciation of photography requires physical interaction with this art form,” he said in a statement. “One of the key objectives of Xposure is to convene award-winning photographers from around the world on one global platform to share their stories, experiences and expertise with peers as well as their audiences.
"Live, in-person interactions, workshops and activities are a major part of this festival’s offerings, which is why we preferred to push the dates of the fifth edition rather than changing the festival’s format.”
Xposure typically features workshops, talks and exhibitions by photographers from the region and abroad, alongside booths selling the latest photography and video equipment.
Amid lockdowns in April, Xposure launched its weekly online competition, #HomeCaptured, which asked photographers around the world to submit entries that documented their time in lockdown.
The six-week contest concluded in May, with prizes ranging from $1,000 to $750. A total of 12 photographers were awarded.
Currently, the festival is calling for submissions for its Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship Award, aimed at emerging photographers working within the genre of travel and documentary photography. The chosen candidates will train under award-winning English photographer Timothy Allen.
The scholarship is open to participants from around the world, and those selected will be flown to Sharjah for a 10-day trip that includes a five-day workshop led by Allen.
The festival is also calling for entries for its Xposure International Photography & Film Awards, which will be announced in February.
The deadline for submissions for the awards and Tapsa is on Wednesday, September 23.
More information is at www.xposure.ae
Scroll through the gallery below to see the winning entries of the #HomeCaptured online competition:
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'Wish' by Hanan Rajab from Bahrain shows a child with a drawing about his hopes to leave self-isolation. The photo received the runner-up prize for the first week of Xposure's #HomeCaptured contest on April 22. Hanan Rajab -
Fatma Zohra Hamici from Algeria won the first prize in the first round of Xposure's weekly #HomeCaptured contest, which asks photographers to send their best shots from home. Fatma Zohra Hamici -
'Playing with Bubbles' by Carlo Zamora in the Philippines won the contest in week two -
'Light Paint' by Klienne Eco in the Philippines was runner-up in week two -
'My Birdie' by Ahmed Lazem in Iraq was the winner for week three -
'Light of Ramadan' by Saad Al Hamady in Iraq, was runner-up in week three -
'Prayers' by Sheik Shehriyar in Ajman, won the contest in week four -
'Memorising Beautiful Moments' by Raj Pawar in India was week four's runner-up -
'We relax with lemon mint tea' by Shyjith Onden Cheriyath in Dubai was week five's winning entry -
'Bee Eye' by Manny Fajutag in Abu Dhabi was runner-up in week five -
'Sungka Game' by Don Ferdinand Tabbun in Abu Dhabi was the winner in week six -
'Symmetry' by Swe Tun in Myanmar was runner-up in week six -
'Missing Grandpa' by Hussain Al Hashim in Saudi Arabia was one of the contest's shortlisted entries -
'Kite' by Froiland Rivera in the Philippines was one of the contest's shortlisted entries -
'Childhood Reflection' by Siddharth Rathod in India was one of the contest's shortlisted entries -
'Reading Quraan' by Ahmad Saad in Iraq was a shortlisted entry -
'Neon Bubbles' by Afreed Ali in India was a shortlisted entry -
'Namaas' by Feroz Khan in India was a shortlisted entry -
Photographer Andy Ramos was shortlisted in week two for this image, 'Pray, Stay At Home, Stay Safe', depicting a young girl and her toys wearing facemasks. Andy Ramos -
Not being able to shoot in nature, photographer Nagoor Meeran Peer Mohamed has fashioned a bird feeding scene using household tools for this shortlisted entry to Xposure's #HomeCaptured contest. Nagoor Meeran Peer Mohamed -
A shortlisted submission by Shyjith Onden Cheriyath entitled 'Caged' depicts his son's frustration with self-isolation. Shyjith Onden Cheriyath -
'Life Cycle' by Saad Al Hamady shows a composite with the photographer's six-year-old son. Shortlisted for the #HomeCaptured contest. Saad Al Hamady -
A shortlisted entry for Xposure's #HomeCaptured contest: 'Productive Way' by Ferdinand Bedana -
'Children' by Miyas Muhammed, from Sharjah, India was shortlisted in week one -
'Sadness', by Emran from Chittagong, Bangladesh was shortlisted in week one -
'Hope' by Zakaria Haddad, from Setif, Algeria was shortlisted in week one -
'Taking advantage of time' by Saqr Al Hueishl, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was shortlisted in week one -
'Lady in Turban' by Ali Raheem, from Iraq was shortlisted in week one -
'Children' by Riyas Muhammed, from Sharjah, India was shortlisted for week one -
'Walnuts' by Mohamed Ahmed, from Abu Dhabi was shortlisted in week one -
'Spices' by Danish Steiieh, from Dubai was shortlisted in week one
