Xposure captures world’s inspiring moments
sharjah — His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the third edition of Xposure International Photography Festival on Wednesday at the Sharjah Expo Centre.
The opening of the event, which will run till Saturday, was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and other government officials. It is organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) under the theme ‘Inspiring Moments’.
Over 90 celebrated photographers from all seven continents have brought the best of their works, and hundreds of them are on display at the 34 galleries in the exhibition space.
Dr Sheikh Sultan met several participating photographers and congratulated them for their brilliant contributions to the field. The Sharjah Ruler also visited the photography trade shows by leading brands and exhibitions by acclaimed professional institutions.
At the opening ceremony, Sheikh
Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC), reiterated the importance of images in communicating messages in a language that the world understands, and their capacity to show the truth, disseminate knowledge, give birth to new friendships and bring peace.
“Photographs communicate critical messages and stimulate human conscience. They have a way of entering our consciousness, our hearts and minds effortlessly,” he added.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi showed the audience photojournalist Mustafa Hassona’s recent picture of a bare-chested Palestinian holding a large flag and wielding a sling over his head in Gaza, shot amid protests on a beach close to the border.
“What emotions did the picture evoke? How did it reach so many people? Why has it gone viral? The whole world is talking about it. The photo crystalises the Palestinian cause in one, hair-raising moment. It brings before our eyes the hardships and struggles that Palestinians in Gaza have been facing for decades.”
He called photographers ‘truthmakers’, and applauded their unfailing dedication as ‘transmitters of information, knowledge and beauty’, given their paramount role in documenting the past and present, and serving humanity, history and the future. He called on them to ensure that their photographs always represent the truth.