Who to meet at this month’s Xposure Photography & Film Festival 2021 in Sharjah

Four days of exhibitions, demos, and workshops from a stellar line-up of photographers are set to take place at Xposure International Photography Festival 2021 this month. We get the lowdown on some of the stars…

How would you categorise your work?

I’m an environmental photojournalist. I investigate the impact that mankind is having on our planet. Our wildlife is in turmoil. As photographers we have an opportunity to broadcast the truth.

How did you get into photography?

I left behind the corporate world a decade ago to study wildlife photography in Africa. My goal was the document the natural world. However, I soon saw that wildlife was under threat. Documenting these stories became my focus.

What are you driven by? Exposing cruelty and suffering, and creating change. There is nothing more satisfying as a photojournalist than having a tangible impact.

What has been the proudest moment in your career?

Holding the first copy of Animosity, my new book, and being a winner at Wildlife Photographer of the Year are highlights, but the smaller victories are just as important. Shark finning communities in Mozambique stopped eating toxic shark meat as a result of a documentary I worked on. I’m proud of that.

What’s the most inspiring photograph you’ve seen? Brent Stirton’s image of a murdered gorilla in Conga helped to inspire a generation of conservationists. The fact that one image can do so much for a cause should be a source of inspiration to us all. What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?

Absorb, never stop learning. Volunteer. Persevere. Don’t get too hung up on gear; it’s the storytelling that matters. Enter competitions. Be creative and prepare to break the rules.