Sharjah Media City (Shams) has announced plans to participate in the seventh edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, held from 9 to 15 February 2023 at Expo Sharjah, and organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.

The festival focuses on the art of photography, exploring key topics in a series of panel discussions and workshops, and hosting acclaimed international photographers. Shams is taking part in this year’s edition with a series of activities and events that aim to showcase the latest technologies in photography, which can be repurposed to develop every field within the media sector.

H.E Shihab Alhammadi, Managing Director at Sharjah Media City, said: “At Shams, we believe that photography is a central pillar at the heart of all other forms of media. Images are essential for creating content – both traditional and digital – and this compels us to support photographic arts and nurture talented individuals and professionals in the field. Our continuous participation in the Xposure International Photography Festival reflects this commitment and highlights our role in promoting the entire media industry with its various creative sectors.”

“We are delighted to be participating in this year’s edition of the festival, where we are collaborating with various entities across the Emirate of Sharjah, including the House of Wisdom,” H.E. added. “We are also planning to announce our distinguished new projects during this edition of Xposure, which are designed to nurture talents in the photography sector, as part of our continuous efforts to train and empower media professionals in various disciplines.”

Shams’ booth at the festival hosts a series of events and activities, including an exhibition of photos that had participated in the ‘Capture Sharjah’ programme, organised by the House of Wisdom. This reflects Shams’ commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders in the Emirate of Sharjah to support talent in the photography sector. ‘Capture Sharjah’ is an interactive programme designed to teach participants the art and skills of photography, while giving them the opportunity to visit the emirate’s most prominent landmarks and take pictures that highlight the aesthetics of its society, culture, architecture, astronomy facilities, and wildlife.

Sharjah Media City is also launching a special photography competition called Shams Challenge, in an effort to support talented people in the field. The competition calls on talented photographers to take pictures of Sharjah’s landmarks, share them under the hashtag #Shams_Challenge, and send them to Shams’ Instagram account (@shamssmc). Participating photos are then evaluated and a group of winners will be announced to receive special gifts.

By participating in Xposure 2023, Shams provides talented individuals an opportunity to showcase their photography skills and display their best photos at the exhibition Shams is holding inside its pavilion during the festival, which includes photos participants have taken and modified using the latest artificial intelligence technologies.

Since its establishment, Sharjah Media City has participated in every session of the Xposure International Photography Festival. Last year, Shams organised eight photography workshops, in addition to designating a space in its exhibition for Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, where People of Determination could showcase photographs that they have taken. Shams also held the ‘Pick and Click’ photo contest, where visitors to the booth could sharpen their photography skills.

Xposure International Photography Festival is the most influential event of its kind, focusing on the art of photography, discussing issues photographers face, and honouring the role they play in public issues. In addition to individual and group photography workshops, along with the discussion sessions on the agenda, the festival offers photographers from around the world a chance to win the Xposure International Photography Award and the Independent Photojournalist Award. This year, the festival welcomes 74 photographers, including accomplished and renowned art photographers, who will lead inspiring dialogues, panel discussions, seminars, and workshops.