• More than 400 globally acclaimed photographers and over 90 solo and group exhibitions featuring over 2,500 prints on display.
• Over 65 workshops and masterclasses, and 45 inspirational talks and sessions from global experts.
• 15 upskilling focus groups and more than 50 professional portfolio reviews.
• Trade show featuring exclusive deals from more than 18 leading manufacturers and retailers.
• Official prints to be available for art collectors, auctioneers and the public.

Sharjah: With more than 2,500 awe-inspiring and thought-provoking images from around the world, Sharjah’s Xposure International Photography Festival is gearing up to host its 8th and biggest edition, from February 28 – March 5 in Expo Centre Sharjah. These images, and the stories behind it, will be showcased on a spectacular 32,888 sqm festival platform by more than 400 visual storytellers from over 50 nations through curated exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops and more, making Xposure 2024 the world’s largest celebration of photography, film and other mediums of visual arts.

The festival organiser, Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), successfully attracted over 20,000 visitors to the 7th edition of Xposure last year and is preparing to welcome an even larger audience this year. The event promises an exciting showcase of global talent with more than 200 activities led by over 150 world-renowned photographers. The programme includes over 90 solo and group exhibitions, more than 45 inspiring talks and discussions, over 25 film screenings, and upwards of 65 expert-led workshops. Additionally, there will be over 50 professional portfolio reviews, along with several guided tours, book signings, and a trade exhibition featuring 20 international brands, all spanning the 7-day event.

Alya Al Suwaidi, Director, SGMB: Xposure 2024 Unites the World’s Visual Storytellers at Sharjah’s Largest Photography Festival Yet

Commenting on the upcoming festival, Her Excellency Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), stressed: “Xposure has ascended to global prominence throughout its previous editions, emerging as a premier artistic hub where visionaries in photography and visual arts converge. In Sharjah, they unveil a treasure of years spent in exploration, travel, and documenting every detail of life and the world.  The festival serves as a gateway, through which photographers transport us to diverse realms and nations with their exhibitions and images, showcasing a spectrum of humanitarian, developmental, aesthetic, civilizational, cultural, and social themes. It’s an invitation to engage with and support critical and noble causes.”

The SGMB Director added: “This year, the festival expands further to affirm its response to the volume of participation it annually receives from all around the world, continuing to gather the experiences of hundreds of leading photographers and transforming them into an opportunity for knowledge, learning, and understanding of successful experiences that reflect the beauty of the image and the strength of its impact.”

Empowering workshops and inspiring conversations

Those attending Xposure 2024 can secure their exclusive space to participate in a diverse array of empowering workshops led by leading industry experts from around the world. With over 65 workshops and masterclasses, these hands-on sessions cater to photographers of all skill levels, providing practical guidance and education. The festival will also host over 45 inspirational talks and sessions from elite names in photography and film, offering unique insights and experiences. This focus on education reflects Xposure’s and SGMB’s commitment to nurturing growth and skill development in the photography community.

Focus groups and portfolio reviews

Xposure 2024 will feature more 15 upskilling focus groups where attendees can expand their horizons through specific genres and techniques. More than 50 professional portfolio reviews, led by experienced photographers, will provide emerging talents with personalised feedback and guidance. These sessions further enhance the educational aspect of the festival, offering invaluable opportunities for skill enhancement and career development.

Trade show extravaganza

Professionals and enthusiasts will be excited for the return of the festival’s must-attend trade show, renowned for featuring the latest in technology, and exclusive deals from 20 leading manufacturers and retailers. Through the years, this space has served as a networking hub for professionals seeking new equipment, directors of photography, gearhouse specialists, and retailers looking to expand their offerings, and Xposure promises an even bigger extravaganza for 2024.

A call to all art collectors

For this year’s edition, Xposure once again extends a special invitation to art collectors, urging them to not only celebrate art but to “own the celebration.” Art collectors have the chance to acquire rare and iconic photography directly from the artists themselves, increasing the potential of signed prints and ultimately the value of the pieces. This unique opportunity adds a distinctive layer to the festival, emphasising the connection between collectors and the celebrated works on display, inviting people in the art world to own a piece of photographic history.

Monumental growth and continual expansion

Xposure 2024 marks another chapter in the festival’s consistent growth. From its inception in 2016, the festival has expanded year after year, solidifying its status as a global platform for photography and film professionals, enthusiasts, and all those with a love for visual art. The 2024 edition promises to be the biggest launch yet, emphasising Xposure’s commitment to providing a diverse and ever-evolving space for the global photography community. For more information and keep up to date with news and announcements visit https://xposure.net/. 

Canon will be the biggest exhibitor at The Photography & Video Show 2024 – taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, England, on 16, 17, 18 and 19 March 2024. 

Canon has the biggest stand at the show again (it takes up two huge spaces across N400 and N500!), which offers an interactive experience, where you can learn new techniques on the live shooting stage as well as pose questions to the many Canon experts on hand. 

You’ll be able to get your hands on all the latest Canon EOS R System mirrorless cameras, play with a variety of Canon lenses, plus see small to big Canon printers in action.  Visitors to this year’s event will be presented with an innovative adventure for hybrid photo and video shooting, as well as an opportunity to experience the recently launched Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z, RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM and RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lenses. 

Canon is also presenting a great line-up of ambassadors and pro photographers who will be speaking and hosting throughout the event on their stand.

There are more speakers than ever this year, with David Newton hosting group discussions with speakers unleashing and dissecting their latest photographic projects – and you can expect to hear from the likes of wildlife photographer Dani Connor, landscape photographer Jack Lodge and Dr Denise Maxwell, multi-genre international Photographer, among many others.

You can save 20% off standard tickets with our exclusive discount code when you buy in advance, or you can pay for entry on the day of the show.

The Photography & Video Show is the must-attend event of the year for photographers and videographers, and it’s the perfect place for all types of imaging whether you’re a student, amateur, professional or hobbyist. 

The show will offer four days of exclusive discounts on top kit, major brands offering hands-on experiences with new products, live talks and panels from industry experts, and pro tips and advice from exhibitors at the event.

You can keep up to date with Canon’s full speaker schedule here.

Whether you’re looking for technical advice or creative inspiration Canon’s Spotlight and Bitesize stages are the place to be. Canon ambassadors and professionals will share their stories and journeys to capturing awe-inspiring content on the Spotlight stage, while Canon experts will help you get the best from your camera with a series of practical workshops in Canon’s Bitesize area.

Here’s the full line-up of great Canon speakers at The Photography & Video Show…

Dani Connor – Wildlife photographer Dani is largely connected to nature and her surroundings, which she documents through her video diaries as a content creator. Dani has been following red squirrels for four years, creating intimate stories about the animals. After several photos and videos went viral, it led her into a career as a full-time photographer and online creator.

Dr Denise Maxwell – Denise is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning, multi-genre photographer, capturing some of the most well-known people and events. She tells her journey and knowledge of 13 years as a full- time photographer.

Donatella Nicolini – Donatella is a globally recognised portrait photographer, speaker, and educator, known for her expertise in Maternity Portraiture. She will share her journey of the importance of networking, discipline and woman empowerment in photography.

Elisa Iannacone – Canon ambassador Elisa has produced work all over the world, covering a wide range of challenging environments, which has fuelled her more personal efforts with social consciousness. She uses magical realism to address matters like human rights and healing trauma, drawing from her own traumatic experiences.

Igor Demba – Canon ambassador Igor has been in the business for over 10 years and was recently named Top Wedding Photographer in the World by Harper’s Bazaar! After travelling the world, he’s picked up bits and pieces of each culture and that inspires him to keep pushing his work creatively.

Jack Lodge – Jack is a professional landscape photographer and workshop leader. Through his photography, he captures each season, documenting the ever-changing landscape as the light and weather turn. He is a firm believer in printing his work, bringing the digital art form to life through fine-art papers.

Nick Page – Nick is an internationally recognised Landscape photographer and educator. He is the host of the Landscape Photography Podcast, has a prominent Youtube Channel, and teaches Photography workshops around the globe. He specializes in photographing powerful seascapes and dramatic weather.

Richard Heathcote – Richard is an international Sports Photographer with a vast number of sporting events under his belt. He shares the preparation and process needed for the unexpected, to capture sports biggest moments with creativity and precision using Canon technology.

Ellie Rothnie – Canon ambassador Ellie is an internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer, tour leader, and speaker, with an enduring love of birds and animal portraiture. Ellie’s use of natural light, backgrounds and foregrounds creates elegant and timeless images.

Helen Bartlett – Canon ambassador Helen is one of the UK’s most respected family photographers, celebrated for her timeless black and white images that capture the joy of childhood. With a career spanning over two decades, Helen has developed a unique style that blends candid moments and beautiful portraits.

Ian Hippolyte – One of London’s emerging talents, Ian Hippolyte endeavours to tell diverse and empowering stories through distinct fashion imagery. With an audience of over 100,000 across his social channels, Ian uses his knowledge to inspire and educate aspiring image makers worldwide.

Curt Weinhold will teach a beginner/intermediate photography class at the Potter County Artisan Center on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 1:30–3:00 pm.

Weinhold is a PaWilds juried artisan, former wedding photographer and instructor of starry sky photography at Cherry Springs State Park. He will teach students how to set up their cameras and acquaint them with shutter speed, f-stop and ISO. Also covered will be the importance of proper lighting, photo composition, landscape photography and portraits. This class focuses on cameras with interchangeable lenses. Bring cameras to class.

To register call 814-274-8165. The co-op is located at 227 N. Main Street and is open from 12-4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

(CNN) – An image of a napping polar bear curled up on an iceberg captured the hearts of voters to win this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.

The photo, called “Ice Bed,” was captured by British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani off Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago.

While on an expedition vessel, Sarikhani saw the young male polar bear climb onto the small iceberg, and using his paws, carve out a bed for himself. He took a photo of the moment the bear drifted off to sleep, according to a press release.

Sarikhani says he wants his photo to inspire hope that there’s still time to reverse climate change.

“There is still time to fix the mess we have caused,” he said in the press release.

“Ice Bed” was chosen as the competition winner from a shortlist of 25 images. Those were narrowed down from around 50,000 entries.

More than 75,000 people voted in the competition, a record number.

In addition to the winner, there are four finalists. All five images will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London through June 30.

Copyright 2024 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. Gray News contributed to this report.

At the Feb. 13 meeting, members of the Grand Canyon Photography Club will hear a presentation, “And Then There Was Light,” by member John Newell.

The program will begin at the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center at 7 p.m. after a short business meeting.

Using subjects and lights, Newell will demonstrate some of the ways in which the six characteristics of light influence the visual description of a subject in a photograph.

The six are brightness, color, contrast, direction, diffuseness and specularity.

Learning to consider how each of the six, individually and in combination, contributes to the photographic image will help the photographer in deciding what changes in lighting are required to attain desired changes in how the subject appears in the photograph.

Newell has been interested in photography for many years and began as a portrait photographer. Having worked predominantly with film, he is transitioning to digital.

Photographer Flor Garduño perhaps isn’t as celebrated as many other fine art photographers in the world, making it even more of a treat. Peruse her images, and you’ll find how she used lighting to make flowers look like fire, fruits look like organs, and scenes that have set the bar for many photographers who came after her. Flor’s photographs are at the center of a new pop-up exhibit at SOL LDN, lasting only February 15 – 20th. And that means that you’ve got a very limited amount of time to see her work in person.

All images by Flor Garduño. Used with permission from SOL LDN. Please visit their website for more information. More of Flor’s work can be found on her website.

Sol’s images are a thing of beauty. Born in Mexico in 1957, she was first inspired to take up photography when she was very young. Through the encouragement of a teacher, Flor did more than just make photographs. She got into various types of printing, like palladium platinum and printing her photographic portfolios in silver on gelatin. Unfortunately, these are mostly forgotten processes these days — though if you ever get a chance to see this kind of work up close and personal, you’ll realize exactly what you’ve been missing by being bedazzled by Instagram all day.

Her career has been spent shooting beautiful images and getting to know the life of the indigenous people of Mexico. It involved portraiture, architecture, mystery, and the elements.

Work from Flor Garduño is bound to inspire so many different photographers. If you’re a travel photographer, you’ll understand what it’s like to gain the trust of the people that you’re photographing and to be slow about your work. Documentary photographers will also find beauty in how she frames her images. Those who like black and white are bound to be dumbfounded by the work she does, along with her specific use of lighting to tell the eye where to look in the frame. Flor’s work also involves much portraiture, especially with the female nude form.

Try to search for “fine art photographer Mexico” in Google, and you’ll be presented with not a whole lot of historically great images. Instead, you’ll yield searches on wedding photographers who shoot in a fine art style. But Flor’s work is starkly different. Her images don’t seem to have the idea of a commercial aspect to them being put at the fore. Instead, there are documentary and journalistic credentials that are present. It’s about telling a story that isn’t given a whole lot of spotlight.

However, this exhibit is a pop-up, and you can visit it in London for a limited amount of time. A lot of our readers are based in London and many of our readers tend to travel. So if you’re around, we recommend visiting this gallery and taking in the work.

More importantly, we as photographers also need to understand that this form is starting to go away and deteriorate. All the work that photographers in the past have done to help people realize that photography is art is going to disappear if we don’t make conscious efforts to try to make prints and experiment with alternative processes.

My mother, Joyce Edwards, who has died aged 99, was a photographer and the landlady of a ramshackle Hampstead home whose actor and artist tenants she captured in thousands of recently discovered portraits.

She supported artists and actors with reasonable rents so that they could concentrate on their careers; among those were Ivor Cutler, the celebrated Scottish humorist; the actor Elizabeth Shepherd; Vladek Sheybal, a James Bond screen villain; and the actor Henry Woolf, a close friend of the playwright Harold Pinter.

View image in fullscreen

Born in Darlington, County Durham, where her father was working briefly before returning home to Ipswich, in Suffolk, Joyce was the daughter of Elsie (nee Postle) and John Fisher, a civil servant. She went to a local convent school, then studied at Ipswich Art School until moving to London in 1945.

While staying at a hostel in Chelsea, she met Jack Edwards, also a civil servant, and they began a relationship and had a son, me, with Joyce changing her surname by deed poll.

In 1949, her father bought her a ramshackle house near Hampstead Heath in north London. Joyce, Jack and I moved into the basement, and the upper floors were rented out. After my parents separated in 1957, Joyce took up photography.

She bought a Rolleiflex camera and began taking photographs of me and others, including her tenants, later moving on to more compact cameras. She set up a makeshift darkroom next to her bedroom, lovingly creating fine prints.

In the early 1970s, she sought advice at the Camden Camera Club but did not enjoy the male-dominated environment. The group occasionally hired models for “figure studies”, and in one session Joyce turned her lens on to the men sweating behind their cameras, the sequence winning first prize in a national competition held by Amateur Photographer magazine in 1973.

She found a more sympathetic environment at Camden Co-optic, taking part in group shows there, and at evening classes at the Mary Ward Centre in Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury.

View image in fullscreen

At the age of 55, Joyce discovered a community of squatters in Bethnal Green, east London, and it became a major portrait project. A photographer friend, Bob Phillips, later helped her digitise these images and collect them in a book, Late 1970s London Counter Culture, published in 2010.

Joyce continued to take photographs, participate in shows at home and abroad, and meet with friends from her groups to discuss their work until the end of her life. However, the extent of her collection, in particular the early images, was not known until recently.

In the last few months of her life, a friend and film-maker, Derek Smith, with a view to mounting a small exhibition for her centenary, went through the boxes of prints, contact sheets and negative files stashed throughout the house, and was amazed by the volume and quality of her work. He is now making a documentary of her life and work, and a solo show of her photographs is planned for 2025.

Joyce is survived by me and a grandson, Antony.

The Happy Turtle: A Balkan pond turtle shares a moment of peaceful coexistence with a northern banded groundling dragonfly in Israel’s Jezreel Valley. The photographer only snapped this image when he noticed that instead of snapping up the insect, the turtle appeared to be experiencing pleasure from the interaction in the midst of the swamp’s murky waters. Image Courtesy: Tzahi Finkelstein/Wildlife Photographer of the Year