Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi Honours Global Talents At Xposure Photography Awards 2024

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC), recently celebrated the achievements of photographers at the 8th edition of the Xposure International Photography Awards. The ceremony, which took place on March 3rd, was a significant event in the global photography community, recognizing outstanding talents across various categories. With a generous prize pool of $60,000, the awards saw Alena Grom from Ukraine taking home the grand prize for her poignant work "Stolen Spring IV," which captures the profound impact of war on the natural world.

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) organized this prestigious event, drawing over 25,000 entries from photographers in 190 countries. The competition was fierce, with submissions from nations including China, India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Egypt, the USA, and the United Kingdom. The awards featured 10 categories plus an overall winner and introduced a new "See Sharjah" category to highlight the emirate's beauty through the lens of talented visual storytellers.

A panel comprising 32 industry professionals and critics judged the entries. The "See Sharjah" category alone attracted 660 submissions across its subcategories: Cultural Heritage, Nature and Scenic Beauty, People and Daily Life, and Urban Landscapes. Winners in these subcategories included Sulaiman Eid Alhammadi for Cultural Heritage and Salem Alsawafi for Nature and Scenic Beauty. In the People and Daily Life subcategory, Rajesh Balakrishnan Menon took the top spot, while Majid Al Bastaki was recognized in Urban Landscapes.

The Mobile Photography Category saw Naitao Li winning and Joy Saha as runner-up, both sponsored by Samsung. Similarly, in the Night Photography category sponsored by Samsung, Xuejun Long emerged victorious with Filip Hrebenda securing the runner-up position. The Junior Photographers Category and Photojournalism Category were sponsored by Canon, celebrating Jamal Bazzari and Patryk Jarcaz as winners respectively.

Other notable winners included Murat Bakmaz in Architectural Photography, Isbaella Tabbachi in Aerial Photography, and Fede Kortez in Portraiture Photography. The event also acknowledged significant contributions from local and global entities such as Sharjah Media City, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and Sharjah Performing Arts Academy. These partnerships have been instrumental in fostering the growth and recognition of photography talent worldwide.

The Xposure International Photography Awards continue to serve as a platform for photographers to showcase their work on an international stage. With each edition, it brings to light new perspectives and stories through the art of photography, enriching the global cultural landscape.

With inputs from WAM