Winners Of The 9th Xposure International Photography Awards Highlight Global Creativity In Visual Storytelling

The 9th Xposure International Photography Awards concluded with a grand celebration, recognising photographers from 162 countries. Over 10,000 entries were submitted across nine categories. Pyaephyo Thetpaing emerged as the overall winner with his captivating image, "The Fishing Boys." Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the festival highlights photography's power to connect and share human experiences.

The awards ceremony was led by Tariq Saeed Allay and HE Alya Al Suwaidi of SGMB. A distinguished jury, including Giles Clarke and Wiktoria Michałkiewicz, provided insights on the winning works. They praised Pyaephyo Thetpaing's black-and-white photo for its exceptional use of light and storytelling.

In the Junior Photography category, Rithved Girishkumar won for "Guardians Of The Hive," showcasing community and nature. Madhav Manu was runner-up with "Light Show," exploring urban energy. These young talents highlight the creativity emerging from UAE-based photographers under 18.

The Architecture category saw Shyjith Ondencheriyath win with "Nordic Elegance," a minimalist tribute to Scandinavian design. Tanveer Hassan's "Re-Imagine The City" earned runner-up status for its abstract urban geometry portrayal.

Samsung sponsored the 'Mobile Phone' and 'Night Photography' categories, spotlighting technical creativity. Aung Chanthar's "Fishermen" captured Myanmar’s Inle Lake workers in golden light, winning the mobile category. Ziaul Huque's "Education For Light" highlighted resilience in Bangladesh’s classrooms as runner-up.

Marian Kuric won Night Photography with "DOOM," a study of abandoned industrial sites. Marcio A Esteves mesmerised as runner-up with "C for Fireworks," an urban spectacle of lights.

Nature, Landscape, and Street Photography Highlights

Lakshitha Karunarathna's "A Dangerous Addiction" exposed wildlife trapped in plastic waste, winning Nature and Landscape. Petar Sabol’s "Perfect Dragonflies" was runner-up for its depiction of insect symmetry. In Street Photography, Mary Crnkovic’s "Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition" won for its wit, while Osama Alsulami’s "Sleep" took second place.

Sports Photography honoured Isa Ebrahim’s "African Football," capturing youthful energy vibrantly. Nurlan Tahirli’s "Slip" documented a Gymnastics World Cup error to earn runner-up status.

Portraiture and Photo Manipulation Excellence

The Portraiture category celebrated Antonio Aragon’s "The Dancer," a tribute to movement and identity. Andrew Rovenko’s introspective "The Shuttle" was named runner-up. In Photo Manipulation & AI, Alena Ivochkina won with "Open Question," blending reality and imagination seamlessly.

Qian Shen’s ethereal "The Lotus Fairy 3" received runner-up honours in this innovative category.

The ceremony concluded with SGMB reaffirming its dedication to nurturing photographic talent and cultural exchange. The 2025 awards will continue celebrating technical brilliance while reinforcing photography's storytelling power. Xposure remains a vital platform for global storytellers, proving that a single frame can transcend borders and inspire imagination worldwide.

With inputs from WAM