Sharjah Light Festival taps into local photography talent in collaboration with FotoUAE
The 13th Sharjah Light Festival (SLF), which will take place from 7 to 18 February 2024, offers several specialized workshops and a photowalk in collaboration with FotoUAE, a platform dedicated to supporting photographers from the United Arab Emirates through the online publication of photos taken in the country.
These activities, carefully designed to meet different interests and skill levels, aim to provide participants with mentoring and guidance to improve their skills.
Maysoun Hassan Al Hosany, Head of Media Department at SCTDA, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with the FotoUAE platform to provide various experiences for photography enthusiasts during the 13th Sharjah Light Festival. We aim to enrich the content visual and photographic display of the festival and encourage the public to showcase their talents by providing them with a unique opportunity to capture the essence of the festival of lights. This partnership reflects the SCTDA’s commitment to cultivating local talent, inspiring young people and making Sharjah a destination for art, culture and heritage in the region.”
To begin the series, amateurs embarked on a photographic journey under the direction of Ola Allouz, founder of FotoUAE, during the “Al Dhaid Fort Photowalk”, on February 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A photo walk is a collective activity where camera enthusiasts come together as a group to walk around and take inspired photos of their surroundings, sharing experiences and learning from each other. This unique experience invited participants to explore the historic Al Dhaid Fort and capture the enchanting light displays of SLF 2024 in a unique setting.
On February 12, the advanced workshops will begin with the “Double Exposure” workshop, led by Allouz and organized in collaboration with Fujifilm, the leading manufacturer of imaging equipment and cameras. The workshop will take place at Khalid Lagoon in Al Majaz, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and will teach participants the intricacies of creating photographic compositions using the double exposure technique. Participants will apply what they have learned to the light shows at Khalid Lagoon and Al Noor Mosque.
For those intrigued by the art of telling a visual story through photography, the “Storytelling Workshop” with instructor Abdalla AlAstad is scheduled for February 13, at the Al Hamriyah New General Souq in Sharjah, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Participants will discover the art of conveying stories through visual storytelling and improve their photography skills, reflecting the story and message of the light show in white through their lenses.
On February 14, the “iPhone Workshop” with instructor Muhammad Alchaar will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sharjah Mosque. This workshop is designed to harness the potential of mobile photography, exploring creative techniques and approaches under the guidance of an experienced professional. Participants will capture the beauty of the mosque’s architectural and Islamic details illuminated in the light show titled “A Sublime Canvas.”
The series concludes with a “Videography Workshop” in collaboration with Fujifilm, scheduled for February 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the iconic Sharjah Police Headquarters building. Led by Ram Manoj, this workshop will guide participants through the intricacies of videography, giving them valuable insights on how to capture engaging visual narratives while showcasing the unique architectural details of this modern landmark.
The partnership extends to a competition managed by FotoUAE, where the participant with the most outstanding work for each activity will receive a prize sponsored by the Sharjah Trade and Tourism Development Authority.
WAM
