Xposure International Photography Festival is back with its 6th edition, offering a fresh round of exhibitions and workshops, the latest in leading photography and filmmaking technology, and the festival’s first-ever Conservation Summit. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) and taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from February 9 – 15, this year’s edition forges ahead with Xposure’s vision to make photography a catalyst for positive change. With everything that is in store this year, even seasoned visitors might find navigating the festival dizzying. Use our helpful guide below to make the most of Xposure 2022.

At this year’s exhibitions and seminars, visitors can mingle with a select group of 70 of the photography world’s celebrated names, gaining tips and tricks from the masters of the visual craft themselves.

Among the photographers on the roster are prominent names such as Steve McCurry, whose haunting portrait of a young Afghan girl was named the ‘most recognisable photograph’ in National Geographic’s history, as well as homegrown talents such as Sharjah-born Majid Al Bastaki, who documents the UAE’s libraries, museums, and cultural centres in his work. Xposure 2022 features 45 solo and group exhibitions that collectively narrate more than 1,600 compelling visual stories.

Visitors can explore impactful images of wildlife and the environment, discover the fascinating world of the oceans, learn from travel-based stories, ancient cultures and peek into the joys of everyday moments.

On February 10, an impressive line-up of marine biologists, National Geographic photographers, and members of the International League of Conservation Photographers will gather at Xposure’s first-ever Conservation Summit under the theme “Saving our Oceans” to explore hope and solutions for ocean conservation in a panel discussion. Visitors can also attend seminars beginning with Brian Skerry’s exploration of the groundbreaking science of whale culture and its startling human parallels.

Laurent Ballesta will round off the day’s sessions by sharing his experiences with some of the world’s rarest and most elusive marine creatures.

In a series of exciting seminars, the featured photographers will discuss their creative processes, the themes and concerns of their work, and the causes they serve through their photography. Visitors can listen to inspiring talks that highlight the impact of photography’s power to tell stories and discover how the awe-inspiring images unite cultures around the world. The festival will host 26 workshops led by renowned photographers teaching everything from creative tools like focal length and framing to all aspects of shooting a personal project.

In a series of in-depth focus groups, participants can engage in open-ended discussions and ask individual questions, while daily portfolio reviews will give aspiring photographers a chance to receive professional opinions on their work.