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An 'xposure' of heritage, culture and more at UAE photo exhibition

Dubai - Amer Al Ali will exhibit his works under the title 'A Portrait of Heritage'.

Two Emiratis will be among a roster of internationally renowned photographers at Xposure 2019, a photo exhibition happening from September 19-22 at Expo Centre Sharjah. It will feature the works of 357 lensmen who are presenting humanitarian and environmental issues as well as cultural understanding in stunning images.

Amer Al Ali will exhibit his works under the title "A Portrait of Heritage" while Rashed Almazrouei will showcase his travel, portraiture and street photography.

Whether it's a caravan of camel on a voyage across the Arabian desert or a photo of a worker keeping alive the traditional craft of dhow-building, Amer has achieved his goal of raising awareness about the Emirati heritage among the international audience.

Born in 1985, Amer started his journey of photography in 2010 and experimented on multiple subjects but eventually settled on culture and heritage.

He said his works, which have been showcased in various exhibitions, are focused on "exploring deeper into the local places and faces of Emirati heritage". He also deems it as his responsibility to showcase his Emirati forefathers and relate them with the present generation.

Aside from showcasing the Emirati culture to the world through photography, Amer is also organising photography workshops to educate and improve the skills of young and budding photographers.

For Rashed, his photos are candid shots and portraits mainly with family members and friends during his numerous travels around the world.

Born in 1978 in Abu Dhabi, Rashed currently works for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). He started dabbling in photography back in 2000, when he bought his first camera during a trip to attend Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany.

His hobby took a serious turn in 2013, after he joined a group called "Photowalk Dubai". Then he became more passionate about photography and was able to enhance his skills by learning from his peers.

An extrovert by nature, Rashed loves to interact with people, and he found photography as his best way to enhance that connection.

"Photography is a window to the world, which looks different through the lens. Photography has the power to connect people. It gives me the opportunity to explore the world, learn about people, their customs and traditions, cultures and arts," he said.

Rashed also gave a piece of advice: "If you like shooting culture and history, India is the best choice. If you are interested in portraits or street photography, you will find there lots of people, mysticism and incredible landscapes. India is the reason I fell in love with travel photography and elevated my skills to the next level.

"No matter how busy the streets are, or how suffocating when turmeric powder fills your lung and burns your eyes in the middle of thousands of people celebrating 'Haldi Festival', the experience itself and the beautiful images I get from it are all worth it," he added.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Xposure 2019 will see celebrated photographers, including Joe McNally, Aidan, J Sullivan, Kathy Moran, Antonio Aragon Renuncio, Kathy Moran, Essdras M Suarez and Juan Jose Reyes, among many others, in attendance.
angel@khaleejtimes.com