Masters Timothy Allen and Erik Johansson Offer New Perspectives on Art of Photography

Internationally acclaimed photographers Timothy Allen and Erik Johansson kicked off the last day’s auditorium sessions at the Sharjah International Photography Festival, Xposure 2017, with both introducing their take on the different philosophies and methodologies behind the art of photography.

In the first session, Allen, the world renowned travel photographer, reviewed and discussed the works of five winners of TAPSA (Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship Award) Magdalena Konik, Chris Roche, Thomas Cytrynowicz, Ana Caroline de Lima and Priska Seisenbacher. He spoke to the winners and asked them about the details, the context and the purpose of the winning photographs.

The winners were selected on the basis of originality, composition and technical quality of their submissions (photographs). The awards were established by Allen in 2016, in cooperation with Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the organisers of Xposure International Photography Festival. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC) awarded certificates to the winners towards the end of the session.

In the second session, Erik Johansson worked on some images on-the-spot, to create the magical photographs that he is known for. Erik is an artist based in Prague, who creates surreal images by recombining photographs and other materials. He captures ideas by combining images in new ways to create what looks like a real photograph, yet with logical inconsistencies to impart an effect of surrealism.

During this interactive session, Erik shared detailed about the methodology behind his work and how he combines the elements of reality to create a harmonious surrealism. He also performed a live shoot of smaller scale elements and demonstrated how objects are blended into his final creative composites.

Erik later answered queries from the audiences about the mix of technical and creative aspects that help in creation of beautiful images.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) attended the two sessions and graced the concluding day of successful 4-day International Photography Festival, Xposure 2017, held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Over the past four days, Xposure 2017 has conducted many such informative workshops and sessions on issues related to photography. The second International Photography Festival, Xposure 2017, has been organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.