Sharjah 24: Within its programme for 2021 Autumn, Sharjah Art Foundation(SAF’s) annual photography initiative, Vantage Point Sharjah, organises the 9th edition from 18 September to 18 October in Al Hamriya studios.

The exhibition features works by 53 photographers from 30 countries, selected from an open call that received more than 500 submission in four categories: conceptual, experimental, photojournalism and documentary, sand staged photography.

The nearly 200 images on view present an evocative and inspiring insight into the life and concerns of individuals from around the world.

The wide range of work presented in this year’s exhibition showcases the unique and limitless possibilities of photography as a medium. Through their lens, the photographers explore the world around them, drawing from personal experiences and narratives, as well as their cultural, political and environmental conditions. Some works reveal intimate portraits of family life and memories, while others reflect on the often troubled history and politics of their homeland.

Since its launch in 2013, Vantage Point Sharjah has focused in a variety of themes including “Self-Portraiture”, “Performance”, and “Architecture and Urban Landscape”.

Accompanying this year’s edition is a series of dynamic learning programmes focused on photography for children and families as well as youth and adults. Workshops for children and families teach skills such as setting up a home studio, best practices for smart phone photography and how to use a green screen. Participants will document their world in lessons on portraiture, wildlife photography and more. Youth and adults can develop skills in digital and analog photography, and then apply them in workshops on photojournalism, portraiture, and documenting our built and natural world. The learning programme will also offer public talks by artists and journalists.