Sharjah 24: “Hear a piece of information and it stays with you for three days; but look at a picture, and it stays with you forever,” said internationally acclaimed street photographer, Vineet Vohra, reinforcing the power of photography at the sixth edition of Xposure International Photography Festival, currently underway at Expo Centre Sharjah.

At a session titled, ‘Serendipity on the Streets’, Vohra, one of the most influential street photographers today, explained that the medium is an excellent way to showcase one’s soul. He said: “You shoot what you are. Your curiosity as a street photographer allows you to capture people, things and moments that define your soul.”

Explaining his process, Vohra highlighted the important role that serendipity plays in street photography, which is the innate ability to make desirable discoveries by accident. The multi-awarded cameraman pointed out the three key elements that enhance street photography—proximity, similarity, and closure.

“The secret lies in your ability to find beauty in everything. A photograph is not just about sight; it is also about insight. It’s not just about showing, but also about hiding. What resonates in my work are those tiny moments—like being able to push the pause button of a movie,” said the self-taught street photographer.

At Xposure 2022, the celebrated lensman shared images of various festivals in India, including the Maha Khumbh Mela and the Lathmar Holi, all of which depict a heady mix of colour, culture and chaos. Other outstanding pictures were those captured around the streets of Old Delhi in the Indian capital city.

“The beauty of street photography is when you look at the picture and come up with as many interpretations as you can,” said the photographer whose work skillfully combines content, composition, and light to make compelling photographs.

“All of these are happy coincidences. Ideally, the first place to start shooting is your very own neighborhood, which is a strong representation of who you are and where you come from,” concluded Vohra.

Taking the monochromatic route
In a session titled, ‘Monochrome Photography Today’, London-based Alan Schaller, who specialises in black and white street photography, discussed how he has developed his niche in black and white photography and why it remains relevant even today.

“I was attracted to the idea of how much you can leave out in an image and what it does to people’s imagination and how I can engage them if I didn’t include everything,” confessed Schaller.

“Photography is like having a time capsule,” said the 32-year-old photographer. “If a picture is not interesting today it might become interesting 50 years later.”

Schaller pointed out that monochromes require a different mindset and approach and are not vintage or old school as is generally perceived. In his images of pigeons flying in New York City, a girl in a pensive mood in the London tube, or that of an elderly Vietnamese woman climbing down the steps, Schaller makes light a central character of his work, and pays attention to the details in the shadows.

Organised the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Xposure 2022 continues its run at Expo Centre Sharjah from 10 am to 10 pm until Tuesday, February 15, 2022.