Slidefest X - 15th May 2013

The tenth edition of Slidefest organised by Gulf Photo Plus is on this Wednesday, 15th May at 7pm in the Knowledge Village Auditorium. Slidefest started in 2009 and it's so great to see that it will celebrate 10 editions this week. Over the past few years, Slidefest has been a showcase of some very good photography projects, most of it from the region.

If you are new to Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects, from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

Here's the line up for this edition: 

Christopher Pike

© Christopher Pike

Majlis al Jinn: Gathering Place of Spirits is a series chronicling the escapades of the Middle East Caving and Expeditionary Team (MECET), who in their first year of existence, took on a quite serious cave system, (which includes the ninth largest cave chamber in the world), on the Selma Plateau 100km south-east of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.

The system has seen few visitors with less then half a dozen known teams having ever entered the far reaches of the caves. All but one member are new to caving and at an average of -200 meters underground any mistake can be very serious if not deadly, luckily though the group has survived thus far and has learnt from food/water shortages, hyperthermia, flooding caves among many other valuable lessons.

The series looks at the beauty of darkness as well as what it takes to survive deep underground in Oman.

http://www.cpike.com 

Edwin Koo

© Edwin Koo

Swat Valley, nestled in the northwest of Pakistan, was once known as the “Switzerland of the East”. Renowned for its natural beauty, hospitable people and surreal tranquillity, men and women from all over the world flocked to its folds, in search of paradise on earth.

Today, nobody goes to Swat. The valley was first scourged by the terror of the Taliban, then by Pakistan’s worst flood in history. Very little of “paradise” remain. The conflict and subsequent hardship endured by the people of Swat had robbed them of their paradise. Innocence, once lost, could never again be found.       

http://www.edwinkoo.com 

Melina Mitri

#webuiltthiscity

The #webuiltthiscity initiative is first and foremost dedicated to the founding fathers of the UAE and the current rulers who continue their legacy.  Inspired by National Day, participants uploaded images of places, people and moments captured through out the UAE.

Uploading them to Instagram with the hashtag #webuiltthiscity the initative resulted is a variety of unique perspectives of the UAE, a selection of which are being shared at Slidefest.

http://shopatsauce.com/webuiltthiscity 

Nicolas Dumont

© Nicolas Dumont

Nicolas has worked as a professional photographer for more than 21 years, and has based himself in the United Arab Emirates since 1991. Specializing in photography for the hospitality sector, his portrait series is a break from his professional subject matter.

In a unique approach to portraits, Nicolas convinced his subjects to allow him to drench them in water for an unusual and striking series of portraits.

http://nicolasdumont.virb.com

Imran Ahmed

© Imran Ahmed

Having grown up in the UAE in the 70's Imran remembers Dubai as a different city then what stands today.  Presenting a collection of images capturing the Kushti wrestling that occurs on Fridays in Deira, Imran aims to share the nostalgia that the events bring to him, of childhood days gone by, playing in wide open dusty playgrounds. 

http://www.pbase.com/dxbimran 
http://www.photoimran.com

Sami Al Tokhais 

© Sami Al Tokhais

The last week in Sami’s month-long stay in Guatemala was Semana Santa or Holy Week.  During Holy Week, thousands of people participate in processions, which are inspired by Biblical passages.

These processions include people walking in a formal and ceremonial manner carrying lifelike wooden sculptures that represent events from the “Passion of Christ.” Sami covered Holy Thursday in the town of Antigua, and Good Friday in the capital, Guatemala City.  

http://samitphotography.com

Sebastian Opitz

© Sebastian Opitz

Originally from Hamburg, Germany, it was here in Dubai that Sebastian discovered his interest in architectural photography, which became the focus of his interest now and for the last three years.  

After working on a number of architectural photography assignments throughout the region, Sebastian interest has turned to timelapse photography.  Capturing stunning time lapses of the city, Sebastian has focused on the city of Dubai for his 2013 personal project.  

In a nutshell, he intends to present Dubai as a futuristic city on a planet in a distant galaxy.

http://www.ablazewithlight.com

Stephan Geyer 

© Stephan Geyer

Born in Barcelona, Stephan Geyer immigrated to Latin America with his family at an early age and grew up living in 3 continents. Stephan began photographing at a very young age with a Minolta film camera his father gave him.

Largely self-taught, travel and photography were two passions that began at a young age for Geyer. Traveling recently to Nepal, Geyer will share images of the stunning landscapes encountered along his journey through Island Peak.

http://www.stephangeyer.com 

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 15th May, doors open at 7pm, Slidefest begins at 7.30pm.
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

CMYK - A Community Exhibition at Gulf Photo Plus

 

CMYK is a new photography exhbition opening on 1st May 2013 at Gulf Photo Plus.

The photos in the exhibition were selected from over 1000 submissions after Gulf Photo Plus reached out to the local and international community of photography enthusiasts, encouraging them to submit work for the chance to be featured in their next exhibition. 

The theme of the exhibition CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black [Key]) comes from the CMYK colour model used in the printing process, and also denotes the four categories of the show. 

CMYK_C by Prasad Sadanandan

It's great to see Gulf Photo Plus hosting an event like this as it's an opportunity for photography enthusiasts to think how they can take their work to the next level and hopefully encourage them to submit some of their best work. Who knows, there might be a future star photographer in this show. 

Do go and check it out and show some support to initiatives that support the local community. 

CMYK_Y by Sharmin Choudhury

CMYK_K by Sayed Abd Algalil

Event details
Dates: 1st-31st May 2013. Opening night 1st May 1, 7pm - open to the public.
Venue: Gulf Photo Plus, Alserkal Avenue,  Unit D36, Street 8, Al Quoz 1 (location map)

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Slidefest IX - 30th January 2013

© Farah Al-Qasimi

The ninth edition of Slidefest organised by Gulf Photo Plus is back this month, on Wednesday, 30th January at 7pm in the Knowledge Village Auditorium. 

Slidefest started in 2009 and it's one of the few events in Dubai that is consistently good and showcases some very interesting photography projects.

If you are new to Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects, from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

Here's the line up for this month: 

Ammar Al Attar

© Ammar Al Attar

Ammar Al Attar will present his "Prayer Rooms" series which he photographed across the UAE (and feaured on this blog a few months ago).  

These informal worship areas are ubiquitous, providing Muslims a place for their five prayers a day regardless of their location. 

The decorative elements of these interiors are incredibly humble, in line with Islamic architectural tenets and in contrast to the exterior opulence of the UAE’s architectural development. Serenity and stillness are common elements in these makeshift rooms, transforming their spatial reality as industrial caravans or rooms in malls and business centers, to that of spiritual sanctuaries.

Catalin Marin

© Catalin Marin

Back from a recent trip to the Antarctica, Catalin Marin is another photographer who has been featured on this blog before. He goes on the most amazing trips and for this edition of Slidefest he will be sharing photos from his recent trip to the Antartica. How cool is that?

Catalin Marin is a an award-winning commercial and corporate photographer based in Dubai, specializing in architectural and interior photography as well as corporate and environmental portraits. His blog, Momentary Awe has won the 2011 best photoblog for Asia and Oceania at the Photoblog Awards.

Farah Al-Qasimi

© Farah Al-Qasimi

Farah Al-Qasimi will be presenting a series titled White Pearl, Black Gold, images that were shot in the UAE, capturing private spaces and intimate interiors almost completely void of people, yet telling a story of the inhabitants within each space.  

Farah Al-Qassimi completed a BA in Fine Art at Yale University, where she started studying contemporary music and electronic composition, but eventually felt a pull towards the visual arts. Farah currently lives in Abu Dhabi, where she works at New York University Abu Dhabi. 

Farah Nosh

© Farah Nosh

Farah Nosh is an award-winning photographer who has worked on assignment in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, the West Bank, Gaza, and Egypt. Her long-term projects have focused primarily on the war’s impact on Iraqis, and the last speakers of highly threatened languages. Farah will be showcasing a project from her time in Iraq.

Nour Abuhayeh

© Nour Abu Hayeh

Nour Abuhayeh will be presenting a series of self portraits which reminds me of work by Tarek Al-Ghoussein. Her images aim to embody conflicted emotions and intangible situations, a attempt to showcase a glimpse of the complicated human psychology and the cultural restrains in the life of an Arab woman.  

RJ Mickelson

© RJ Mickelson

RJ Mickelson is the Photo Editor at The National newspaper. He will be presenting a book project he is working on which includes some personal fine art and documentary work. More subtle than his photojournalistic work, Mickelson's work is rooted in both form and content where the story’s relevance is proportionate to the composition, color and light of its photographs.

Sean Blake 

© Sean Blake

Sean Blake is working on a photography series called The Untitled Chair Project which is about people within varying environments with the common element of one ordinary chair. The aim of this project is to raise awareness about the dire need for bone marrow donors. The final result is a collection of portraits on Polaroids taken with an inexpensive plastic Diana camera equipped with an instant back and a reclaimed, re-purposed ribbon procured from the trash bin as camera strap.  

Yumna Al-Arashi 

© Yumna Al-Arashi

Yumna Al-Arashi was recently named an Up and Coming Female Journalist by Forbes Magazine, her medium of photography aims to break barriers and captures beauty to document raw human experiences. She will be presenting her personal experience traveling and taking photographs throughout Yemen, a journey she felt was as much a learning experience for her as it is for those she shares her photographs with.

Beginning in 2008, her visual documentation of Yemen has been a constant work in progress, uncovering the many curious family roots and discovering the ever-evolving culture of a poverty-stricken country. 

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 30th January at 7pm 
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Slidefest VIII - 3rd October 2012

© Richard Allenby-Pratt

The eighth edition of Slidefest organised by Gulf Photo Plus is back ths week, on Wednesday 8th October, in it's usual place, the Knowledge Village Auditorium. 

If you are new to Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects in a variety of genres that can range from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

The line up looks very good and includes photographers that I really admire and some very good friends, so trust me when I say don't miss this one. Here's the full line up: 

Catalin Marin
Catalin Marin, a Dubai based photographer and previously featured on this blog specialises in architectural and interior photography as well as corporate and environmental portraits. His blog, Momentary Awe won the 2011 best photoblog for Asia and Oceania at the Photoblog Awards.

Catalin also travels to amazing places and I'm always jealous of him when he shares photos from his trips. He's presented at Slidefest before and this time he will be sharing his photography from a recent trip to Madagascar. 

While spending two weeks in Madagascar, Catalin had the opportunity to board a traditional pirogue, a small, flat-bottomed boat, for three days, capturing a snapshot of the Malagasy life along the Tsiribihina River photographing interesting people, wild animals and amazing landscapes.  

© Catalin Marin

Clint McLean
Clint McLean, another Dubai based photographer who also presented at Slidefest before will share 'The Girl Who Married a Snake' series, a staged narrative of images taking its name from a fable native to India. The fables in the series are from the Middle East, North Africa South Asia (MENASA region) depicting brief moments from the fable staged in the country of the fables origin. This body of work is a collaboration between Clint, the locals acting out the scene and those helping him to source props, costumes and appropriate landscapes.  

I've seen some of this series before, and really love the idea of recreating fables from the region through photographs.   

© Clint McLean 

Deigo Lopez Calvin
Spanish photographer and filmmaker, Deigo Lopez Calvin will be joining Slidefest from abroad via a specially prepared video describing the workings of his Solography project. Beginning with a team in 1999, Deigo Lopez Calvin has been experimenting with pinhole cameras, setting up these film-less devices to capture the changes within a single landscape over extensive periods of time, a year or more.  The intriguing images trace the path of the sun creating unique patterns with in the sky, and unusual photographs you'll be intrigued to know more about.  

I am a big fan of pinhole photography and been dabbling with it myself lately, so will be great to see this body of work and hopefully learn a thing or two from it. 

© Diego Lopez Calvin

Hala Salhi
Hala Salhi, from Gulf Photo Plus will present her ongoing photo series 'Color of Dreams'. She's been working on this project for a number of years, where she's interviewed people from all walks of life, aiming to capture the light in their eyes as they speak about their hopes and dreams. 

© Hala Salhi

Heike Buelau 
In an attempting to capture The Essence of Architecture, New York based fine art photographer Heike Buelau climbs onto construction sites and city scapes in order to depict what she feels is the ultimate art form. Accessible to everyone, arcitectural design by nature must lend itself to the everyman, to the public that it is exposed to and used by. Rather than being intimidated by an illusive message or purpose, architecture can be understood kinetically, as it serves those who interact with it. Approaching her images with a minimalist sensibility, Heike Buelau hope to emphasize the beauty in raw materials.   

© Heike Buelau

 

Munsif Molu
Munsif Molu is a Canadian photographer, currently based out of the UAE. His fascination with people and their connections to society, traditions and history is what drives a lot of his photo stories. He will be presenting a series of photos from India at Slidefest. 

© Munsif Molu 

Richard Allenby-Pratt
Imagine it's 2017, and Dubai is a ghost town. Due tounforeseen circumstances, everyone has fled the country and the only city dwellers are those exotic creatures who once populated the zoos and animal centres throughout the UAE. Deserted landscapes play host to surprising characters in locally base photographer Richard Allenby-Pratt's award winning series titled Abandoned. 

I've heard Richard talk about this series before and I'm really glad he will present it to an audience based in Dubai. I'm very curious to see how the crowd reacts to this series. 

© Richard Allenby-Pratt 

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 3rd October at 7pm 
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Slidefest VII - 16th May 2012

© Aya Atoui and Manal Elias

The seventh edition of Slidefest organised by Gulf Photo Plus is back tomorrow in it's usual place, the Knowledge Village Auditorium. 

If you are not familiar with Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects in a variety of genres that can range from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

Here's the line up of presenters for this edition:

Ashkan Shafaati

A self-taught photographer,  Ashkan Shafaati will present "Planet X" which was inspired by the architectural and multiple construction sites found throughout Dubai.  He observed each site, seemingly operating as if it were its own universe, reminding him of the culturally diverse population of Dubai.

© Ashkan Shafaati© Ashkan Shafaati

Aya Atoui and Manal Elias  

Atoui and Elias will show work documenting projections they set up and photographed in Dubai.  Playing on the ephemerality of temporary installations, the project evokes the eternal flux of a city in a constant state of change.

© Aya Atoui and Manal Elias

Basel Badran

Abdulrazzaq Badran, was a pioneer Palestinian-Jordanian photographer, cinematographer, educator and artist. His son, Basel Badran, will be presenting a collection of his father's battlefield coverage as a photo-journalist of the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948. He will also talk about the Abdulrazzaq Badran Photography Award that was established in 2010 in co-operation with the Jordan Photography Society.

© Abdulrazzaq Badran

Belinda Muller  

Belinda Muller is a Dubai based freelance photographer. She recently visited Deira to capture the Kushti Wrestling matches, a sport originating from India and Pakistan and practiced in Dubai every Friday on an open sandy strip across the Fish Market in Deira. Muller will present her series that captured the participants in action, as well as the spectators surrounding.

© Belinda Muller


Issa Saleh AlKindy 
Issa  AlKindy is a freelance photographer from Oman who works and lives between the UAE and Oman. He will present his latest project "The Rubber Chicken", a lighthearted reminder that just because you've grown up, doesn't mean you have to loose your sense of playfulness. I must say I was a bit baffled by these photos, so will be interested to see him talk about them.

© Issa AlKindy© Issa AlKindy

 

Kamran Jebreili 

Kamran Jebreili was born in Iran in 1957, a self taught photographer who  started to take pictures in 1976. As a freelance young photographer, he covered the Iranian revolution and Iran-Iraq war and currently works for the Gulf regional photographer of the Associated Press based in Dubai.  He will present images of Abyaneh, an ancient village on the Western border of the central desert of Iran with a history that spans 1500 years.

© Kamran Jebreili

Lamya Gargash  
Lamya Gargash will talk about her series "Through the Looking Glass" which is currently exhibited at The Third Line. The series examines identity, perception and acceptance in modern day society.

© Lamya Gargash

Sara Naim
Sara Naim's work has been exhibited in Dubai, London, Cologne, New York and Guernsey. She will present her multiple-veined series developed from the idea of photographing the "intangible".  Using liquid to portray sound, e-xrays to beautify defect, and skin cells to contemplate boundaries, Naim explores elements of existence that are unusually challenging to portray visually.

© Sara Naim 

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 16th May at 7pm
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Exhibition: Soul Rebel by David Burnett

Soul Rebel by the internationally acclaimed photographer David Burnett is photographic glimpse into the life of legendary musician Bob Marley. The exhibition is currently running at Gulf Photo Plus till 15th April. I have not had a chance to check it out myself, but hope to go soon. 

In 2009 Burnett published “Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley” containing more than 200 portraits of the charismatic performer. The book shared many previously unpublished photographs of Marley, as captured by Burnett following their initial meeting in 1976 while on assignment.

TIME magazine had sent Burnett to cover the Reggae movement in Jamaica, which led him to a meeting with Marley who was relatively unknown at that time. This rare glimpse into the intimate life of Marley spans the course of his rise to international stardom, and unveils perspectives of his energetic performances, as well as the quieter moments behind the scenes.

Exhibition details:
Dates: On till Sunday, 15th April (10am to 7pm Sunday - Thursday; 10am to 6pm on Saturdays)
Location: Gulf Photo Plus, Al Serkal Avenue, Unit D36, Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai (location map)
Phone: +9714 380 8545

www.gulfphotoplus.com
www.davidburnett.com

Inside Sajja | A Labor of Light at Gulf Photo Plus

© Roshan Ali

Inside Sajja | A Labor of Light is a photography exhibition currently running at Gulf Photo Plus. It's quite a special exhibition that was a result of a collaboration between Gulf Photo Plus and Adopt-a-Camp, a non-profit organization that provides everything from basic necessities to emotional support and encouragement to migrant workers across the United Arab Emirates who are broke, stranded, living in poor conditions.

Karen Dias, a documentary photographer became aware of a group of abandoned migrant workers at a labour camp called Sajja in Sharjah through Adopt-a-Camp. She proposed to share her photography skills with these men, through donated cameras and photography workshops.

This resulted into a photography series taken by the men, from posed snapshots to compelling story-telling images of their everyday lives at the camp.

Karen Dias wanted to share these images with the public, hence the exhibition. Her aim is to generate income for the men in Sajja. The photos displayed at the exhibition are available for sale (AED 400 for the 57x38 cm prints and AED 20 for the postcard-sized prints also available for 20 AED). All proceeds from the print sales will be distributed directly and evenly to the workers involved in the project.

I went on the opening night and was really impressed with the photos. Some very honest work and you can see how proud the men were with their work. I hope they get to continue enjoying photography and expressing themselves through their photos.

I strongly recommend you go to this exhibition before it ends on 29th February. 

© Sonnat Ali

© Roshan Ali

© Kosar Miah

Event details
Exhibition is on till 29th February, 10am to 7pm Sunday - Thursday; 10am to 6pm on Saturdays
Venue: Gulf Photo Plus, Alserkal Avenue, Unit D36, Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai (location map)

www.gulfphotoplus.com 
www.karendiasphotography.com
www.openeyestobeginjourney.tumblr.com
Adopt-a-Camp on Facebook 

Slidefest VI - 8th February 2012

© Nikolai Kozak

Slidefest is back after a long break with its 6th edition on Wednesday 8th February with a line up of interesting photographers. If you are not familiar with Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects in a variety of genres that can range from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

Here's the line up of presenters:

Ammar Al Attar

© Ammar Al Attar  Shooting in his home country here in the UAE, Al Attar's series titled Spare Parts focuses on scrap yards full of countless automotive parts.  Stacked skye high, the abundance of items speaks of the exaggerated the auto industry and also the people who work within it.  www.ammaralattar.com

Arezu

© Arezu

Arezu's work, titled Trespassing is rooted in concepts of obscurity and ambiguity.  Vague portraits represent a desire to be, but not seeking to be seen or to be paid attention to.  The crow in her work expresses her fascination with the freedom of flying and anonymity. www.arezuk.com

Mansoor Bhatti and Noush Like Sploosh

© Mansoor Bhatti and Noush Like Sploosh

Presenting a collaborative project, Bhatti and Noush will describe their photographic approach to the stop motion video for song 3 Act Circus by Noush Like Sploosh.  The music video which was released in March of last year was accepted later that year into the Gulf Film Festival.  www.facebook.com/noushlikesploosh

Lee Hoagland
© Lee Hoagland

This body of work examines the life of undocumented immigrants living in an abandoned factory in Paris. Immigration is a massive issue in Europe, and particularly in France, where many believe it has reached a stalemate. www.leehoagland.com



Nikolai Kozak

© Nikolai Kozak

Kozak will present a a study of Umm Al Quwain titled Forgotten. In black and white, the photos depict daily life in the emirate introducing fundamental social forces at play on a local, and daily, level.   Recent founder of NYUAD Photographic Society. www.nikolaikozak.com

Shahid Mohammed

© Shahid Mohammed

Where the majority us find ourselves locked into the link of modern technology, Mehrab lives his life at the other end of the spectrum. Mohammed's photographic story describes one man's life in the middle of desert; a camel caretaker living in a date palm hut. www.strandedsymphonies.photoshelter.com



Golnaz Olya

© Golnaz Olya

Originally form Iran, Olya began shooting Parkour roughly four years ago. Capturing her subjects flying through mid-air amidst an urban Tehran landscape, Olya depicts a perspective of Iran not so commonly portrayed. www.golnazolya.com

Silvia Razgova

© Silvia Razgova

Defining the last fifty odd years have been a generation know as the baby-boomers.  Now reaching retirement and beyond, the "boomers" now redefine death much like they have redefined the culture they lived within. Razgova's presents her series Death Boom in her own photo-journalist approach. www.silviarazgova.com





Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 8th February at 7pm
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Film Screening - Manufactured Landscapes

Gulf Photo Plus is launching a new movie night that will focus on films inspired by photography.  For the launch night on Tuesday, 29th November, they will screen Manufactured Landscapes by Jennifer Baichwal.

Manufactured Landscapes is a feature length documentary on the world and work of renowned artist Edward Burtynsky. Burtynsky makes large-scale photographs of ‘manufactured landscapes’ – quarries, recycling yards, factories, mines, dams. He photographs civilization’s materials and debris, but in a way people describe as “stunning” or “beautiful,” and so raises all kinds of questions about ethics and aesthetics without trying to easily answer them.

The film follows Burtynsky to China as he travels the country photographing the evidence and effects of that country’s massive industrial revolution. Sites such as the Three Gorges Dam, which is bigger by 50% than any other dam in the world and displaced over a million people, factory floors over a kilometre long, and the breathtaking scale of Shanghai’s urban renewal are subjects for his lens and our motion picture camera.

Shot in Super-16mm film, Manufactured Landscapes extends the narrative streams of Burtynsky’s photographs, allowing us to meditate on our profound impact on the planet and witness both the epicentres of industrial endeavour and the dumping grounds of its waste. What makes the photographs so powerful is his refusal in them to be didactic. We are all implicated here, they tell us: there are no easy answers. The film continues this approach of presenting complexity, without trying to reach simplistic judgements or reductive resolutions. In the process, it tries to shift our consciousness about the world and the way we live in it.

Event details
Date and time: Tuesday, 29th November at 7pm
Venue: The Pavilion Downtown Dubai (location map)
Free entry. Space is limited, so please confirm your attendance by sending an RSVP to miranda[at]gulfphotoplus[dot]com

www.gulfphotoplus.com
www.edwardburtynsky.com/Sections/The_Film/Manufactured_Landscapes.html

Exhibition - photoID

© Philip Cheung

photoID is a new group photography exhibition organised by Gulf Photo Plus, opening on 13th November and will be on till 15th January 2012. The exhibition focuses on the subject of identity with images varying in perspective and approach."the identity of a human being, of a city or organization, even an inanimate object can become warped by stereotypes, assumptions, and multilayer cultural contexts". 

The photographers taking part in this exhibition include Tamara Abdul Hadi, Ammar Al Attar, Richard Allenby-Pratt, Philip Cheung, Gerald Donovan, Katarina Premfors and yours truly. Not only are some of these photographers personal friends, but all are very well respected in the photography community locally and internationally, so I'm in very good company.

In photoID Abdul Hadi deconstructs the stereotypical assumptions of the ‘young male Arab’, whereas Al Attar explores the many faces drawn together on a journey to Mecca. Cheung and Donovan consider the identity of two separate cities, both existing in transition, while Mezaina and Premfors use the identity of inanimate objects in curious states to encourage the viewer to consider what these objects confess about human behaviour.  Allenby-Pratt focuses on Art Dubai, layering images to create interactions that did not in fact exist, yet express more about the identity of the fair than a single image could.

Here's a small selection of the photos from the exhibition.

© Tamara Abdul Hadi

© Ammar Al Attar

© Richard Allenby-Pratt

© Philip Cheung

© Gerald Donovan

© Hind Mezaina

© Katrina Premfors

The exhibition will take place at Gulf Photo Plus' new space in Al Serkal Avenue in Al Quoz. The new venue has a fully equipped photography studio, a retail space stocking photography related products and a lounge area for photographers. The new venue will also host regular workshops and exhibitions.

Event details
Date: Opening on 13th November from 7.00-10.00pm. The exhibition will run till 15th January 2012.
Venue: Gulf Photo Plus, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz (location map)
Free entry.

www.gulfphotoplus.com
www.tamarabdulhadi.com
www.ammaralattar.com
www.allenby-pratt.com
www.philipcheungphoto.com
www.500px.com/geraldd
www.katarinapremfors.com
www.hindmezaina.com