The Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi by Vincent Messelier. He uses pallet knives and in his artwork, vertical and horizontal stripes and lines refer to the worlds' meridians. He uses acrylics, sometimes combined with wood, foam or other materials. — Courtesy photo A New generation of photographers have come together to showcase the ‘Seen and Unseen' attractions of the UAE with focus on the emirates of Ajman. The exhibition at The Ajman Palace (March 26 to April 16) captures the heart of the ever-changing face of the emirates with a random mix of images ranging from street photography to landscapes, wilderness, portraits and architectural marvels. Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO of Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), that manages The Ajman Palace, said: “We are truly excited to host this fascinating exhibition. The idea was to offer a platform to local photographers who turned their cameras on the UAE to bring out many striking facets of the country — some that we have already known and others quite rare. These are essentially explorers with cameras who roved the emirates in search of the unusual, capturing the country's tempo, its scenic beauty, its spectacular architecture, its myriad everyday dramas, life... There are plenty of surprises and we hope visitors to the show would find the shots interesting”. There are more than 80 photographs on display at The Ajman Palace produced by 13 photographers, each vying for attention, but one may find his/her mind constantly wandering — and wondering at the sheer range of it all. Some of the snaps are extremely intense and intellectually stimulating while others are just candid impressions. Emirati photographer Maitha Bint Khalid uses photography to convey a message to the world. She focuses on symbols that reflect the authenticity and heritage of the UAE in all its forms and the local environment. According to her: “Photography is a universal language that needs no translation and it's the best way to express her thoughts”. So how much of a role does technology play in photography today? Kevin J. Larkin, an American freelance photographer based in Dubai, said: “Technology is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for good photographs. Today, photography has been revolutionized by digital technology. However, although it has become much easier to take photographs that are technically flawless (in terms of exposure and focus), it is just as difficult to capture aesthetically satisfying images as it was in the age of film and chemicals”. Talking about her subjects, Katerina Smoldyreva, a Russian artist who lives and works in Dubai, said: “When I am photographing, I see life. I don't have pictures in my head... I don't worry about how the picture is going to look. I let that take care of itself... It is not about making a nice picture. That anyone can do. It is just capturing life as it happens”.
