What’s a photography festival without, well… a few photo-worthy moments of your own?

The 10th edition of Xposure International Photography Festival, held under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling,” is designed to be experienced, explored, and yes, photographed. The event features interactive installations that invite visitors to step into the frame and become part of the story themselves.

Here are five spots where you can get those perfect shots for your Insta, during these last three days of Xposure 2026:

1. Cherry blossoms in the desert

Can’t make it to Kyoto this spring? The Nikon booth at Xposure 2026 brings Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season to Sharjah. Step into an authentic Japanese scene complete with traditional furniture, blooming sakura trees, and a wardrobe of kimonos and samurai costumes available for visitors to wear.

The real draw? You can test Nikon’s latest ZR camera to capture your own high-resolution images and video. Just remember to bring your own SD card and take home professional-quality shots of yourself.

Pro tip: The soft pink petals against traditional architecture create that coveted aesthetic blend of culture and colour that social media algorithms love.

2. Defy physics in the anti-gravity room

Prepare to turn your world upside down… literally. Fujifilm’s anti-gravity booth at the festival creates a mind-bending optical illusion where you can appear to float. The secret? Everything in the scene is flipped - furniture, potted plants, even a door. So, when you pose “upside down,” the photograph makes it look like you’re defying gravity in a perfectly normal room. The result is a surreal image that stops the scroll and demands a double-take.

3. Timeless nostalgia at retro portrait studio

Channel the golden age of neighbourhood photography studios with this carefully curated vintage set. Complete with a brick wall backdrop, a shelf lined with antique framed photographs, this installation recreates the aesthetic of mid-century corner studios where you want to get family portraits taken.

The best approach? Strike a candid pose mid-stroll past the “studio,” as if you’ve been caught in an unguarded moment on a city street. The weathered textures and warm tones will feel authentic, nostalgic, and effortlessly composed for your Instagram feed.

4. Step into the oceans

The festival’s ocean and water conservation exhibitions, showcasing kelp forests, coral reefs, and Mediterranean marine ecosystems offer awareness… and immersion. Stand between the massive head and tail segments of a life-sized blue whale model and you’ll appear to be riding the ocean’s largest creature through the deep.

Interactive vertical LED screen set-ups and porthole-style “windows” displaying underwater scenes and marine life add layers of discovery to your photos.

5. Chromatic walls to colour your feed

Scattered throughout the festival grounds, vibrant monochromatic walls in jewel tones, pastels, and bold primaries provide the perfect blank canvas for some posed shots. Whether you’re going for minimalist chic or maximum saturation, these colour-blocked backdrops deliver that clean, gallery-worthy aesthetic.

While all of the above spots are undeniably photogenic, they are part of a larger festival philosophy: encouraging visitors to slow down, engage, and experience visual storytelling as active participants rather than passive observers. Xposure 2026 transforms you from viewer to creator, so bring your camera, your curiosity, and your sense of adventure!