In a session titled “Photography Journeys”, celebrated Emirati visual artist Jassim Rabia Alawadhi reflected on the formative stages of his photographic practice, tracing a path from early experimentation to a disciplined engagement with memory, heritage and material culture. Moderated by Mohammed Omran, the discussion explored how photography functions not merely as image-making but as documentation, responsibility and trust.

Alawadhi described his relationship with the camera as deeply personal. “It is like a library,” said the Emirati who has had over three decades of professional experience, having previously served as the director of Dubai Police’s crime scene department and an associate professor of photography for the University of Sharjah. “It holds memory, and memory is a legacy.”

Initially drawn to photography as a hobby influenced by his uncle, Alawadhi – who who went to the United Kingodm for a Master of Arts in Photography from the Nottingham Trent University and to the US for a Bachelor’s in Photography from the University of Dayton – said his understanding evolved through formal study in forensic science, when he began to see how photography increasingly became a source of “tangible evidence” rather than a purely aesthetic act.

“Studying doesn’t teach you art,” noted Alawadhi, urging young photographers to resist imitation and develop their own visual voice, emphasising patience and maturity in creative growth.“Art requires personality and perseverance.” 

 

Reflecting on the absence of systematic visual documentation in earlier decades, he said photographers today carry a civic responsibility. “Every citisen who carries a camera has a duty to document with honesty – cities, architecture, landscapes – for those who come after us,” he said.

 

The second session, “From Photography to the World of Content Creation”, examined the professional evolution of Hind Al Raeesi, an Emirati sports and portrait photographer, whose career spans live sports photography, studio work and digital content creation.

Al Raeesi spoke candidly about her beginnings in 2013, entering various football stadia as a newcomer with no formal training. “I didn’t even think I had talent,” she said. “I rented a camera, sometimes even paying up to Dh1,000 a day, and followed other photographers.” Wearing abaya and shaila in a male-dominated sports environment, she said, intrigue often preceded acceptance. “Curiosity creates an audience,” she added.

Her turning point came in 2018 with the opening of her studio, following years of volunteering that helped build credibility and professional trust. Assignments linked to international football – including work around the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and a life-changing trip to the home of Manchester City – broadened her ambitions and technical understanding. “It showed me how seriously images are archived and how stories are built around English club footballers,” she said.

Al Raeesi then described the COVID-19 pandemic as a moment of forced reinvention. With photography work disrupted, she focused on post-production skills and content development. “A photograph can be beautiful, but it’s the story behind it that matters,” she said, noting that photographers can expand into content creation without losing authenticity. 

The sessions were part of the Xposure International Photography Festival 2026, being held at Aljada in Sharjah from January 29 to February 4 under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling.”