Eleven photos to see at Xposure International Photography Festival 2026

More than 3,200 works are on show throughout 95 exhibitions on the annual Xposure International Photography Festival, that means there isn’t a scarcity of visible highlights.

Running till February 4 at Aljada in Sharjah, the competition has photos on show from all around the globe. They tackle well timed points, from environmental degradation in Europe and Central Asia to the majestic landscapes of Antarctica.

Organised throughout 12 thematic zones, spanning portraiture, documentary work, photojournalism, journey and journey, nature and wildlife and sports activities, the competition continues to face out as one of many area’s main worldwide visible showcases.

Here are 11 images to not miss.

1. Tyler by Pete Muller (2024)

A portrait of the athlete who competes with a bodily incapacity. Capturing grit and dedication with out resorting to cliché, Muller’s putting picture says greater than any motivational speech.

2. Morning Rituals in Athens’ Chinatown by Maro Kouri (2023)

The picture provides a have a look at the retailers of Chinatown within the Greek capital. Set inside a small store in central Athens, the {photograph} captures a shopkeeper performing his morning workouts after prayer, whereas his daughter retreats shyly from view.

3. Untitled (In the Shadow of Noah) by Mustafa Bilge Satkın (2023)

A mosque is proven partially submerged in a reservoir, with solely its minaret seen above the waterline. Taken in rural Turkey, Satkın’s {photograph} stands out for its concentrate on the bodily aftermath of neighborhood displacement attributable to large-scale infrastructure.

4. A New Home by Smita Sharma (2023)

Photographed inside a shelter in West Bengal, younger girls obtain care after struggling human exploitation. Sharma’s lens maintains distance and restraint to protect security and dignity.

5. Aral Sea by Anush Babajanyan (2022)

Taken within the Aral Sea area of Kazakhstan, the {photograph} exhibits a scorching spring that has emerged on land as soon as lined by water. The picture is a part of Babajanyan’s wider physique of labor documenting altered landscapes formed by ecological change and local weather impression.

6. Arctic Volleyball – Eastgrip, Greenland by Lukasz Larsson Warzecha and Ulrika Larsson (2022)

Scientists and crew members are proven taking part in volleyball at camp in East Greenland, providing a glimpse of camaraderie and routine behind the scenes of scientific expeditions.

7. Family Devotion by Joshua Holko (2021)

Taken in Antarctica throughout mild snowfall, Holko intimately captures two emperor penguins sheltering their chick from freezing temperatures, emphasising care and endurance in one of many world’s harshest environments.

8. Italian Theatre (Italy) by Jean Pierre Rieu (2020)

Rieu captures a decaying Italian theatre, the place ornate balconies stay intact whereas the ceiling and stage have collapsed. Careful compositional stability and pure mild reveal architectural element, guiding the viewer by each splendour and absence.

9. Bus Station by Dmitry Ersler (2019)

Part of Ersler’s wider documentation of provincial Russia, the {photograph} depicts on a regular basis life unfolding inside a modest transport hub.

10. Spiderman by Giles Clarke (2015)

Taken outdoors Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the {photograph} exhibits 13-year-old Jose sporting a superhero masks whereas gathering recyclables at a landfill.

11. Labour of Love by Dan Kitwood (2015)

Photographed on the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre in Guinea, a keeper interacts playfully with younger chimpanzees throughout rehabilitation.

Xposure 2026 runs at Aljada, Sharjah, till February 4