Xposure International Photography Awards 2025 Celebrates Visionary Storytelling
Riyadh, February 26, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The 9th edition of the Xposure International Photography Awards has concluded in Sharjah, celebrating photographic excellence and visual storytelling with participants from 162 countries submitting over 10,000 entries across nine competitive categories.
The grand title of overall winner was awarded to Pyaephyo Thetpaing from Myanmar for his striking black-and-white image, “The Fishing Boys”, which captivated the jury with its masterful use of light, movement, and narrative depth.
Honoring Global Photography Talent
Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the Xposure International Photography Festival and Awards serve as a platform for cultural exchange and visual storytelling, reinforcing the universal language of photography.
The awards ceremony was led by Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, and HE Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of SGMB, with the judging panel consisting of internationally acclaimed photographers Giles Clarke, Wiktoria Michałkiewicz, Kerstin Hacker, Maria Mann, and Essdras M. Suarez.
The jury praised Thetpaing’s winning image for its emotive storytelling, composition, and artistic depth, highlighting its ability to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.
Category Winners Showcase Technical and Artistic Excellence
The awards celebrated photographers across diverse genres, each category highlighting technical ingenuity, artistic creativity, and impactful storytelling.
Junior Photography (UAE-based photographers under 18):
Winner: Rithved Girishkumar – “Guardians Of The Hive”
Runner-up: Madhav Manu – “Light Show”
Architecture:
Winner: Shyjith Ondencheriyath – “Nordic Elegance”
Runner-up: Tanveer Hassan – “Re-Imagine The City”
Mobile Phone Photography (Sponsored by Samsung):
Winner: Aung Chanthar – “Fishermen”
Runner-up: Ziaul Huque – “Education For Light”
Night Photography:
Winner: Marian Kuric – “DOOM”
Runner-up: Marcio A Esteves – “C for Fireworks”
Nature and Landscape:
Winner: Lakshitha Karunarathna – “A Dangerous Addiction”
Runner-up: Petar Sabol – “Perfect Dragonflies”
Street Photography:
Winner: Mary Crnkovic – “Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition”
Runner-up: Osama Alsulami – “Sleep”
Sports Photography:
Winner: Isa Ebrahim – “African Football”
Runner-up: Nurlan Tahirli – “Slip”
Portraiture:
Winner: Antonio Aragon – “The Dancer”
Runner-up: Andrew Rovenko – “The Shuttle”
Photo Manipulation & AI:
Winner: Alena Ivochkina – “Open Question”
Runner-up: Qian Shen – “The Lotus Fairy 3”
A Global Celebration of Storytelling Through Photography
As the ceremony concluded, SGMB reaffirmed its commitment to fostering emerging photography talent and cross-cultural dialogue. The record-breaking participation this year underscored Xposure’s significance as a leading international photography platform, solidifying its reputation as a global stage for photographers to share their visual narratives.
With each edition, Xposure continues to demonstrate the power of photography to inspire, document, and transcend borders, proving that a single frame can ignite the imagination and tell a story that resonates worldwide.