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Photographers and image lovers gathered at the opening ceremony of the kingdom’s first festival of its kind on Monday evening to catch a glimpse of Bahrain Photoclub’s award-winning compositions, as well as to sign up for upcoming workshops and lectures, writes Mai Al Khatib-Camille.
Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and chairman of the board of the Arab Regional Centre of World Heritage, was guest of honour.
The Bahrain Photographic Festival, located on the second floor of Bahrain Financial Harbour’s Atrium Harbour Gate, was inaugurated by members of the The Bahrain Arts Society Photoclub and Angus Campbell, CEO of the Financial Centre Development Company.
“We were delighted by the turn out”, a spokesman for the organisers said. “We are looking forward to a series of exciting workshops, interactive learning opportunities and lectures.”
The 11-day event is featuring several programmes in the hope of attracting keen photographers of all ages including tutorials by professionals, sponsored by Ashrafs and The Nikon School.
The spokesperson added: “We already have several schools booked to attend the festival to check out the exhibition as well as to participate in the workshops.”
Children are urged to enter photography competitions held throughout the event. There will be City Centre Bahrain gift vouchers to be won for the best mobile phone camera images, for example.
Another major attraction is a display of 70 antique cameras, some dating back more than 100 years.
During the launch, visitors met with club members and were able to weave through boards full of colourful and bright landscape and portraiture pictures taken in Bahrain and from around the world.
Photoclub member Herz Al Banki’s photographs taken at Dar Al Manar For Parents Care attracted many onlookers. He said: “We are really enjoying discussing our work with visitors.”
Photographer Mohammed Bu Hassan’s championship picture which won the International Federation of Photographic Arts (FIAP) 32nd Biennale Competition in Turkey is also being showcased alongside the club’s Top 10 images which received high praise in 2016 in Korea’s Biennale show.
These images, as well as others in the exhibition, will be auctioned off to the public raise funds for to the Bahrain Society For Parents & Friends of The Disabled during the closing ceremony at 7pm on the last day.
The festival is open daily from 11am to 8pm. For more details, visit www.bfharbour.com/bpf2017
