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Lovers of the art of photography have two days left to capture the joy of award-winning images and workshops at a festival which is set to become an annual part on the kingdom’s cultural calendar.
The Bahrain Photographic Festival has attracted hundreds of visitors of all ages to the second floor of Bahrain Financial Harbour’s Atrium Harbour Gate and has proved particularly popular with children who have signed up to attend a series of lectures and handy tips from professionals.
A spokesman for the organisers, said: “The festival has been extremely fruitful with school children enjoying all the workshops, the images and the antique camera stand. We have received nothing but positive reviews and we look forward to building on the success for next year.”
The tutorials were conducted by members of the Bahrain Photoclub as well as professionals from The Nikon School, sponsored by Ashrafs.
Amal Yousif Almoayyed, Ashrafs’ executive director, said: “This is such a great festival to be a part of. There are so many talented people, especially in the photography sector, and I would like to keep this trend going. We already have extremely talented photographers in Bahrain and if we can help motivate newcomers to pick up a camera, then why not?”
The organisers and participants also thanked Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities and chairman of the board of the Arab Regional Centre of World Heritage, for launching the festival.
Children weren’t the only keen photographers wanting to focus on the subject as many adults, including Gagan Suri, CEO of Bahrain Bay, were delighted too. He said: “I’m a keen photographer so it was a real treat. Some of the images on display were absolutely gorgeous taking into account the colours, the compositions and the different countries they represented.
“This festival was well organised and it was a pleasure to see it being staged in Bahrain.”
He particularly enjoyed the display of 70 antique cameras, some dating back more than 100 years.
During the event, visitors met with Bahrain Photoclub members and admired their landscape and portraiture images taken at home and away on their travels.
Photographer Mohammed Bu Hassan’s prize picture which won the International Federation of Photographic Arts (FIAP) 32nd Biennale Competition in Turkey was 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 to raise funds for the Bahrain Society for Parents & Friends of The Disabled during the closing ceremony starting tomorrow evening at 7pm.
An auctioneer has been brought in for the occasion and the bidding will be open to members of the public. Also, winning children and young adults who participated in a mobile phone competition will be presented with City Centre Bahrain gift vouchers for the best pictures judged along the lines of ‘Architecture at the Harbour, My Friends and Creative Selfies’.
The festival is open from 11am to 8pm. For more details, visit bfharbour.com/bpf2017
