US photographer to hold workshop in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: American photographer Steve McCurry will hold a specialist workshop next February in Abu Dhabi, said an official.

The workshop is part of Emirates Photography Competition organised annually by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) said Badr Al No'amani, director of the competition at a press conference yesterday.

"The work shop is only for photographers in the Gulf countries and they required registering through the website," he said.

The lensman, known most for his photograph of the refugee Afghani girl Sharbat Gula for National Geographic magazine, will hold a five-day workshop which includes lectures, special display for his works, practical training and photo editing skills in various locations of Abu Dhabi. The website of the competition will be active in three days.

The fourth session of the competition will celebrate legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), with an exhibition of his most outstanding works.

The competition, which will last from March 10 to April 10, 2009, has been revamped and has been opened for participation of photographers across the world. It started as a trial exclusive to UAE photographers in its first and second sessions and for Gulf participants at the third.

"The themes are divided into two sections. The main is street photography and the second covers general themes like landscape and nature, portraits and people, journalism, and sport and action," said Al No'amani.