DSS photo expo clicks with the crowd

The six-day exhibition, which was officially inaugurated by Mona Al Marri, President Dubai Press Club, in the presence of Saeed Al Nabouda, DSS CEO, Laila Suhail, DSS Executive Project Director, the DSS Media Center team, Ramzi Sheiab, business development manager, Kodak, and the participants on Monday, runs from 10am to 10pm until August 18. Around 40 participants are displaying over 200 photographs at the event. Housed in BurJuman, the exhibits will be moved to Al Multaqa Hall of the Dubai World Trade Center on August 19, the World Photographers Day.

'It's heart warming to see the response we have received. The entries are a good blend of talent not just by the talented photographers and the Press but also everyday people who have soaked in the spirit of DSS and literally given us their best shot to participate in the DSS Photography Exhibition. Judging the entries will be quite a task,' said Laila Suhail, DSS Executive Project Director. Strictly going by the artistic value of the photographs, a jury will assess the entrants and the prize giving ceremony will be held at a gala dinner at the Dubai World Trade Centre on the World Photographers Day coming Friday.

During the prize giving ceremony, slide shows of three categories for the exhibition will take place followed by the winner announcement respectively. The three categories of the competition, including the Professional Photographers - Dubai in General; Talent Category - Dubai Landscapes and Press Photography Category - Any Photograph, have drawn in some unique and original sights of the world around us. Jamal Al Saidi, head of Reuters photographs in Lebanon will be handing out the prizes that include digital cameras worth Dh5,000 by Kodak for all three winners in each category.

All participants will receive certificates of participation; entrants for the Press category will be honoured by Laila Suhail, participants from the Talented category will be given certificates by Thierry Villard From Kodak and those of the Professional Category will be given certificates by Mohammed Hisham and Qasim Al Hammadi, President of the Arab Union of Photographers.

Apart from the exhibition and award distribution, the evening will see a photo gallery brought together by Red Crescent on HH Sheikh Zayed. Kodak will come forward to display some old and new cameras, offer tips on mobile, provide an Adobe fun zone and magazine simulation cover. There will also be a paparazzi corner for star clippings and a drop box for business cards from which a raffle will be done as the evening closes. A musician will keep the guests entertained as dinner is served.

The ten-week DSS 2005 began with the Flower Surprises on June 22 and continues with the Sweets Surprises, Arts Surprises, Colour Surprises, Ice Surprises, Adventure Surprises, Cartoon Surprises, Heritage Surprises, Knowledge Surprises and concludes with the Back-2-School Surprises on September 2.