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This is the first time important images from the early 1800s to 2020 have been exhibited in the Middle East
Exhibition photos by Ashwani Kumar
Rolls Royce image of the late Sheikh Zayed on the streets of Abu Dhabi in 1970 (look up) Earliest surviving photograph taken by French inventor Nicephore Niepcet – A new exhibition in Abu Dhabi will take visitors on a journey back in time to the origins of photography.
Did you know that camera comes from the Arabic word Al Qumra (dark room)? All this cool trivia and iconic historic photos are on display at The Shot, which opened at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi.
This is the first time important images taken from the early 1800s to 2020 have been exhibited in the Middle East. Presented by The Photography Studio, the exhibition allows visitors to learn about the first camera known to man and how the first images were taken, processed and printed.
The earliest surviving photograph, taken by the world’s first photographer, Nicephore Niepce
The Shot showcases rare images from internationally renowned photographers who have captured inspiring moments over the years.
Some of the biggest names on display include Louis Stettner, Leopold Ernest Mayer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Robert Capa, Platt D. Babbitt, Samuel Heer, Robert Frank, and a dozen other illustrious personalities of art and literature dating back to 1840 People, landmarks and important moments of the era.
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What fascinates visitors even more is how a photographer can capture an occasion with such depth and detail despite the simplicity of cameras and photographic equipment at the time.
One of the first objects to catch your eye upon entering the exhibition is the Escopette, invented by Albert Darier in Geneva in 1888 when the Kodak camera was introduced.
The camera was made of wood with a carved wooden handle giving it the shape of a pistol, brass support legs as a tripod and brass hardware to mechanize the advancement of the film. It was one of the first cameras to use the flexible film George Eastman had designed for the original Kodak.
The exhibition also highlights how modern technology can enhance such photographs – especially black and white – through the artistic use of light and shadow.
History buffs will be in for a treat, as the exhibit offers an outstanding collection of original photo prints of historical figures.
With Gabriel De Rumine’s 1859 photograph of the Omar Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem and Roger Fenton’s photograph of a Ukrainian camp during the Crimean War (1856) , Portrait of Ernesto Che Guevara (1963) by Rene Burri, etc.
Relive Abu Dhabi’s past
Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE, presents a series of photographs from his personal collection.
These include street scenes of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s Rolls-Royce, and landmarks such as Qasr Al Hosn, the Clock Tower on Corniche Street, the Khalidiya Palace Hotel, KFC and the Wimpy Restaurant near Al Bateen Airport, undated set market in the city of Abu Dhabi. And a studio portrait of a young Nusseibeh with a camera, etc.
The collections allow visitors to see how far the capital has come—from owning a vast desert to building a thriving world-class city.
There’s also an impressive portfolio by Emirati photographer and artist Ammar Al Attar titled ‘Reverse Moments’.
Visitors can participate in interactive workshops to experience the earliest forms of photo-taking. Learn how to use the dark chamber known as Al Qumra, whose origins can be traced back to the work of Arab scientist Ibn Al Haytham.
Photography buffs will also be able to take pictures in a traditional studio and learn how to process and print them according to the style of each period.
Photo from the collection of Zaki Nusseibeh
The Shot is organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, in partnership with the Auer photo Foundation and Time and Tempo, Geneva, Switzerland. The founders of the Orr Photography Foundation, Michelle Orr and Michelle Orr, attended the opening day of the exhibition in person.
The exhibition runs until 24th April 2023 and the price of admission is AED 30.
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