Star-studded sensations: At Xposure, the sky is just the beginning

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

This year Xposure International Photography Festival is dedicating a space to the world’s leading experts on the cosmos, including a number of NASA specialists, providing the public, creative professionals and all those interested in science and the universe a truly unique chance to learn about how objects outside our planet are captured.

During the festival, taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from the 9th to the 15th of February, visitors will be enthralled by exclusive exhibitions, talks and seminars, guided tours and book signings, as NASA’s experts transport attendees through space and time, revealing the fascinating stories behind astronauts and their iconic achievements in human history, and insights and techniques about how they capture moments in space, and technologies used to get there.

People use the term “the sky's the limit”, but attending Xposure this year will show you that the sky is merely the beginning, as these NASA stars and professionals take visitors on an incredible journey of discovery and provide a learning experience that will expand attendee’s minds to new frontiers.

Exhibitions: Be transported to a place you’ve never been before

At the exhibition"Apollo Remastered", visitors will have the opportunity to witness the incredible work of Andy Saunders, a British author, science writer, and one of the world's foremost experts in NASA digital restoration. Saunders has used cutting-edge techniques to enhance scans of the original NASA photographic film from the Apollo missions, which is securely stored at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

His remastered images include a previously unseen image of Neil Armstrong on the Moon, and details of life on the Apollo 13 mission, offering new insights and details that have been hidden for 50 years. Visitors will be able to see the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced and understand the historic significance of the Apollo missions.

Dan Winters' exhibition at Xposure Photography Festival, "Beyond Flight" will showcase a series of photographs that represent a large body of work the photographer has undertaken over the years documenting the NASA and ‘Roscosmos’ manned space flight programmes. Winters was also granted special access to the elements that precede and support NASA's current project Artemis, which aims to land a man and a woman on the moon.

John Angerson will have an exhibition titled "NASA (STS-72) Astronauts", showcasing a series of photographs capturing the preparations and training of NASA's STS-72 astronauts before embarking on their 1996 mission. The exhibition will provide a glimpse into the rigorous training and dedication required for space exploration, as well as the camaraderie and teamwork of the astronaut team. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a space mission and get a unique perspective on the astronaut's experience.

Seminars: A peek into the astronaut experience and how they capture space

“Capturing Time in Space” is a panel discussion that covers the history and future of America's space programme, moderated by Chip Doherty. Photographer John Angerson will share his portraits of astronauts, Andy Saunders will showcase his use of digital technology to bring new life to high-resolution scans of NASA mission film, Dan Winters will discuss his coverage of manned spaceflight and focus on the Artemis programme.

“Beyond Flight” is a presentation by renowned photographer Dan Winters, who will talk about his journey chronicling spaceflight and share insights into his creative process. “Space Shuttle: Ready for Flight” is a talk by Chip Doherty, a former Space Shuttle Systems Engineer, who will provide an in-depth look at the Space Shuttle and discuss the reusable, high-performance liquid propellant rocket engines that power it.

“NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS-72” is a talk by John Angerson, who will discuss the opportunity he had to observe the close bond between the six astronauts preparing for mission STS-72 and share images from the STS-72 mission held at the US National Archives that offer a rare glimpse into the lives of astronauts.

Book Signing: Apollo Remastered - Take home a moment in history

Andy Saunders, the author of the bestselling book "Apollo Remastered" will be available at the Xposure Photography Festival to sign personalised copies, providing an opportunity for space enthusiasts and art collectors.