The ninth edition of Slidefest organised by Gulf Photo Plus is back this month, on Wednesday, 30th January at 7pm in the Knowledge Village Auditorium.

Slidefest started in 2009 and it's one of the few events in Dubai that is consistently good and showcases some very interesting photography projects.

If you are new to Slidefest, it's an event organised by Gulf Photo Plus where photographers present their personal projects, from documentary projects to fine art, still-life and landscape images. The event also aims to bring photographers (amateurs and pros) and people from the photography community together where people can network, connect and share stories.

Here's the line up for this month:

Ammar Al Attar

Ammar Al Attar will present his "Prayer Rooms" series which he photographed across the UAE (and feaured on this blog a few months ago).

These informal worship areas are ubiquitous, providing Muslims a place for their five prayers a day regardless of their location.
The decorative elements of these interiors are incredibly humble, in line with Islamic architectural tenets and in contrast to the exterior opulence of the UAE’s architectural development. Serenity and stillness are common elements in these makeshift rooms, transforming their spatial reality as industrial caravans or rooms in malls and business centers, to that of spiritual sanctuaries.

Catalin Marin

Back from a recent trip to the Antarctica, Catalin Marin is another photographer who has been featured on this blog before. He goes on the most amazing trips and for this edition of Slidefest he will be sharing photos from his recent trip to the Antartica. How cool is that?

Catalin Marin is a an award-winning commercial and corporate photographer based in Dubai, specializing in architectural and interior photography as well as corporate and environmental portraits. His blog, Momentary Awe has won the 2011 best photoblog for Asia and Oceania at the Photoblog Awards.

Farah Al-Qasimi

Farah Al-Qasimi will be presenting a series titled White Pearl, Black Gold, images that were shot in the UAE, capturing private spaces and intimate interiors almost completely void of people, yet telling a story of the inhabitants within each space.

Farah Al-Qassimi completed a BA in Fine Art at Yale University, where she started studying contemporary music and electronic composition, but eventually felt a pull towards the visual arts. Farah currently lives in Abu Dhabi, where she works at New York University Abu Dhabi.

Farah Nosh

Farah Nosh is an award-winning photographer who has worked on assignment in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, the West Bank, Gaza, and Egypt. Her long-term projects have focused primarily on the war’s impact on Iraqis, and the last speakers of highly threatened languages. Farah will be showcasing a project from her time in Iraq.

Nour Abuhayeh

Nour Abuhayeh will be presenting a series of self portraits which reminds me of work by Tarek Al-Ghoussein. Her images aim to embody conflicted emotions and intangible situations, a attempt to showcase a glimpse of the complicated human psychology and the cultural restrains in the life of an Arab woman.

RJ Mickelson

RJ Mickelson is the Photo Editor at The National newspaper. He will be presenting a book project he is working on which includes some personal fine art and documentary work. More subtle than his photojournalistic work, Mickelson's work is rooted in both form and content where the story’s relevance is proportionate to the composition, color and light of its photographs.

Sean Blake

Sean Blake is working on a photography series called The Untitled Chair Projectwhich is about people within varying environments with the common element of one ordinary chair. The aim of this project is to raise awareness about the dire need for bone marrow donors. The final result is a collection of portraits on Polaroids taken with an inexpensive plastic Diana camera equipped with an instant back and a reclaimed, re-purposed ribbon procured from the trash bin as camera strap.

Yumna Al-Arashi

Yumna Al-Arashi was recently named an Up and Coming Female Journalist by Forbes Magazine, her medium of photography aims to break barriers and captures beauty to document raw human experiences. She will be presenting her personal experience traveling and taking photographs throughout Yemen, a journey she felt was as much a learning experience for her as it is for those she shares her photographs with.

Beginning in 2008, her visual documentation of Yemen has been a constant work in progress, uncovering the many curious family roots and discovering the ever-evolving culture of a poverty-stricken country.

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 30th January at 7pm
Location: Knowledge Village Auditorium, Dubai (location map)
Free entry

www.gulfphotoplus.com

Slidefest IX - 30th January 2013