Last month, Ajman University and the Ajman Municipality hosted an urban photography workshop that brought together architects and filmmakers from Italy and the United Arab Emirates. The workshop, held at the Ajman X Hub ahead of the Ajman Film Festival, aimed to help participants create impactful architectural films. One of the keynote speakers at this workshop was Shoayb Khattab, an international award-winning filmmaker and photographer based in the UAE and a part of Mass House Production.
During the first theory session of the workshop, participants learned the basics of architectural photography and filmmaking. They were taught that composition, lighting, and storytelling are key to capturing the character of a building and highlighting its unique features. The session covered the technical aspects of photography and filmmaking, such as camera settings, angles, and lenses.
In the hands-on session that followed, participants put their newly acquired skills into practice at the Ajman Museum. The museum provided the perfect environment for participants to practice their skills, featuring a variety of architectural designs from modern to traditional Arabic styles. Under the guidance of experts, participants experimented with different camera angles and lighting settings to produce compelling visual stories, capturing stunning images and videos of the museum.
The workshop was part of a larger project to teach students and architecture enthusiasts the art of architectural photography and film. Participants gained a better understanding of the built environment and learned to highlight the beauty of the urban environment and architecture. Urban photography and filmmaking are essential tools for architects and designers to document and showcase their work to a broader audience. They are also important for urban planners and policymakers, highlighting the city’s distinctive features and cultural heritage and potential areas for development.
Overall, the Urban Photography Workshop was a great success, and the organizers are excited to see what the participants will produce in terms of architectural photography and film. They plan to organize similar events in the future as it proved the value of collaboration and information sharing.,
