2nd Prize in "Mobile Phone" Category – Xposure International Photography & Film Festival

I am honored to have received the 2nd Prize in the "Mobile Phone" Category at the Xposure International Photo Award. The award was presented by the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, making the moment especially meaningful and memorable.

As part of this recognition, I was invited by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau to attend the fully funded, week-long Xposure International Photography & Film Festival in Sharjah, UAE. The festival offered an incredible opportunity to engage with a diverse community of industry professionals, including photographers, artists, curators, photojournalists, art directors, and filmmakers from around the world. 

This recognition continues to motivate me to push creative boundaries, explore new perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to global visual storytelling.

I also got the opportunity to explore Dubai and Sharjah in my free time during the festival.

Following my recognition at Xposure International Photography & Film Festival,  I set out on a mission to find the woman I photographed at the plastic recycling factory. With the help of a dear friend, I finally found "Halima Begum" — the woman featured in the image — who works in the plastic recycling factory.  Her husband died a few years back. Now a widow, she has 2 sons and 6 daughters, all married. Despite her struggles, she works tirelessly while her sons neglect her. 

As a token of broader commitment to social responsibility, I shared a portion of my prize money with her and gifted her a beautiful Saree ahead of EID. Seeing the smile on her face was the best Prize I ever got! Let's keep spreading Love and Kindness wherever we go. Together, we can make a real difference.