The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has presented a specialised Astro-photography workshop titled ‘Stars and the Milky Way’ by Saudi photographer Sakhr Al Asmari.

The 8-hour-long practical workshop was conducted in the Al Qudra desert region in Dubai on the 12^th of February 2016, and focused on the basic elements of Astro-photography and various skills and techniques. The following day, a discussion and follow up session was organized at the HIPA headquarters for all the participants of the workshop and Al Asmari himself, which drew positive responses from all those in attendance.

Commenting on the workshop, the Secretary General of HIPA His Excellency Ali bin Thalith said “As a photographer, I truly understand the feeling most photographers get when they are able to learn new skills and talents”. “The results of this workshop were outstanding and gave photographers the opportunity to leave the realm of planet earth and focus their camera lenses on a far-away world which will not only make them more curious but we hope also better photographers as a result”.

Bin Thalith concluded “We continue on the road set out by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai to improve photographers in the region and to assimilate them into specific photographic genres through intricate training and workshops”.

www.hipa.ae