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Reza Deghati (; born July 26, 1952) is an Iranian-French
photojournalist Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (suc ...
.


Early life

Reza was born in
Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...
, Iran. He is ethnically Azerbaijani.French photojournalist of Iranian origin, Reza Deghati
Reza's career began with studies in
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
. Following his passion for
photography Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...
, he became a photographer. He took his first photograph at 14, and at 16 he published a high school magazine called Parvaz. He clandestinely displayed his photographs on the
University of Tehran The University of Tehran (UT) or Tehran University (, ) is a public collegiate university in Iran, and the oldest and most prominent Iranian university located in Tehran. Based on its historical, socio-cultural, and political pedigree, as well as ...
grids. For his artistic activism, he was arrested at 22, jailed for three years, and tortured for five months.


Life and work

In 1979, he left architecture to become a photojournalist. He covered the Iranian Revolution for the Sipa Press agency and ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'' magazine. He was finally forced into exile in 1981 for his photographs published in the international press. Then he decided to move to Paris, France. For nearly four decades, Reza has covered a large part of the globe for international media ( ''Time'' Magazine, ''Stern'', ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'', ''
El País (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA. It is the second-most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . is the most read newspaper in ...
'', ''
Paris Match ''Paris Match'' () is a French-language weekly gossip magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. ''Paris Match'' has been considered "one of the world's best outlets for photojournalism". ...
'' and ''Geo''...), notably for National Geographic His assignments have taken him to over a hundred countries. His photographs are testimony to the chaos of War, its ravages and the helplessness of human beings caught in the storm. They also tell the world's cultures, traditions, history, and, most of all, Reza's infallible hope for a better world. Year, 1991 marks the beginning of a long and close collaboration with ''National Geographic'' magazine, for which he carries out many subjects. His photographs were the subject of 25 covers of the magazine. The following year, Reza co-founded in Paris, with his wife Rachel Deghati,Rachel Deghati Linkedin
/ref> a
writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...
, a studio around the image and words, the agency Webistan Photo Agency. Reza is quickly convinced that there are as many ways to tell a story as media, press publications, web-documentaries,
exhibition An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibiti ...
s, installations in the
public space A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads, pavements, public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. To a limited extent, government buildings which are open to the public, su ...
, documentaries made by him or on his work, books and
conference A conference is a meeting, often lasting a few days, which is organized on a particular subject, or to bring together people who have a common interest. Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always d ...
s are all complementary means of talking about a subject he is witnessing. Since its creation, its agency has helped to implement its different projects. Over the last three decades, Reza's photographs have been on the covers of
National Geographic Magazine ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...
, with more featured in international publications. He is also the author of seventeen books, including War+Peace, the first in a series entitled Masters of Photography by National Geographic, and most recently, Sindhbad, Reza's adaptation of the seven journeys of this mystical character from the classic tale, A Thousand and One Nights. A Childhood Promise is the story of discovery, narrated by three people, about a promise made by Reza to his son, Delazad.


''National Geographic''

He has worked internationally for
National Geographic Magazine ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...
. National Geographic Television has produced several films about Reza's work, most notably Frontline Diaries, which won an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
in 2002. In 2003, Reza served as Creative Director for National Geographic's most viewed documentary, Inside Mecca. As part of its Exceptional Journeys series, National Geographic released a documentary looking at Reza's career as a photojournalist, with special features highlighting his extensive humanitarian work.


Volunteer and educator

Since 1983 Reza has been a volunteer committed to training in the language of the image, of the population from conflict-ridden societies to help them strive for a better world. In 1990, he interrupted his career as a photojournalist and became a consultant to the United Nations in Afghanistan for nine months in a program of reconstruction and assistance to the population in the Northern provinces of the country. He took his cameras to start working for National Geographic Magazine but pursued actions undertaken voluntarily. In 1996 in
Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...
, he worked alongside
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
and the ICRC to continue a photo tracing operation initiated by these two organizations allowing parents to find their children lost during the mass exodus from Rwanda to
refugee camp A refugee camp is a temporary Human settlement, settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for in ...
s. From the
Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
, 12,000 children's portraits were posted in IDP camps. In 1998, Reza got involved in school construction for refugee children in
Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
,
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
. In 1991, Reza served as a consultant to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
in
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
, helping to distribute food to populations in war-torn parts of the country. In 2001, he founded Aina (Persian for The Mirror), an international new generation non-profit organization that opened a first center in
Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
, Afghanistan—dedicated to educating and empowering dedicated to educating and empowering Afghan women and children through the media. By providing educational opportunities in the field of communications and multimedia. Aina aimed to equip Afghans with the skills to build a self-sufficient, democratic, and unified country. For his work on such humanitarian causes and because of his work with Aina in Afghanistan, National Geographic awarded him the title of National Geographic Fellow in 2006. In 2009, after training 1,000 Afghans, including the 2012
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
winner Massoud Hossaini the association became completely independent and Afghan led. Reza has continued to conduct workshops to youths around the world (Italian and French suburbs, refugee camps in
Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan () refers to the Kurds, Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq. It is considered one of the four parts of Greater Kurdistan in West Asia, which also includes parts of southeastern Turkey (Northern Kurdist ...
, favelas in Buenos Aires, center for displaced youth in
Bamako Bamako is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Mali, with a 2022 population of 4,227,569. It is located on the Niger River, near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys in the southwestern part of the country. Bamak ...
etc.). By founding the non-profit organization Reza Visual Academy, which seeks to form young people between 11 and 20 years in the language of the image through the photographic tool. Passive victims, become visual witnesses and, therefore actors in their destiny. His
humanitarian Humanitarianism is an ideology centered on the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotiona ...
work and photojournalism have been recognized by international institutions and universities, including
George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by ...
,
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
, Beijing University, and the Sorbonne in Paris. He spends much of his time as a lecturer, trainer, and visiting professor, giving presentations and running workshops on global issues. His humanitarian work and photojournalism have been recognized by international institutions and universities, including
George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by ...
,
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
, Beijing University and the Sorbonne in Paris. He also participated in documentary projects for the French photography website 24h.com. Reza's photographs have been exhibited throughout the world. War+Peace (2009), an exhibit featuring thirty years worth of Reza's photojournalistic adventures, was held at the Caen Memorial (Peace Museum) in Normandy, France. One World, One Tribe (2006), was the National Geographic Museum's first outdoor exhibition in
Washington D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, and Reza's landmark exhibition in Paris, drew a million visitors.


Exhibitions

Reza's photographs have been exhibited in major cities throughout the world. From monumental installations in the
public space A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads, pavements, public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. To a limited extent, government buildings which are open to the public, su ...
to more modest local
exhibition An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibiti ...
s, Reza strives to make
photography Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...
accessible to all. In 1998, he installed, for the first time in public space, at the Carrousel du Louvre, an exhibition Mémoires d'exil. This begins a long series of original installations outside museums, allowing everyone to meet visual art and information. Thus, to cite only these, Destins Croisés, on the grids of the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris in 2003
One World, One Tribe
first exhibition of the National Geographic Museum in Washington DC in 2006, War + Peace, exposed in 2009 at the Caen Memorial in Normandy and in 2011 on the banks of the Garonne in Toulouse. There are nearly 450 photographic exhibitions in France and abroad, including major installations on the Corniche in Doha (Qatar), in the major cities of Corsica, at
Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1759, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...
in London, at the
UN headquarters , image = Midtown Manhattan Skyline 004 (cropped).jpg , image_size = 275px , caption = View of the complex from Long Island City in 2021; from left to right: the Secretariat, Conference, and General Assembly buildi ...
in New York City, Parliament in Brussels, as well as
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
, the Petit Palais museum and the banks of the Seine in Paris. In 2013, Reza has designed, the first 370-meter giant mural along the banks of the Seine facing the Musée d'Orsay, dedicated to Coffee Workers around the world. In 2015, he reiterated the same major installation entitled Dream of Humanity. It presents his photographic work on refugees around the world as well as the photographs taken by young Syrian refugees in a camp in
Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan () refers to the Kurds, Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq. It is considered one of the four parts of Greater Kurdistan in West Asia, which also includes parts of southeastern Turkey (Northern Kurdist ...
who have followed since the end of 2013 the photography training of her association Reza Workshops. In 2018, he exhibited his work Face to Face in China. * ''Crossing Destinies'' (2003) in Paris on the fences of the
Jardin du Luxembourg The Jardin du Luxembourg (), known in English as the Luxembourg Garden, colloquially referred to as the Jardin du Sénat (Senate Garden), is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. The creation of the garden began in 1612 when Mar ...
. *''One World, One Tribe'' (2006) photographic exhibition at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. *''HOPE'' (2012) a photographic exhibition at the Sheraton Park on the Corniche in
Doha Doha ( ) is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor (city), Al Khor and Lusail, it is home to most of the country's population. It ...
. *''A Dream of humanity'' (2015) along the banks of the Seine in Paris opposite the Orsay museum (photos by Reza over the past 30 years, portraits of refugees by photographer Ali Bin Thalith and photographs taken by Syrian refugee children living in Kawergosk refugee camp in Iraq).


Publications

* ''Paix en Galilée'', Les Editions de Minuit, 1983 * ''Bayan Ko'', Jaca Book, 1986 * ''Paris-Pékin-Paris'', Editions d’Art Phoebus, 1987 * ''Air Race Around the World'', Imax, 1992 * ''Kurdes. Les chants brûlés'', Benteli, 1993 * ''Massoud, des Russes aux talibans, 20 ans de résistance afghane'', n°1, 2001 * ''La France. Midi-Pyrénées et Languedoc Rousillon'',
National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, natural sc ...
, 2001 * ''Eternités Afghanes'', Editions du Chêne et Unesco, 2002 * With Jacques Giès, Laure Feugère and André Coutin, ''Le pinceau de Bouddha'', La Martinière, 2002 ** ''Painted Buddhas of Xinjiang'', translated by Ian West, The British Museum Press, 2002 * ''Plus loin sur la Terre'', Hors Collection, 2002 * ''Destins Croisés – Carnets d’un reporter photographe'', Hors Collection, 2003 * ''Insouciances'', Castor & Pollux, 2004 * ''Sur la Route de la Soie'', Hoëbeke, 2007 * ''Reza War + Peace'', Focal Point, 2008 * ''Reporters Sans Frontières - 100 photos pour la liberté de la presse'', RSF, 2008 * ''Vers l’Orient, Sindbad par Reza'', Glénat, 2009 * ''Chemins Parallèles'', Hoëbeke, 2009 * ''Sindbad by Reza'', Glénat, 2009 * ''derrière l'Objectif'', Hoëbeke, 2010 * ''Les âmes rebelles (Rebellious souls)'', Democratic Books, 2010 * ''L’Envol, La Conférence des Oiseaux (Soaring : The Conference Of The Birds)'', Democratic Books, 2010 * ''Algérie'', Michel Lafon, 2012 * ''Learning a living'', Bloomsbury Qata Foundation Publishing, 2012 * ''Chants de Café'', Michel Lafon Editions, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2013. * ''L'élégance du feu'', Paris, Webistan Paris, 2014 * ''Le Massacre des Innocents'', Webistan, Paris, 2014 * ''Kurdistan Renaissance'', Webistan, Paris, 2017 * "Iran, Rêves et Dérives" Hoebeke/Gallimard publisher, Paris, 2019;


Awards and distinctions

In 1996, Reza won the Hope Prize for contributing to a joint project with
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
in Rwanda entitled Lost Children's Portraits. In 2005, he was awarded the Chevalier de l’
Ordre National du Mérite The (; ) is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order's establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ...
, France's highest civilian honor, for his philanthropic work in children's education and women's empowerment in the empowerment of women in the media. In 2006, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe presented him with the
Prince of Asturias Prince or Princess of Asturias () is the main substantive title used by the heir apparent, or heir presumptive to the monarchy of Spain, Spanish Crown. According to the Spanish Constitution of 1978: The title originated in 1388, when King J ...
Humanitarian Medal on behalf of
National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...
. The same year, Reza received the Honor Medal from the
University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...
- Columbia School of Journalism “in recognition of his lifelong contributions, through photojournalism, to justice and dignity for the world’s citizens." He also received an award recognizing his humanitarian work from the
University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
. In 2008, Reza became a senior fellow of the Ashoka Foundation, and in May 2009, he received the Honorary Degree of
Doctor Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
from the American University of Paris (AUP) for his achievements in journalism and humanitarianism. In October 2009, he received the Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary from the New York-based Lucie Foundation and in May 2010, in New York, the Infinity Award of ICP (
International Center of Photography The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a photography museum and school at 84 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. ICP's photographic collection, reading room, and archives are at Mana Contemporary in Jer ...
) honored Reza for his latest report on
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
; “Once upon a time, the Russian Empire”, in Photojournalism category. * 1983 World Press Photo Second Prize * 1996 UNICEF Hope Prize for his work on Rwandan Refugee Camps * 2005 Chevalier de l'ordre National du Mérite * 2006 Prince of Asturias Prize as a representative of National Geographic Society * 2006 Missouri Honor Medal of best journalist * 2008 Senior fellow of the Ashoka Foundation * 2009 "Doctor Honoris Causa" from the American University of Paris (AUP) for his achievements in journalism and humanitarianism * 2009 Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary from the New York-based Lucie Foundation * 2010
International Center of Photography The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a photography museum and school at 84 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. ICP's photographic collection, reading room, and archives are at Mana Contemporary in Jer ...
Infinity Award * 2010 Human Rights Award Special Mention “Flying from the nest” * 2013 Photography Appreciation Award, Dubai2013 Photography Appreciation Award
/ref> * 2013 National Geographic Society Explorer * 2022 Dostlug Order, Azerbaijan Reza Deqatinin “Dostluq” ordeni ilə təltif edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı
/ref>


References


External links

*
Webistan Photo Agency
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deghati, Reza French photojournalists Iranian photojournalists French people of Iranian descent French people of Azerbaijani descent University of Tehran alumni People from Tabriz Knights of the Legion of Honour Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite French war correspondents War correspondents of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) 1952 births Living people