Reza Deghati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reza Deghati
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Reza Deghati (2023)
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| Born | July 26, 1952 Tabriz, Iran
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| Nationality | French—Iranian |
| Occupation | Photojournalist |
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Reza Deghati (born July 26, 1952) is a famous photojournalist from Iran and France. He uses his camera to tell important stories from all over the world. His photos often show the challenges people face, but also their strength and hope.
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Reza Deghati's Early Life
Reza was born in Tabriz, a city in Iran. He is from the Azerbaijani ethnic group. He first studied architecture, but his true passion was photography. He took his very first photo when he was just 14 years old. By age 16, he even published his own high school magazine called Parvaz.
Reza secretly showed his photos at the University of Tehran. Because of his artistic work, he was arrested when he was 22. He was held for three years and faced difficult times for five months.
A Career in Photojournalism
In 1979, Reza decided to become a full-time photojournalist. He covered the Iranian Revolution for news groups like Sipa Press and Newsweek magazine. In 1981, he had to leave Iran because of his photos published around the world. He then moved to Paris, France.
For almost 40 years, Reza has traveled to over a hundred countries. He has worked for major international magazines like Time, Stern, Newsweek, El País, Paris Match, and Geo. He is especially known for his long work with National Geographic.
His photographs show the difficulties of war and how people are affected. But they also highlight different cultures, traditions, and history. Most importantly, Reza's photos always share a message of hope for a better world.
Working with National Geographic
In 1991, Reza began a close partnership with National Geographic magazine. He completed many projects for them. His photos have been featured on 25 covers of the magazine.
National Geographic Television has also made several films about Reza's work. One film, "Frontline Diaries," won an Emmy Award in 2002. In 2003, Reza was the Creative Director for "Inside Mecca," a very popular documentary. They also made a film about his career and his humanitarian efforts.
Webistan Photo Agency
In 1992, Reza and his wife, Rachel Deghati, started Webistan Photo Agency in Paris. This agency helps him share his stories in many ways. He believes there are many ways to tell a story. He uses press articles, online documentaries, exhibitions, public art, and books. He also gives conferences to talk about the things he has witnessed.
Reza has written 17 books. These include "War+Peace," which was the first in a series by National Geographic called "Masters of Photography." Another book, "Sindhbad," is his version of the classic tale "A Thousand and One Nights." "A Childhood Promise" tells the story of a promise Reza made to his son.
Helping Others Through Photography
Since 1983, Reza has volunteered to teach people about photography. He especially works with people from areas affected by conflict. He believes that learning to use images can help them build a better future.
In 1990, he worked for the United Nations in Afghanistan for nine months. He helped with rebuilding and assisting people in the northern parts of the country. Even when he started working for National Geographic, he continued his volunteer efforts.
Helping Children and Communities
In 1996, Reza worked with UNICEF and the ICRC in Rwanda. They helped parents find their children who were lost during a large movement of people. They posted 12,000 children's portraits in camps to help families reunite.
In 1998, Reza helped build schools for refugee children in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2001, he founded an organization called Aina (which means "The Mirror" in Persian). Aina opened a center in Kabul, Afghanistan. Its goal was to educate and empower Afghan women and children through media. Aina taught skills in communication and multimedia. This helped Afghans build a stronger country.
Because of his humanitarian work with Aina, National Geographic named him a National Geographic Fellow in 2006. By 2009, Aina had trained 1,000 Afghans, including Massoud Hossaini, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012. After this, the organization became fully independent and led by Afghans.
Reza continues to hold workshops for young people around the world. He has worked in refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan, in cities like Buenos Aires, and with displaced youth in Bamako. His non-profit, Reza Visual Academy, teaches young people aged 11 to 20 about photography. He helps them become "visual witnesses" and take charge of their own lives.
His humanitarian work and photojournalism have been recognized by many universities. These include George Washington University, Stanford University, Beijing University, and the Sorbonne in Paris. He also gives presentations and workshops on global issues.
Exhibitions of Reza's Work
Reza's photographs have been shown in major cities all over the world. He wants to make photography available to everyone. He often creates large installations in public places, not just museums. This allows more people to see his art and learn from it.
In 1998, he had his first public exhibition, "Mémoires d'exil," at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. This started a series of unique outdoor shows. Some famous ones include:
- Crossing Destinies (2003) on the fences of the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.
- One World, One Tribe (2006), the first outdoor exhibition for the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C.
- War + Peace (2009) at the Caen Memorial in France and on the banks of the Garonne in Toulouse in 2011.
- HOPE (2012) at the Sheraton Park in Doha, Qatar.
- A Dream of Humanity (2015) along the banks of the Seine in Paris. This exhibition showed his photos of refugees and photos taken by young Syrian refugees he trained.
Reza has had nearly 450 photo exhibitions in France and other countries. These include large displays in Doha, London's Kew Gardens, the UN headquarters in New York City, and UNESCO in Paris. In 2013, he created a giant 370-meter mural along the Seine River in Paris, showing coffee workers from around the world. In 2018, he exhibited his work "Face to Face" in China.
Awards and Honors
Reza Deghati has received many awards for his photography and humanitarian work:
- 1983: World Press Photo Second Prize.
- 1996: Hope Prize for his work with UNICEF on Rwandan Refugee Camps.
- 2005: Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, France's highest civilian honor, for his work in education and empowering women.
- 2006: Prince of Asturias Humanitarian Medal, representing National Geographic Society.
- 2006: Missouri Honor Medal for best journalist from the University of Missouri.
- 2008: Senior fellow of the Ashoka Foundation.
- 2009: Honorary Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the American University of Paris (AUP) for his achievements.
- 2009: Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary from the Lucie Foundation in New York.
- 2010: International Center of Photography Infinity Award for his report on Afghanistan.
- 2010: Human Rights Award Special Mention for "Flying from the nest."
- 2013: Photography Appreciation Award, Dubai.
- 2013: National Geographic Society Explorer.
- 2022: Dostlug Order, Azerbaijan.
See also
In Spanish: Reza Deghati para niños
