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 (Persian: رضا دقتی; born July 26, 1952) is a famous photographer from Iran who also lives in France. He is known as a photojournalist, which means he takes pictures to tell stories in the news.
Contents
Reza Deghati's Early Life
Reza was born in Tabriz, a city in Iran. His family background is Azerbaijani. He first studied architecture in college. However, he loved photography more and decided to become a photographer.
He took his very first photo when he was just 14 years old. By age 16, he had already published his own high school magazine called Parvaz. He even secretly displayed his photos at the University of Tehran. Because of his strong artistic messages, he was arrested at 22. He was held in prison for three years and treated harshly for five months.
Reza Deghati's Photography Career
In 1979, Reza stopped studying architecture to become a full-time photojournalist. He took pictures of the Iranian Revolution for news groups like Sipa Press and Newsweek magazine. In 1981, he had to leave Iran because his photos were published in newspapers around the world.
He then moved to Paris, France. For almost 40 years, Reza has traveled all over the world. He has worked for major international magazines like Time, Stern, Newsweek, El País, Paris Match, and Geo. He is especially known for his work with National Geographic.
His photography assignments have taken him to over 100 countries. His pictures show the difficulties of war and how people struggle during conflicts. But they also show the beauty of different cultures, traditions, and history. Most importantly, Reza's photos always share his hope for a better world.
In 1991, Reza started working closely with National Geographic magazine. Many of his photos have been featured on the cover of the magazine, with 25 covers in total.
The next year, Reza and his wife, Rachel Deghati, started a company in Paris called Webistan Photo Agency. This company helps him share his stories in many ways. He believes there are many ways to tell a story, not just through magazines. He uses web-documentaries, exhibitions, art in public spaces, films, books, and conferences to share what he sees.
Reza has written 17 books. One of them is called War+Peace, which is part of a series by National Geographic. Another book is Sindhbad, which is his version of the classic tale A Thousand and One Nights. He also wrote A Childhood Promise, a story about a promise he made to his son.
Working with National Geographic
Reza has done a lot of work for National Geographic Magazine around the world. National Geographic Television has even made several films about his work. One film, "Frontline Diaries," won an Emmy Award in 2002.
In 2003, Reza was the Creative Director for "Inside Mecca," a very popular National Geographic documentary. National Geographic also made a film about Reza's career as a photojournalist. This film also highlighted his important humanitarian work.
Helping Others: Volunteer and Educator
Since 1983, Reza has volunteered to teach people about photography. He especially helps people in areas affected by conflict. He believes that learning to use images can help them build a better future.
In 1990, he paused his photojournalism career to work with the United Nations in Afghanistan. For nine months, he helped with a program to rebuild and assist people in the northern parts of the country. Even when he returned to photography for National Geographic, he continued his volunteer work.
In 1996, he worked with UNICEF and the ICRC in Rwanda. They helped parents find their children who were lost during a large movement of people from Rwanda. They posted 12,000 children's photos in camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 1998, Reza helped build schools for refugee children in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2001, he started an organization called Aina (which means "The Mirror" in Persian). Aina is a non-profit group that opened a center in Kabul, Afghanistan. It helps Afghan women and children learn about media and communication. The goal was to give Afghans the skills to build a strong and peaceful 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 run by Afghans.
Reza continues to hold workshops for young people around the world. He has taught in Italian and French cities, refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan, and poor neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. He also teaches in centers for young people who have been displaced in Bamako. He founded the non-profit Reza Visual Academy. This academy teaches young people aged 11 to 20 how to use photography to tell their stories. He wants them to become active witnesses of their own lives.
Many international groups and universities have recognized his humanitarian work and photojournalism. These include George Washington University, Stanford University, Beijing University, and the Sorbonne in Paris. He also gives talks and workshops on global issues.
Reza Deghati's Exhibitions
Reza's photographs have been shown in major cities all over the world. He often creates large art installations in public spaces. He wants everyone to be able to see and enjoy photography.
In 1998, he put on his first public exhibition called "Mémoires d'exil" at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. This started a long series of unique outdoor exhibitions. These shows allow people to experience art and information outside of museums.
Some of his famous outdoor exhibitions include:
- Crossing Destinies (2003) on the fences of the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.
- One World, One Tribe (2006) at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. This was the museum's first outdoor exhibition.
- War + Peace (2009) at the Caen Memorial in Normandy, France, and in 2011 along the Garonne River in Toulouse.
- HOPE (2012) at the Sheraton Park on the Corniche in Doha.
- A Dream of Humanity (2015) along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, across from the Orsay museum. This exhibition included his photos of refugees and photos taken by young Syrian refugees he taught.
Reza has had nearly 450 photography exhibitions in France and other countries. Some major installations were in Doha (Qatar), Corsica, Kew Gardens in London, the UN headquarters in New York City, and the Parliament in Brussels. His work has also been shown at UNESCO, the Petit Palais museum, and along the banks of the Seine in Paris.
In 2013, Reza created a huge 370-meter mural along the Seine River, facing the Musée d'Orsay. It was dedicated to coffee workers around the world. In 2018, he showed his "Face to Face" exhibition in China.
Awards and Honors for Reza Deghati
Reza Deghati has received many awards and honors for his photography and humanitarian work.
- In 1996, he won the Hope Prize for his work with UNICEF on "Lost Children's Portraits" in Rwanda.
- In 2005, he received the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. This is France's highest civilian honor. He received it for his work in educating children and empowering women through media.
- In 2006, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe gave him the Prince of Asturias Humanitarian Medal on behalf of National Geographic.
- The same year, the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Journalism gave him an Honor Medal. This was to recognize his lifelong efforts to promote justice and dignity through photojournalism. He also received an award for his humanitarian work from the University of Chicago.
- In 2008, Reza became a senior fellow of the Ashoka Foundation.
- In May 2009, the American University of Paris (AUP) gave him an Honorary Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa. This was for his achievements in journalism and helping others.
- In October 2009, he received the Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary from the Lucie Foundation in New York.
- In May 2010, the International Center of Photography (ICP) honored Reza with the Infinity Award for his report on Afghanistan, called "Once upon a time, the Russian Empire."
- In 2022, he received the Dostlug Order from Azerbaijan.
Images for kids
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Reza Deghati's signature
See also
In Spanish: Reza Deghati para niños
