Reza Deghati

Reza Deghati (Persian: رضا, born 1952 in Tabriz, Iran [ [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/biographies/reza.html "National Geographic" biography] .] ) is an Iranian-French photojournalist, who works under the name Reza.

Biography

Deghati was born in Tabriz, Iran. He studied Architecture at University of Teheran. A French citizen, today Reza is a renowned photojournalist highly regarded, world-wide. Published by the most prestigious International magazines, he travels the globe from the Bosphorus to the Great Wall of China, from Lebanon to Afghanistan, from Rwanda to Sarajevo, and Central Asian steppes to the greatness of the Arabian Empty Quarter.

He has given many lectures at universities such as Stanford, George Washington, South California, Paris’ Sorbonne, Beijing, Istanbul and many other distinguished institutions such as Unesco, National Geographic Society, Seattle, New York Documentary Museum, and more.

National Geographic television has produced several films portraying Reza and his photographic and humanitarian work. One has received an Emmy Academy Award in 2002.

In 1991, Reza and his brother Manoocher founded Webistan Photo Agency [ [http://www.webistan.com Webistan Photo Agency ] ] , which has been distributing their own archives but also those of several other photographers.

Having been a consultant to the United Nations in Afghanistan in 1990, being culturally close to this country and particularly being a journalist led Reza to found AINA [ [http://www.ainaworld.org Help Aina - Accueil ] ] . The NGO Aina, that is based in Paris, Kaboul and Washington D.C., struggles for developing a civil society and cultural expression by empowering media and communication.

In November 2005 Reza was honoured with the title of "Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite", the French award for distinguished services in a public or private capacity, by the President of France, Mr. Jacques Chirac.

He also was awarded the prestigious “Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Services in Journalism” from the Missouri School of Journalism [ [http://journalism.missouri.edu/news/2006/09-27-missouri-medals.html Missouri School of Journalism: Eight Journalism Leaders to Receive Preeminent Journalism Award ] ] , in September 2006, in "recognition of his lifelong contributions, through brilliant photojournalism, to justice and dignity for the world’s citizens".

Bibliography

* "Paix en Galilée", Les Editions de Minuit, 1983
* "Air Race Around the World", Imax, 1992
* "Kurdes. Les chants brûlés", Benteli, 1995
* "Massoud, des Russes aux talibans, 20 ans de résistance afghane", n°1, 2001
* "Afghanistan", Editions du Chêne et Unesco, 2002
* "Le pinceau de Bouddha", Les Editions de La Martinière, 2002
* "Plus loin sur la Terre", Hors Collection, 2002
* "Destins Croisés – Carnets d’un reporter photographe", Editions Hors Collection, 2003
* "Insouciances", Castor & Pollux, 2004
* "Reza War + Peace", Focal Point, 2008

Awards

• 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 for being a representative of National Geographic Society • 2006 Missouri Honor Medal of best journalist

ee also

Other Iranian Légion d'honneur recipients:
*Shirin Ebadi
*Abbas Kiarostami
*Mahmoud Hessaby
*Shahram Nazeri
*Mohamad Ali Sepanlou
*Pari Saberi
*Houshang Kavousi
*Reza Seyed Hosseini
*Jalal Sattari

External links

* [http://www.webistan.com Webistan Photo Agency]
* [http://www.ainaworld.org AINA]
* [http://journalism.missouri.edu/honor-medal/2006-reza.html University of Missouri, Columbia]

Notes