Hi There! I’m Mehdi Motamed (Persian: مهدی معتمد) And I’m A Photographer
A photographer with Documentary and Photojournalism background.
When not behind the camera during my leisure time, you’ll find me pedaling through scenic landscapes and winding trails on my bicycle.
And when I’m not on two wheels, I’m singing or playing my Setar and clarinet. I also work as a photography teacher every day, run my photography studio and in the last years I’ve been immersed in the world of public relations.
I was born in 1991 in Qazvin, a city in the Central District of Qazvin province, Iran. I learned about the art of photography at the age of 15 during a classes at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and adolescents in Iran (CIDCA) project. At the age of 16, I passed a specialized photojournalism course at Qazvin press house, and at age of 19, I started photojournalism experience at the Iranian labor news agency (ILNA). One year later I started working at the Iranian student news agency (ISNA) as a photographer and editor.
For me, photography is a powerful tool to understand others' point of view and to position myself as an active member within a cultural and social context and that's why my interests are social and documentary photography.
When not behind the camera during my leisure time, you’ll find me pedaling through scenic landscapes and winding trails on my bicycle.
And when I’m not on two wheels, I’m singing or playing my Setar and clarinet. I also work as a photography teacher every day, run my photography studio and in the last years I’ve been immersed in the world of public relations.
I was born in 1991 in Qazvin, a city in the Central District of Qazvin province, Iran. I learned about the art of photography at the age of 15 during a classes at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and adolescents in Iran (CIDCA) project. At the age of 16, I passed a specialized photojournalism course at Qazvin press house, and at age of 19, I started photojournalism experience at the Iranian labor news agency (ILNA). One year later I started working at the Iranian student news agency (ISNA) as a photographer and editor.
For me, photography is a powerful tool to understand others' point of view and to position myself as an active member within a cultural and social context and that's why my interests are social and documentary photography.
- Honors & Awards:
– 2024 / Honorable mention
P×3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris for “Beauty Blindness” series in Press / Nature/ Environmental category – LINK
– 2024 / Selected artist in the “OF COVID” international book
Published by +KGP and Humble Arts Foundation – LINK
– 2023 / Silver winner in Editorial / Environmental
The Budapest 2023 International Foto Awards for “Beauty Blindness” Series – LINK
– 2023 / Honorable mention and showing One work
International Juried
Photography Exhibition “THE STREETS” in the PRAXIS Gallery PHOTO ARTS CENTER Minneapolis, MN, United States. – LINK
– 2022 / Honorable mention in Documentary/Photojournalism Category
The Best Photography Award for “The Garbage Disaster” Series in Professional Section- LINK
– 2016 / Honorable Mention
The 4th national festival of “Khaneye Doost” – Mashhad , Iran
– 2016 / The best photographer in the tourism field in country
By the choice of Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization – Tehran, Iran
– 2014 / The 1st prize
The 9th Doorbinet Festival in economic field – Tehran – Iran
– 2014 / The 3st prize
The 9th Doorbinet Festival in Mobile photography field – Tehran – Iran
– 2013 / The 2st prize
The Festival of the Press and News Agencies – Qazvin, Iran
– 2013 / Letter of commendation
Honored in the social documentary section (Under 25 years old – Mohsen Rasoulof Award) of Iran’s annual Tassvir Saal Festival – Tehran – Iran
– 2012 / The 3st prize
The National festival of the country’s press and news agencies – Tehran – Iran
– 2012 / The 2st prize
State welfare organization of iran photo Awards – Qazvin – Iran
– 2011 / The 3st prize
Golestaneh National Photo Festival – Mashhad- Iran
- EXHIBITIONs and Curating :
– “THE STREETS” exhibition
PRAXIS Gallery PHOTO ARTS CENTER / Minneapolis, MN, United States / 2023
– Supervisor and Curator
Shiveh Photography School Photo Annual Exhibition / Qazvin, Iran / 2023
– Collector and Curator
“14 years of ISNA Photo Service – Qazvin” Photo Exhibition. / 2019
– Selected photo in Qazvin’s Second Artworks Expo / 2018
– Qazvin’s first photo auction
Selected Photo – MehroMah Gallery – Qazvin City, Iran / 2017
-“This Day in Passing” exhibition
Tamasha Gallery – Qazvin City, Iran / 2013
Participating in several group photo exhibitions..