Hello Shahab.

Let's start at the beginning. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you, where are you from?

I am an expert in urban planning and tourism, and photography is one of my most serious interests. I currently live in Isfahan, the city of turquoise domes and the cultural capital of Iran. 

Do you have other passions besides photography?

Cycling, hiking, mountaineering and travelling are some of my other activities. 

What is your favourite food?

Choosing a food as my favorite food is a little difficult for me, but maybe I should mention "Qarmeh Sabzi" and "Fesanjun" among Iranian dishes. I do not eat fast food at all.

Your favourite film or film genre?

I am very interested in classical cinema. I watch more social documentaries and sometimes dramas.

Do you enjoy reading?

Yes, I'm very interested in reading and I can say that I have a relatively large personal library. Apart from specialized books in my field and photography, I am interested in reading novels and classical literature of Iran and the world. I am currently reading Dostoevsky's book Crime and Punishment.

Are you a sports person?

I exercise almost every day and it has become a routine of my life, I almost always use cycling to get around.

And now let’s focus on photography... How did you get started in photography?

I started photography with a film camera when I was about 11 years old and learned photography on my own. Photography has always been a special attraction for me until in recent years it has become one of the most important parts of my life.

How do you think your life experience affects the photographs you take?

I am very interested in traveling and even before I started photographing professionally, I traveled to different parts of my country and I have always been fascinated by the connection with different cultures and people. Also, my education and familiarity with the topics of psychology and sociology, along with the various experiences I have gained during my travels over the years, greatly contribute to the type of photography I do now. Most of my work is documentary environmental portraits, and need more than just photography techniques and light and color recognition to communicate effectively with subjects.

How did other photographers influence your work?

In my opinion, photography is an internal and personal process and the photographer must be very careful about his vision and work to improve it. Everyone has their own unique vision and should not spoil it by copying the works of others. But I am always eager to hear criticism from others and I use the opinions and help of other photographers to improve my photography knowledge. And I help others in this way as much as I can.

How would you define your style in photography?

My interest in connecting with people and hearing their stories and experiences has now led me more to environmental portrait and documentary photography. I also enjoy photographing architectural forms and nature, and if the opportunity arises, I will definitely do minimal photography.

Are you a fisherman or a hunter, photographically speaking? Do you start from a predefined idea or does photography suddenly appear?

I can say that I am mostly a fisherman, I always have a plan for photography in advance and I am always looking for my own subjects. Even in street photography and random subjects, I expect and predict what happens in the right place.

What equipment do you use - cameras, lenses...?

I use Nikon full-frame DSLRs and my favorite lenses are Sigma Art Series fixed lenses, especially 20mm and 50mm f:1/4.

What software do you use to process your photographs?

I almost always use Lightroom and sometimes I get help from Photoshop depending on the type of need. I also use NikSoft Collection like Color Efex pro and Silver Efex pro

What is your favourite photo and why?

I like all my photos, especially the portraits, because behind each of them there are memories and stories, but if I want to choose one of them, it is the "carpet", an image that has a feeling and memory since its recording. And later it was very well received by the public and went viral

What does turn an image into a good image? What does make it stand out?

In my opinion, apart from the correct composition and  adjustment of light and color in the image, a photo can be an indicator that has something human, such as a special feeling or a public memory, or capture a unique moment. On the other hand, especially in documentary photography, a photo becomes special  when the photographer has been able to communicate well with the subject and make the subject stand in front of his camera as if there is no camera.

What are your tips for beginner photographers?

The best tip in my opinion is to practice and practice and practice. Nothing makes progress as much as practicing and focusing on your work. Everyone's best competitor is himself and for progress we just have to try to be better than the day before and learn something new every day. No success is achieved overnight, and patience in work will certainly be fruitful.

What are your plans and ideas for next projects?

I'm researching and working on some new ideas, Works in the form of photo collections with social and cultural themes. I also have a plan to photograph less seen parts of Iran.

Why did you decide to join 100ASA?

During these years, I participated in various photography sites and platforms, as well as various national and regional photography associations, and I was always looking for a friendly and photographic atmosphere to critique and get feedback from others. In my opinion, 100 Asa is one of the best spaces available at the moment, where you can receive valuable feedback from audiences from different countries and views. A space to meet many photographers and see different photos and comments. I have learned a lot from other curators and photographers during this time of membership in this site, and I have found very valuable friends like you dear Vicente.

Kind Regards Shahab

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