Publisher’s note
Reza and Manoocher Deghati, brothers and photojournalists who grew up in Iran in the 1950s and were forced into exile in the early 1980s, present their exclusive period archives for the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. In 1978, Reza and Manoocher Deghati covered the Islamic Revolution from its beginnings, and subsequently the hostage-taking at the American Embassy in Tehran. Their images were used extensively at the time in the international press: Newsweek, the Times, Lifeand Paris Match. The brothers were privileged witnesses to these events, ceaselessly documenting the riots, the violent repressions, but also the hopes of a changing Iranian society.
Their work gives a face to the Iranian people damaged by an Islamic Republic that has not kept the promise of much-anticipated peace.
Reza, a famous photojournalist, has travelled the world since leaving Iran in 1981. His images have been broadcast in the international media (National Geographic, Time Magazine, Newsweek, El País, Paris Match, Geo…), but also in the form of books, exhibitions and documentaries. He has been a photographer since his teens and was marked by his experience as a political prisoner when he was a student. The Iranian revolution revealed his skills as a photojournalist. From 1983, alongside this work, he began devoting himself to the informal visual education of young people and women around the world and created various associations. As a regular contributor to the National Geographic Society since 1991, and a senior fellow of the Ashoka Foundation, he has received numerous awards, including the World Press Photo, the Infinity Award, and the Knight’s Medal of the National Order of Merit.
A citizen of the world, Manoocher Deghatihas lived in more than 12 countries on 4 continents. He has been a photojournalist for international photo agencies and magazines such as Agence France Presse, Sipa, Black Star, Times, Newsweek. After studying film in Rome, he returned to Iran to witness the revolution. From 1987 to 1990, he was the head of the photo department for Agence France Presse in Central America. Returning to the Middle East in 1990, he covered similar political and social issues. Injured by an Israeli sniper in Ramallah, he was transferred to Paris where he remained for 18 months at the Invalides military hospital. In 2011, he created the new Middle East photography department for the Associated Press. He has received a number of awards including the World Press Photo award, and now works for major magazines such as National Geographic. He lives in Italy, where he also runs workshops.
Reza illustrated the 8thissue of the Humanitarian Alternatives magazine, and gave us an exclusive interview:
http://alternatives-humanitaires.org/en/eight-issue-march-2018
