Documenting Life on the Streets of Tehran with Ali Shams
I have always been fascinated with Iran, especially Tehran, and have been tripping on some fantastic black and white photography from the city. I have been following the work of this fantastic young lad for a while now and it's my pleasure to share the story of the man behind these thought proving images of Tehran. Let's welcome Ali :)
So, who is Ali?
It's a very difficult for the first question because I'm still trying to know Ali. However, I'll try to answer this question.
Ali is an human like everybody - the same blood, the same body... everything!! :) But somethings are different, the choices of Ali are different! We can call it worldview. And another thing about Ali, he lives in a real world! (I think it's a very important point! )
Well, at this time I'm architecture student in Qazvin. I'm in love with photography and my free times are for my camera. And sometimes I'm in photography classes as a teacher assistant.
I was born in Tehran/ Iran 1995 , and I lived in some cities in Iran such a Tehran, Karaj , Rasht and the last one is Qazvin.
In my experience in different cities I understand Ali love his country! :) but personally I'm thinking about abroad and I'm trying to go some Europe countries or USA for life and education. And about memories, I have some bad memories in Rasht. First I should say this bad memories are for me specially and it doesn't matter about people live there (you know I want to tell it's not a bad place etc)
I think my memories from Rasht are affected to my life and my worldview. And they are some kind of contradiction with environment and people. I was in Rasht between 13 and 16 years old and that point I needed to connected to boys and I had some friends! I think it's usual ! But I didn't can find some friends and really I didn't have anybody except my mom ,my brother( he was 4 years old) and my father ( my father didn't home for 4 days a week).
And it was a very bad situation for little Ali ! He wants to connected someone and be happy but he couldn't (ecause the people of Rasht was unfriendly and very native and they didn't like accept someone else!) I don't know what do you think, maybe you're laughing to me ! But it was very strange for me maybe because I am very emotional!
Any major inspirations in life?
There is no such special person, but I really love my dear Master from the first meeting (about two years ago) "Mehdi Vosoughnia". He is my lovely person and great master.
Mehdi is a great master ! I can remember the first time I saw him, he was very humble and patient and I was attracted to him.
What inspires you towards photography?
I remember that my willingness to photographing appeared as In my childhood - a child willing to record humans moods and specialties. When I held the camera the first time, I think it was just magical ! It was communicating with me in a simple, clear, quick procedure and since then I got into taking pictures and records .
I think whoever becomes acquainted to camera and willing to take pictures , wont ever stop investigating the world he/she lives in; this is the specialty of camera!
Black and white photography has been more interesting for me from the beginning, it is like I’m discovering more and more facts through this technique. I forget about all the outward sweetness of the colored pictures and make the concepts outbreak themselves. The story is better understood, and the parts of composition are getting more relative.
Tell us about Iran a little...
I can explain a little, this is a very long story. About Iran, Iran is a very historic country with a lot of antiquities. The culture of people are very original and warm encounter is a part of it. The people of Iran are very important to the family and I think this is a very big difference between European countries and Iran.
And in contemporary we have economic problems and they changed conditions any way the Iranian people are still friendly and hospitable. :)
If you want to explore Iran, just bring your backpack and come here! We have a lot of historical places you should see. I think you should wear some modestly clothes .
How about your personal life Ali?
I am Single.
And finally, what is your dream Ali?
My dream is to someday I know myself.
Instagram
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| Man with an adopted face... |
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| The beauty in details... |
So, who is Ali?
It's a very difficult for the first question because I'm still trying to know Ali. However, I'll try to answer this question.
Ali is an human like everybody - the same blood, the same body... everything!! :) But somethings are different, the choices of Ali are different! We can call it worldview. And another thing about Ali, he lives in a real world! (I think it's a very important point! )
Well, at this time I'm architecture student in Qazvin. I'm in love with photography and my free times are for my camera. And sometimes I'm in photography classes as a teacher assistant.
I was born in Tehran/ Iran 1995 , and I lived in some cities in Iran such a Tehran, Karaj , Rasht and the last one is Qazvin.
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| Women |
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| Looking by... |
In my experience in different cities I understand Ali love his country! :) but personally I'm thinking about abroad and I'm trying to go some Europe countries or USA for life and education. And about memories, I have some bad memories in Rasht. First I should say this bad memories are for me specially and it doesn't matter about people live there (you know I want to tell it's not a bad place etc)
I think my memories from Rasht are affected to my life and my worldview. And they are some kind of contradiction with environment and people. I was in Rasht between 13 and 16 years old and that point I needed to connected to boys and I had some friends! I think it's usual ! But I didn't can find some friends and really I didn't have anybody except my mom ,my brother( he was 4 years old) and my father ( my father didn't home for 4 days a week).
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| Smile :) |
And it was a very bad situation for little Ali ! He wants to connected someone and be happy but he couldn't (ecause the people of Rasht was unfriendly and very native and they didn't like accept someone else!) I don't know what do you think, maybe you're laughing to me ! But it was very strange for me maybe because I am very emotional!
Any major inspirations in life?
There is no such special person, but I really love my dear Master from the first meeting (about two years ago) "Mehdi Vosoughnia". He is my lovely person and great master.
Mehdi is a great master ! I can remember the first time I saw him, he was very humble and patient and I was attracted to him.
What inspires you towards photography?
I remember that my willingness to photographing appeared as In my childhood - a child willing to record humans moods and specialties. When I held the camera the first time, I think it was just magical ! It was communicating with me in a simple, clear, quick procedure and since then I got into taking pictures and records .
I think whoever becomes acquainted to camera and willing to take pictures , wont ever stop investigating the world he/she lives in; this is the specialty of camera!
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| Me... |
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| Me again... |
Black and white photography has been more interesting for me from the beginning, it is like I’m discovering more and more facts through this technique. I forget about all the outward sweetness of the colored pictures and make the concepts outbreak themselves. The story is better understood, and the parts of composition are getting more relative.
Tell us about Iran a little...
I can explain a little, this is a very long story. About Iran, Iran is a very historic country with a lot of antiquities. The culture of people are very original and warm encounter is a part of it. The people of Iran are very important to the family and I think this is a very big difference between European countries and Iran.
And in contemporary we have economic problems and they changed conditions any way the Iranian people are still friendly and hospitable. :)
If you want to explore Iran, just bring your backpack and come here! We have a lot of historical places you should see. I think you should wear some modestly clothes .
How about your personal life Ali?
I am Single.
And finally, what is your dream Ali?
My dream is to someday I know myself.
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| Young and old... |
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| Leaving a mark behind... |
Great to see Ali's photography, Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou should peep into history to understand Political Islam in a better way. Islamic leaders in Iran have always hated the Jews, and their behaviour reflects how cruelly they have handled non-Muslims in the past.
ReplyDelete