TEHRAN-The winning photos of the photography competition “Water in Iran” will be displayed at two exhibitions in Paris in September and October.

A total of 205 photographers living in Iran competed in the contest, which was centered around the theme of water, ISNA reported.

The contest is part of the international conference in Paris via videoconference with Iran (September 2024-March 2025) on the theme “Crossed perspectives on water cultures, France-Iran”.

Organized by the Franco-Iranian Center in Paris, Ithaque Chambre Noire in Paris, and the Iranian National Photographer's Society, the contest seeks to combine documentary photography with experimental photography to highlight the water situation in Iran through a collective exhibition.

Romin Mohtasham, an Iranian photographer based in Urmia, has been recognized as the winner of this photography competition by a jury, consisting of Iranian and French jurors.

His photo will be showcased along with 40 other works at Ithaque Chambre Noire and the Academy of Overseas Sciences, both in Paris.

The 40 photos have been selected by Alexandre Arminjon, the founder and manager of Ithaque Chambre Noire, a shared darkroom and exhibition venue, from 23 photographers who participated in the competition. 

Ithaque Chambre Noire will host the photos from September 12 to October 3. The next exhibition will be held at the Academy of Overseas Sciences from October 7 to 18.

The selected artists whose works will be on display include Bahador Bahadoran, Dorsa Basij, Elaheh Ashrafi, Erfan Samanfar, Gholamreza Yazdani, Mina Noshahr, Mohammad Ahangar, Shahin Esfandiari, Davoud Izadpanah, and Majid Hojjati among others.

The Franco-Iranian Center is a French association created in 2016 and based in Paris. It aims to deepen and develop Franco-Iranian relations in all areas (institutional, economic and commercial, cultural and artistic, sporting, academic, etc.) and to work to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the French and Iranian peoples and the two countries.

All these areas represent the pillars of the eternal bridge linking France and Iran, and it is essential to strengthen these links through associative activity. 

The Franco-Iranian Center organizes a wide-ranging program of conferences, speeches, and meetings in partnership with other organizations and partners. In 2023, this non-political association was considered to be the most active in Franco-Iranian relations, receiving extensive media coverage.

Founded in 2020, Ithaque has a strong connection to Iran. Arminjon has visited the country three times between 2017 and 2022, and his artistic credentials include being a finalist for the Prix du Tirage in 2021 and the youngest nominee for the Prix Niépce in 2018. His works are also part of the collection of the French National Library, and his Iranian portraits were recently exhibited at the French National Assembly.

The photography competition focused on various aspects of water, including freshwater and saltwater, terrestrial and oceanic environments, human activities related to water, and technological advancements in different regions of Iran.

SS/SAB