I got interested in photography at the age of 17. The main focus of my work is create visual records of the society around me. I do not do this my taking one-off pictures, but by taking series of images that have a narrative and tell the totality of a story. My role is that of a story teller who observes and through images tries to touch the heart of his audience, to make his audience see things that might otherwise escape their attention. My work is a narrative within which I try to capture the depth of the interactions of an ancient and dynamic society on the move.

— Omid Salehi

Omid Salehi
Born in 1972, Shiraz (IR)
Works and lives in London (UK)

Education
Graphics, Shahid Rajaei University, Tehran (IR)
Photography, Azad University, Tehran (IR)

Exhibitions
2012 Iranian Perspectives, Richard Young Gallery, London (UK)
2010 A Positive View, Somerset House, London (UK)
2009 Transit Tehran, London School of Economics, London (UK)
2009 30 Years of Iranian Documentary Photography, Paris (FR)
2007 1st Thessaloniki Biennial of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki (GR)
2005 Five Iranian Photographers, N Gallery, Tbilisi (GA)
2004 Resistance, Chobi Mela 3, Dhaka (BD)
2004 Musulmanes, Musulmans au Caire, a Teheran, Istanbul, Paris, Dakar, Parc de la Villette, Pavillon Paul Delouvrier, Paris (FR)
2003 12 Photographic Journeys - Iran in the 21st Century, Brunei Gallery, London (UK)

Awards
2007 Iranian Documentary Photography Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2005 Ship & Sea Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2005 Kaveh Golestan's Photo Journalism Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2004 Kaveh Golestan's Photo Journalism Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2003 Janbaz Festival Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2002 Iranian Photographer's Center Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
2002 Janbaz Festival Award, Third prize, Tehran (IR)
1999 Karvean-e-shohada Award, Third prize, Tehran (IR)
1997 Annual Iranian Documentary Photography Competition - Photo essay section, First prize, Tehran (IR)
1997 Festival of the Iranian Young Cinema Society Award, Second prize, Tehran (IR)
1996 Festival of the Iranian Young Cinema Society Award, Second prize, Tehran (IR)
1995 Fajr Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
1995 Annual Iranian Documentary Photography Competition - Photo essay section, First prize, Tehran (IR)
1995 Festival of the Iranian Young Cinema Society Award, Second prize, Tehran (IR)
1993 Festival of the Iranian Young Cinema Society Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)
1991 Festival of the Iranian Young Cinema Society Award, First prize, Tehran (IR)

Published in (books)
2011 Omid Salehi: A Photographer's Journey Through Iran, Beyond Art Publications, London (UK)
2010 Omid Salehi – Cheshm (Eye) Series, Mahriz Publication, Tehran (IR)
2009 Transit Tehran, Garnet Publishing, Reading (UK)
2008 Iranian Photography Now, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern (DE)
2003 12 Photographic Journeys - Iran in the 21st Century, Silk Road Gallery, Tehran (IR)

Published in (periodicals)
2012 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2011 Journal3, London (UK)
2010 Lettre International, Berlin (DE)
2010 Rolling Stone Magazine, New York City (NY-USA)
2010 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2009 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2006 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2005 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2005 Fingerprint, Tbilisi (GA)
2005 Private - International Review of Photographs, Saint-Brissons (FR)
2003 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2003 British Journal of Photography, London (UK)
2002 Index on Censorship, London (UK)
2002 Foto, Hamburg (DE)

Journalism
Omid served as photo correspondent for several international news agencies
2010 Focus (DE)
2009 Agence France Press (FR)
2007 Focus (DE)
2006 Cultural Heritage News (IR)