{{short description|Iranian photojournalist and documentary photographer}}{{Promotional|date=April 2026}}190x190px|alt=|thumb '''Solmaz Daryani''' (Persian: '''سولماز داریانی''') (born 1989 in Tabriz, Iran) is an Iranian Azeri<ref>{{cite web |url = https://theviifoundation.org/profile/solmaz-daryani/#:~:text=Solmaz%20Daryani%20is%20a%20self,environment%20in%20her%20native%20Iran. |archiveurl = |archivedate = |title = SOLMAZ DARYANI |author = |date = |publisher = theviifoundation.org |accessdate = 19 January 2024 |language = }}</ref> photographer and visual artist based in the UK and Iran. Her work is particularly known for exploring the themes of climate security, climate change, water crisis,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iran's Water Crisis|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2016/11/iran-water-crisis-161109114752047.html|access-date=2019-10-19|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> the human identity and environment in the Middle East. Daryani is a member of Women Photograph<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.womenphotograph.com/|title=Women Photograph|website=Women Photograph|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> and Diversify Photo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=United Kingdom|url=https://diversify.photo/where/united-kingdom|access-date=2020-07-20|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Life and career == Daryani studied computer science at Azad University, emerging from school with a B.A. in software engineering. She started approaching photography as a self-taught photographer in 2012. Since 2014 Solmaz Daryani covered the environmental and human impact of the drying of Lake Urmia, one of the most unfortunate environmental disasters in the Middle East , which was published in her first book [https://fotoevidence.com/books/the-eyes-of-earth-by-solmaz-daryani The Eyes of Earth] by [https://fotoevidence.com/the-w-award FotoEvidence Foundation]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PUw8zgEACAAJ|title=The Eyes of Earth|date=2021-05-21|publisher=FotoEvidence|isbn=978-1-7324711-7-7|language=en}}</ref> in 2021.
In fall 2019, she received The Alexandra Boulat Grant<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://photo.dmjx.dk/index.php/2019/12/09/photo-i-and-scholarship-students-have-been-selected/|title=Photo I and scholarship students have been selected – DMJX photojournalism|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> in remembrance of the late, prize winning French photographer, who was a member and co-founder of VII Photo Agency, to study at DMJX. In 2017, she received the Magnum Foundation Grant<ref>{{Cite news|title=Solmaz Daryani {{!}} A Sacred, Sullied Space|url=https://www.magnumfoundation.org/projects/2019/7/17/solmaz-daryani-a-sacred-sullied-space|access-date=2019-10-14|website=Magnum Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref> for a call themed “[https://www.magnumfoundation.org/projects/2019/7/17/solmaz-daryani-a-sacred-sullied-space On Religion]”. Her ongoing project, The Eyes of Earth, is the recipient of the IdeasTap and Magnum Photos,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Desolate, Apocalyptic Landscape That Is Lake Urmia, Iran|url=https://www.featureshoot.com/tag/solmaz-daryani/|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Solmaz Daryani|url=https://www.bjp-online.com/tag/solmaz-daryani/|access-date=2019-10-15|newspaper=1854 Photography|language=en-US}}</ref> [http://internationalphotogrant.com/winners-gallery/photogrvphy-grant-2018/climate/silver-award PhotogrVphy Grant]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hamoun Wetland to Wasteland|url=http://internationalphotogrant.com/winners-gallery/photogrvphy-grant-2018/climate/silver-award|access-date=2019-10-14|website=internationalphotogrant.com|language=en}}</ref> and the [https://fotoevidence.com/books/the-eyes-of-earth-by-solmaz-daryani FotoEvidence Book Award].
She is a member of [https://www.womenphotograph.com/ Women Photograph] and [https://diversify.photo/where/united-kingdom/ DiversifyPhoto].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Solmaz|first=Daryani|date=|title=Women Photograph -- Middle East|url=https://www.womenphotograph.com/middle-east|access-date=2019-10-14|website=Women Photograph|language=en-US}}</ref> Through her work, she explores the link between people and their environment through personal narratives by identifying locations, characters and scenes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=administrata|date=2018-06-11|title=The Eyes of Earth|url=https://www.emerge-mag.com/2018/06/the-eyes-of-earth-solmaz-daryani/|access-date=2019-10-14|website=emerge - Magazin für jungen Fotojournalismus|language=de-DE}}</ref> Solmaz Daryani usually works on long-term projects. Since the beginning of her career, she has worked on storytelling by creating series over more extended periods to understand how time impacts the people and environment. Her long-term photo projects include The Eyes of Earth (2014–ongoing)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-31|title=Solmaz Daryani documente la disparition du lac d'Ourmia en Iran|url=https://www.lense.fr/news/solmaz-daryani-documente-la-disparition-du-lac-dourmia-en-iran/|access-date=2019-10-15|website=Lense|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=LensCulture|first=Solmaz Daryani {{!}}|title=Solmaz Daryani|url=https://www.lensculture.com/solmaz-daryani|access-date=2019-10-15|website=LensCulture}}</ref> and In Deserts of Wetland (2018-ongoing).<ref>{{Cite web|title=In The Desert of Iran's Wetlands|url=https://phmuseum.com/solmazdaryani/story/in-the-desert-of-iran-s-wetlands-c3d5d30d77|access-date=2019-10-15|website=phmuseum.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, she featured in a French documentary film "Focus Iran"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/televisions-radio/article/2017/07/08/tv-focus-iran-l-audace-au-premier-plan_5157717_1655027.html|title=TV : " Focus Iran, l'audace au premier plan "|date=2017-07-08|access-date=2019-10-19|language=fr}}</ref> about five Iranian photographers testify to the vitality of a creation confronted with the rules.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scam.fr/Festivaldesetoiles/films/film/ArticleId/5703/Focus-Iran-l-audace-au-premier-plan|title=Focus Iran, l'audace au premier plan|website=Scam.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref>
Daryani has worked internationally, covering water crisis, climate change, and social documentary stories in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Her work has been published by international magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sengupta|first=Somini|date=2021-08-30|title=A New Breed of Crisis: War and Warming Collide in Afghanistan|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/climate/afghanistan-climate-taliban.html|access-date=2021-10-25|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Der Spiegel,<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 October 2020|title=Where girls are no longer allowed to go to school because of climate change (Afghanistan)|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/folgen-des-klimawandels-in-afghanistan-nach-dem-krieg-kommt-die-flut-a-f54298ee-61f9-42c7-b858-1b7d489c5acd|access-date=2020-11-14|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|last1=Olphen|first1=Tim van}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=29 October 2020|title=How one of the world's largest salt lakes disappears-Lake Urmia|url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/urmiasee-in-iran-wie-einer-der-groessten-salzseen-weltweit-verschwindet-a-5c83836f-eced-4c1f-8766-b91fd07a12e3|access-date=2020-11-14|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|last1=Olphen|first1=Tim van}}</ref> National Geographic Magazine,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-03|title=In Afghanistan, climate change complicates future prospects for peace|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/afghan-struggles-to-rebuild-climate-change-complicates/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204084803/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/afghan-struggles-to-rebuild-climate-change-complicates/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2020|access-date=2020-02-07|website=Science|language=en}}</ref> Atlas Obscura,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|date=2020-09-11|title=The Ghost Towns of Lake Urmia, Once West Asia's Largest Lake|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ghost-towns-lake-urmia-iran|access-date=2020-09-13|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en}}</ref> Foreign Policy Magazine,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|title=Troubled Waters|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/07/aperture-troubled-waters-iran-lake-urmia-environment-draught-water-preservation/|access-date=2019-10-14|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US}}</ref> L'OBS Magazine<ref>{{Cite news|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|date=2019-12-06|title=Dürre im Feuchtgebiet - In Deserts of Wetlands of Iran|url=https://magazin.zenith.me/de/gesellschaft/klimawandel-im-s%C3%BCdosten-von-iran?fbclid=IwAR2jyc1j22eZnNrq7K8Xlb0EHwJGfZNHOFd-cFDJa5c_YbWfoK6N7zNv2IQ|access-date=2020-11-14|website=magazin.zenith.me|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Community Left Behind at Dried Up Lake Urmia (PHOTOS)|url=https://weather.com/photos/news/the-community-left-behind-at-dried-up-lake-urmia|access-date=2019-10-16|website=The Weather Channel|language=en-US}}</ref> [https://boutique.lemonde.fr/hors-serie-le-monde-iran.html Le Monde hors serie],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-31|title=Solmaz Daryani documente la disparition du lac d'Ourmia en Iran|url=https://www.lense.fr/news/solmaz-daryani-documente-la-disparition-du-lac-dourmia-en-iran/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Lense|language=fr-FR}}</ref> Polka Magazine,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solmaz Daryani – Polka Magazine|url=https://www.polkamagazine.com/photographe/solmaz-daryani/|access-date=2019-10-15|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-04|title=Une photographe immortalise la disparition d'un lac en Iran, la terre de son enfance|url=https://www.polkamagazine.com/une-photographe-immortalise-la-disparition-dun-lac-en-iran-la-terre-de-son-enfance/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Polka Magazine|language=fr-FR}}</ref> The American Scholar Magazine and other publications.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-04|title=The Lost Lakes of Iran|url=https://theamericanscholar.org/the-lost-lakes-of-iran/|access-date=2019-10-14|website=The American Scholar|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=9 July 2017|title=Regardez en replay "Focus Iran : l'audace au premier plan"|url=https://www.telerama.fr/television/en-iran-des-photographes-au-regard-si-percant,160280.php|access-date=2019-10-14|website=Télérama.fr|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=En Iran, des photographes au regard si perçant|url=https://www.telerama.fr/television/en-iran-des-photographes-au-regard-si-percant,160280.php|access-date=2019-10-15|website=Télérama.fr|date=9 July 2017|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Solmaz Daryani {{!}} zenith.me|url=https://zenith.me/de/writer/solmaz-daryani|access-date=2021-02-21|website=zenith.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-06|title=Dürre im Feuchtgebiet|url=https://magazin.zenith.me/de/gesellschaft/klimawandel-im-s%C3%BCdosten-von-iran|access-date=2021-02-21|website=magazin.zenith.me|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-23|title=Woman Paper Visa journal celebrates female photojournalists|url=https://www.bjp-online.com/2017/11/woman-paper-visa-journal-female-photojournalists/|access-date=2019-10-15|website=British Journal of Photography|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=administrata|date=2018-06-11|title=The Eyes of Earth|url=https://www.emerge-mag.com/2018/06/the-eyes-of-earth-solmaz-daryani/|access-date=2019-10-15|website=emerge - Magazin für jungen Fotojournalismus|language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kel12 magazine - Settembre 2016|url=https://it.scribd.com/document/329854058/Kel12-magazine-Settembre-2016|access-date=2019-10-15|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|title=A reflection on how climate change altered Lake Urmia|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/photo-essay/photographer-personal-account-climate-change-altered-lake-urmia|access-date=2019-10-15|website=The Caravan|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=In The Desert of Iran's Wetlands|url=https://phmuseum.com/solmazdaryani/story/in-the-desert-of-iran-s-wetlands-c3d5d30d77|access-date=2021-02-21|website=phmuseum.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Solmaz Daryani Archives|url=https://www.featureshoot.com/tag/solmaz-daryani/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=Feature Shoot|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Photographs == <gallery> File:Solmaz Daryani Urmia Lake3 دریاچه ارومیه.jpg File:Solmaz Daryani Urmia Lake9 دریاچه ارومیه.jpg File:Solmaz Daryani Urmia lake87.jpg File:Martian Mountains in Chabahar region in Sistan and Baluchestan Province ©Solmaz Daryani.jpg </gallery>
== Awards and exhibitions ==
* 2021 The winner of the 2021 [https://fotoevidence.com/books/the-eyes-of-earth-by-solmaz-daryani FotoEvidence Book Award]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daryani|first=Solmaz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PUw8zgEACAAJ|title=The Eyes of Earth|date=2021-05-21|publisher=FotoEvidence|isbn=978-1-7324711-7-7|language=en}}</ref> *2021 RPS Science Photographer of the Year finalist <ref>{{Cite web|title=How a picture tells the story of climate emergency|url=https://rps.org/news/journal/how-a-picture-tells-the-story-of-climate-emergency/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=rps.org|date=3 February 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> *2020 Award of Excellence in [https://www.cpoy.org/ 75th College Photographer of the Year] in the category of Portrait <ref>{{Cite web|title=75th College Photographer of the Year {{!}} Winning Images|url=https://www.cpoy.org/?s=WinningImages&yr=75&c=395#4.0|access-date=2020-11-14|website=www.cpoy.org}}</ref> *2020 Runner up for Marilyn Stafford Fotoreportage Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Marilyn Stafford Fotoreportage Award 2020 Winner – FotoDocument|url=https://fotodocument.org/uncategorized/marilyn-stafford-fotoreportage-award-2020-winner/|access-date=2020-07-20|language=en-US}}</ref> * 2019 Recipient of Alexandra Boulat Grant by the VII Foundation and VII Academy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://photo.dmjx.dk/index.php/2019/12/09/photo-i-and-scholarship-students-have-been-selected/|title=Photo I and scholarship students have been selected – DMJX photojournalism|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> *2019 Finalist in [https://iwpa.fr/photographer/solmaz-daryani/ The IWPA Award] by the [https://iwpa.fr/ International Women Photographers Association], France<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://plainmagazine.com/international-women-photography-awards-2019/|title=The Winning Images of 2019's International Women Photography Awards|last=Barba-Court|first=Kala|date=2019-07-24|website=Plain Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2018 Second Place, 2018 [http://internationalphotogrant.com/ PhotogrVphy Grant] in the category of Climate * 2018 Shortlisted for [https://www.artdubai.ae/artweek/iwpa-alliance-francaise/ The IWPA Award by the International Women Photographers Association] 2018, France * 2017 Recipient of Magnum Foundation “On Religion” collaborative photography Grant, NYC, USA * 2016 Recipient of IdeasTap with Magnum Photos Grant, London, United Kingdom * 2016 Shortlisted for D&AD Next Photographer Award, London, United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dandad.org/awards/next-awards/2016/next-photographer/89/the-eyes-of-earth/|title=Solmaz Daryani: The Eyes of Earth {{!}} 2016 Next Photographer Award Winner {{!}} Next Photographer {{!}} D&AD|website=www.dandad.org|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2015 Shortlisted for Sheed Grant (Independent Award for Documentary Photography)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.akkasee.com/news/1394/30952/%da%a9%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%af%db%8c%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%87%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%af%d8%b1%db%8c%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%aa-%d9%86%d8%ae%d8%b3%d8%aa%db%8c%d9%86-%da%af%d8%b1%d9%86%d8%aa-%d8%b9%da%a9%d8%a7%d8%b3%db%8c-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%b4%db%8c%d8%af/|title=کاندیداهای دریافت نخستین گرنت عکاسی مستند شید|last=عکاسی {{!}} 0 {{!}}|first=نشریه عکاسی حرفه ای {{!}} ۴ مهر ۱۳۹۴ {{!}} مسابقه|date=2015-09-25|website=سایت عکاسی|language=fa-IR|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2013 Tirgan Contemporary Art Prize Award,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tirgan.ca/b/2013/programs/photo-contest/winners.html|title=Hope Photo Contest Winners {{!}} Tirgan|website=tirgan.ca|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> Toronto, Canada * 2013 Shortlisted for Borsa International Photography Festival, Borsa, Turkey * 2020 After Us, The Flood in KUNST HAUS WIEN ecological museum, Wien (AUT)<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=After Us, the Flood – Solmaz Daryani Kunst Haus Wien. Museum Hundertwasser|url=https://www.kunsthauswien.com/en/press/after-us-flood/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=www.kunsthauswien.com}}</ref> * 2020 Brooklyn, NYC, [https://photoville.nyc/ Photoville’s] Artists to Watch (US)<ref>{{Cite news|last=majda|title=Photoville's Emerging Artists to Watch – Photoville|newspaper=Photoville |date=25 August 2020 |url=https://photoville.nyc/photovilles-emerging-artists-watch/|access-date=2020-11-14|language=en-US}}</ref> * 2020 [https://www.phest.info/ PhEST] International festival of photography and art, Monopoli (ITL)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solmaz Daryani|url=https://www.phest.info/solmaz-daryani|access-date=2020-11-14|website=phest|language=it}}</ref> * 2020 My Environment International Festival, [https://neue-schule-fotografie.berlin/ Neue Schule für Fotografie], Berlin (DE)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Neue Schule für Fotografie - Fotoschule in Berlin|url=https://neue-schule-fotografie.berlin/galerieundausstellungen/ausstellungen-2020/meine-umwelt-internationales-jugendfotofestival/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=neue-schule-fotografie.berlin}}</ref> * 2019 [https://www.f2fotofestival.de/ausstellungen/follow-the-water/ F2 Fotofestival] on Water and justice, Dortmund, Germany<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.f2fotofestival.de/en/lectures/|title=SYMPOSIUM|website=f2 Fotofestival Dortmund|language=de-DE|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2019 United Nations Development Programme’s exhibition on inequality and climate change at [https://photoville.nyc/ Photoville]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://photoville.nyc/inequality-and-climate-change-the-double-threat-to-life-on-earth/|title=Inequality and Climate Change: The Double Threat to Life on Earth|last=majda|date=2019-07-28|website=Photoville|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> in Brooklyn, NYC, United States<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2019/photo-exhibition--inequality-and-climate-change--the-double-thre.html|title=Photo exhibition: "Inequality and Climate Change: The Double Threat to Life on Earth|website=UNDP|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stories.undp.org/997ccd59d6fbff50efc5c08552f3602f|title=Inequality and climate change - United Nations Development Programme {{!}} UNDP|website=Exposure|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2019 Group show, IRAN, 1979-2019 Maupetit Cŏtė Gallery, Marseille<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.corridorelephant.com/post/iran-1979-2019-chez-maupetit-c%C3%B4t%C3%A9-galerie|title=Post|website=corridorelephant|date=6 June 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2019 IWPA travelling exhibition, La Galerie, Dubai, Alliance Française * 2018 “(IR) Real Iran”, Gallery Mandarin, Paris, France. In partnership with Sciences Po Paris and the NGO La Chaîne * 2017 “Iran Anne 38” Group show, Les Rencontres d’Arles;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artdesigntendance.com/la-photographie-contemporaine-en-iran-solmaz-daryani/|title=Photographie iranienne : Solmaz Daryani|date=2018-01-25|website=Art Design Tendance|language=fr-FR|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> Curated by Anahita Ghabaian Etehadieh and Newsha Tavakolian; Festival, Église Sainte-Anne, Arles (FR)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rencontres-arles.com//en/expositions/view/172/iran-year-38|title=Iran: year 38|last=d'Arles|first=Les Rencontres|website=www.rencontres-arles.com|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lensculture.com/articles/rencontres-d-arles-iran-annee-38-photography-since-the-revolution|title=Iran, année 38: Photography Since the Revolution - Curation by Anahita Ghabaian and Newsha Tavakolian|last=LensCulture|first=Rencontres D' Arles {{!}}|website=LensCulture|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * 2016 [https://www.simoncroberts.com/news/pierdom-pondyphoto/ PondyPHOTO] India International Art Festival (India) * 2013 [http://2013.bursaphotofest.org/ Bursa Photo Festival, Colors of life exhibition], Bursa, Turkey * 2013 Tirgan Iranian/Canadian art and culture Festival and Visual art exhibition (CA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tirgan.ca/b/2013/programs/photo-contest/winners.html|title=Hope Photo Contest Winners {{!}} Tirgan|website=tirgan.ca|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> *2012 HIPA Photo Contest annual Book exhibition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publications|url=http://www.hipa.ae/en/media/publications/2|access-date=2019-10-15|website=Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award|language=en}}</ref> in Wollongong University of Dubai (UAE)
== References == <references />
== External links == *[http://www.solmazdaryani.com/ Official Website] *{{Commons category-inline|Solmaz Daryani}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Daryani, Solmaz}} Category:Iranian documentary photographers Category:Social documentary photographers Category:Living people Category:Iranian women photographers Category:21st-century Iranian women artists Category:Iranian photojournalists Category:People from Tabriz Category:1985 births Category:Women photojournalists