Alireza Pourkhan

TIFA 2024 Interview with Alireza Pourkhan
1st Place winner in Architecture, Non-Professional, “Buildings and Cityscape of Dubai”

What drew you to the specific genre of photography you specialize in? Was it a personal experience, a mentor, or something else that sparked your interest?

In general, we are all influenced by many factors around us. For me also, factors such as the place and time in which I am living, the people who have been around me in different periods of time, or the positive and even unfavourable events that happened to me were all influential. actually these aspects have been  the best teachers enabling me to tell maybe my thousands of words  or explain my feelings through my photos.

How do you approach a new photography project? Can you walk us through your creative process, from concept to execution?

I may have a specific concept, but in my idea, photography is deeply connected with emotions and feelings. It is like a poem, rhyme, song, or author’s story. It is not normally possible to make a specific strategy for making an artistic project. It comes to mind inspiringly. For instance, it has happened for me that I took a photo 14–15 years ago, but it suddenly comes to mind after years, and I become eager to process and work on it to consider it in a specific project. Art is interesting because, in fact, it is not necessarily required to be based on hard and rigid frameworks or systematically methodical. 

Your winning project stood out to the jury for its unique perspective. How do you ensure your work maintains originality and authenticity in a competitive field?

It is very important for me that the project that I submit or consider for high-level competitions be as unique as possible and different from other art works. One of the things that I usually do – not only in photography but whole life – is try to look at the world and the people from a different standpoint and from a place that normally the other people prefer not to do; however, it is often difficult. Certainly, I will try to continue the same approach.

As a photographer, how do you balance technical expertise with artistic vision? Do you lean more heavily on one, or do they work hand in hand for you?

They are contributing factors and are deeply connected with each other, which causes a project or artwork to be successful. I believe technical expertise is the main material, but that does not necessarily mean it can be noticeable without artistic vision. I personally believe the technical expertise is the basic A, B, C of the process, but the process will soar and reach the culmination of success, with no doubt, with a pure artistic vision.

 What role does post-processing play in your work? Do you consider it an extension of your creativity, or do you aim to keep your images as natural as possible?

My personal idea is that, like any other form of art, moderate post-processing has the important developing role in an artwork process. 

How do you stay inspired and motivated in an ever-evolving industry? Are there any specific sources—books, films, or other art forms—that fuel your creativity?

I think the artists and even the people who are interested in the arts are originally and inevitably, to some extent, creative and remain creative at any rate. I have felt I am personally more creative when I am away from routine life, especially in higher levels of some emotional feelings such as happiness, grief, or thrilling. In such feelings, the human’s brain seems to be more smart or maybe more hard-working. I try to keep my mind lively and sensitive and more involved in the atmosphere around me to find more creative and unique opportunities. 

 Winning this award is a significant accomplishment. How do you plan to leverage this recognition to further your career or make a greater impact in the photography world?

With no doubt, this award is very valuable to me. Furthermore, now I feel my style and point of view on the beauty of this world are noticed, seen, and approved by a valued specialized jury team and hopefully can be the same by other people. Photography is a part of life. Life is not all negative points; it has beautiful and positive aspects either. I always try to talk and speak about it with my photos. I have always tried, with my photos, to encourage and inspire the beauty and good feeling in the viewer’s mind. This accomplishment will definitely energize me to continue and to be persistent to remain hopeful and help others also to be positive. In this current situation, the world needs positive and good people even more. 

 How do you approach connecting with your subjects, especially in projects that require a deep level of trust and intimacy, such as portraits or documentary work?

In such cases, I believe, even more than photography, it is important to remind myself that we are all humans and need to feel each other, need to help each other, and need to be near and support each other. It has happened to me that I have been talking with the subject person and listening to his/her words for more than half an hour, almost forgetting that I was supposed to take a photo. Understanding the person and making friendly relationships for me is more important than taking photos. As per my experience, when the subject model likes me or thinks that I am a good person, her / his poses and appearances in the photo would also be more beautiful with a better feeling.

 In what ways do you believe photography can influence societal change? Have you worked on projects that aim to raise awareness or advocate for a cause?

Photography is a beautiful world that is connected with our lives. For me personally, factors such as the world, people, especially children, their lives, and the next generations, or what will happen in the future for the world, are all concerns for me. I really believe the photography art can be utilized as an influential, helpful visual tool to make a noticeable change in the current direction of the world towards a positive and beneficial destination. For example, I have a photo that was taken in a library and shows a lady interested and studying. I think the viewer, by looking at this photo, might be encouraged to think about or decide to start reading a book. 

 What advice would you give to photographers about finding their unique voice in a crowded industry? How can they stay true to their vision while appealing to a broader audience?

Well, separate from my general advice that “to be persistent and not to give up and try to practice all the time,” I would like to add another point from my heart: “always try to do something that the person who is looking at your photo can have a good and different feeling in her/his mind. Maybe it causes him or her to remain hopeful and positive towards others. It will make a difference compared with other artworks, so it will gain success. Life is very small, simple, and short, of course.” 

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Not related to the above valued questions, but please let me tell you something that, after 49 years of my age, I have come to this conclusion:

In life, you have to choose between doing something you like or becoming someone.