Jalal Shasmazaran

  • Visual Storyteller

Selected Recognitions

  • POY 76
  • POY 77
  • Pulitzer Center Grantee
  • Bob & Diane Fund

Jalal Shamsazaran is an internationally renowned photographer based in Tabriz, Iran.

He is a self-taught visual storyteller and in the past decade, he has majorly worked on humanitarian and climate change long-term projects. With a cinematic vision and poetic narratives, he has won various local and international awards such as the Pictures of the Year, and became a recipient of Pulitzer Center Grant.

Aside that, Jalal’s works have been published globally.
Visualizing the hidden layers of human life, such as identity, culture, and history has been his mission for the past 25 years. Shamsazaran wishes the impact of his images could raise awareness and brings hope for a better future. In 2020, he joined NVP Images as an Associate Photographer.

Walking On A Blade

Walking on a Blade is a Group photographic project that seeks to illuminate the less travelled road and to glimpse into the lives and daily struggles of daily workers in the time of Coronavirus.

Latest Updates


The Loss of Oral History Won the Bob and Diane Foundation Grant


The Loss of Oral History Won the Bob and Diane Foundation GrantNovember 20, 2020In News…

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Walking on a Blade, Recipient of the Pulitzer Fund


Walking on a Blade, Recipient of the Pulitzer FundJuly 10, 2020In News…

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POY76 Winner


POY76 WinnerFebruary 19, 2019In NVP Grant, News…

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2018 Grant Wrap Up


2018 Grant Wrap UpNovember 20, 2018In NVP Grant, News…

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Selected Projects


By reflecting the true image of his subjects, his photographs aim to capture the essence of the persons in such a way that he hopes will impact the lives of those who see his photographs, and provoke the same impact as he felt whilst capturing the foresaid images.

The Cemetery Workers

Project Location | Middle East, Iran, Tabriz Production Date | 2020-11-01 – (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center) As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, an average of 25 bodies are buried every day in the graveyard of Tabriz. Considering the total mortality rate during the period of…

Zahra, The Cleaning Lady

Project Location | Middle East, Iran, Tabriz Production Date | 2020-04-11 – (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center) Mrs. Zahra is 48 years old. She is a cleaning lady and is getting ready to sweep the house with a mask on her face.  As the sole breadwinner of her home, she has four…

Nahid, The Mobile Hairstylist

Project Location | Middle East, Iran, Tabriz Production Date | 2019-04-14 – (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center) Nahid went to her sister’s house that day to dye her hair. Most beauty salons were closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran. In times of need, people ask their…

Roghayeh, The Importer

Project Location | Middle East, Iran, Gorgan Production Date | 2020-04-28 – (2020 Grant recipients of Pulitzer Center) Roghayeh, a 65 year-old woman, is practicing an Islamic ritual at her sister’s house during the Night Of Ahya (Night of Decree) while trying to maintain social…

See all his projects