Describe yourself in 3 words
Right now I’m busy, tired and hungry!
Where are you from, where do you live now?
I was born in South London where I live. My family originate from Tehran.
Describe your technique/creative process.
I like to capture people for who they are, whether they are a friend, a model,
a musician…Whoever! Rather than creating a perfect photograph it becomes more about building the perfect atmosphere and sharing a moment with my subject. It’s those in between moments that I seek to capture.
How do you keep you creative flow fresh, where does your inspiration come from?
I’m always reading, visiting galleries, watching films, listening to music. These all inspire me.
I think it’s always important to remember that a photograph is always from one person’s perspective. (…) It’s never going to be the ‘whole’ truth but photographs are more like a fragment from one’s perspective.
Name three artists you love right now
Juergen Teller – always and forever
Elizabeth Ilsley – I am on my way home now from photographing her for a magazine and she was amazing!
William Eggleston – I met him last week!
What do you think are the qualities that define an artist?
Believing in what you do.
What do you hate about being an artist ? If you hate anything.
A lot people complain about the money but you probably shouldn’t go into the arts if you expect to make a killing from day 1. You have to build it up.
What is the importance of Diversity in your work?
I have spent my whole life in a diverse community so it has never really been a conscious thing for me. Diversity comes naturally to both myself and my work.
What are your goals as an artist?
I love how things are going at the moment so it would be to keep up momentum and make more personal work!
Duane Michals said « Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be. » what do you think ?
I agree and disagree. I think it’s always important to remember that a photograph is always from one person’s perspective. Even if they haven’t drastically manipulated the photograph in post production, the photographer still has the advantage of choosing the angle, the crop, the tone… These all deter what we see and how we process an image. It’s never going to be the ‘whole’ truth but photographs are more like a fragment from one’s perspective.
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