honorable mention
Arshum Rouhanian united statesPhoto © Arshum Rouhanian
title
Iranian Rug Market
I'm currently a film student attending American University in DC, graduating 2018. My eye and my camera have been in a relationship since I was 12, so I guess you can say things are getting pretty serious.
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entry description
On a trip to Iran in the summer of 2022, I came across this stand selling authentic Persian rugs in a busy flea market in Tehran. As someone with a father who sells rugs for a living back in the US, I was drawn to this stand immediately. I saw myself in the curiosity of the little girl with her mother, my father in the man holding up a rug, my grandfather standing by with a soft smile and gaze, and even my sister in the women watching the man dust off the rug. In a sense, this photo of strangers feels like a family portrait to me.about the photographer
I was born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland after my parents fled Iran in light of the revolution. I grew up in a small one bedroom apartment with 10 of my relatives. I was too young to understand the financial issues my parents were facing, so I just thought my life was a big family sleepover. I'd sneak around the house at night and see what I could do without waking anyone up. Living in a space like that made me want to pretend. I think that's where I get my creativity.I'm currently a film student attending American University in DC, graduating 2018. My eye and my camera have been in a relationship since I was 12, so I guess you can say things are getting pretty serious.
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