Judges
Cortona On The Move / BarTur Grant​​​​​
Supported by Visual Storytellers Fund
2025 WINNER: EMERGING PHOTOGRAPER
Matin Hashemi
Matin Hashemi Born in 1998 in Tabriz, Iran. As a child, I was interested in art, including calligraphy. In 2016, I was accepted to Tabriz University of Islamic Arts in the field of multimedia. I have been photographing since the second year of university and at the age of 19. I depict everyday events and people's lives. I am a freelance photographer, I work with several foreign and Iranian agencies and domestic news agencies. My interest is visual storytelling.
Bachelor of Multimedia and Master of Computer Arts from Tabriz University of Islamic Arts.
"The Generation Z"
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Given that I was born in 1998 and can be said to be from Generation Z, my behavior and lifestyle are very similar to those of Generation Z children and I understand them more.
This generation is very advanced and intelligent. It does not care about the margins and seeks a peaceful life. This oppression of Generation Z children forced me to show their words visually. To show that they are intelligent, they are trying, they know their lessons before the teacher says them and they can cause change and progress in society. Or their clothing style and type are different from the styles of previous generations (for example: they may wear less hijab, or wear torn pants, or wear non-Iranian clothes.) Although living with the Internet has faced them with problems such as physical and skeletal problems, psychological problems, depression, and loneliness, they are always trying to prove themselves.
You’re part of the generation you’re photographing — how has that shaped your understanding of the people and moments you’re capturing in The Generation Z?
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I am the first year of generation Z. Seeing some of the characteristics we share and the shared emotions we share inspired me to work on this project.
What aspects of Gen Z life in Iran felt most important for you to reflect in your work — the things you think are most often overlooked or misunderstood?
The existence of new types and personalities in Iran, especially in Generation Z, caught my attention. Of course, there are those from Generation Z who live similar to previous generations and are close to the traditional Iranian lifestyle. What I have shown in this photo series so far are those whose lifestyle has diverged from the Iranian lifestyle and has moved towards foreign models, especially Korean ones. Perhaps in the near future I will photograph those Generation Z.
'The Generation Z'
Part 1: Interview with Matin Hashemi
Why did you choose photography as the way to tell this story? Was there a particular moment that made you want to share these lives visually?
Naturally, images and visual narratives have a greater impact than textual narratives. It is always difficult to show the truth. But I see and photograph what is.
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Your images pay attention to subtle details — clothing, body language, daily surroundings. How do you use those visual elements to build the narrative of your generation?
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Considering the difference of these teenagers and their fear of being seen and their conservatism, it presented me with a difficult challenge in my country. In general, photography in Iran is difficult due to beliefs and respect for privacy. But I tried to gain the trust of my subjects, and photograph them the way they want to be seen.
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You studied multimedia and computer arts — how do those experiences influence your photography today?
Everyone is an artist and helps in storytelling. I also produce documentaries and have some experience in the field.
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Did the project lead you to discover anything surprising about your generation, or even about yourself?
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Yes, very much. I did a lot of research and read articles to understand this generation. I asked artificial intelligence. I talked to the teenagers themselves to produce these photos. Of course, I'm still continuing this project...
