People nominee

Arid regions around the globe are home to a remarkable array of human societies known as desert dwellers. These communities have flourished in environments characterized by significant temperature fluctuations, encompassing scorching days and frigid nights, alongside limited precipitation. Across these diverse landscapes, a rich tapestry of cultures and communities has emerged, each demonstrably adapted to the rigors of the desert environment. This adaptation manifests in many ways, from shelter construction and resource management to social structures and cultural practices.

Tirdad Aghakhani, an accomplished photographer and visual artist based in SF/NYC, is celebrated for his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his unique style. His work often features ordinary people, artists, and fashion, and is informed by a distinct artistic and poetic vision. Nurtured by his mother from a young age, Tirdad’s passion for art blossomed. He concurrently pursued a degree in graphic design and discovered his love for photography. After assuming the role of director at one of Iran’s largest photography studios in 2006, he later moved to Turkey in 2012, where he served as a post-production manager for a professional commercial photography studio until 2015. Continuing his creative journey, he embarked on an ongoing project photographing portraits of refugees, resulting in a series titled “Torang” (Pheasant), which was later featured in a 2017 exhibition in Los Angeles. Tirdad furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Arts in Photography from the Academy of Art University, graduating in 2020. His exceptional photographs have garnered multiple awards and have been showcased in prestigious photo festivals and various magazines, including Vogue. In 2021, he was honored as one of the USA’s top ten fashion photographers.