About Me
Designing With Passion While Exploring The World
Visual Researcher · Documentary Filmmaker · Photographer
Mehdi Hosseini
Iranian visual researcher and documentary filmmaker linking long-form field ethnography with critical visual sociology and open-access scholarly publishing.
His work examines state-imposed stigma, bodily vulnerability, public health crises, and collective sacred rituals in contemporary Iran. In each project he serves as photographer, project designer, graphic designer and video editor, carrying the work from research and photography through to book design and exhibition layout.
Core Projects & Monographs
Four independent visual-research projects, all 100% open access (CC BY-NC-ND) with registered DOIs.
Silent War
Impact of international sanctions on pharmaceutical access and livelihood in Iran.
This is Not a Story
Public health crises and social stigma, with UNODC Iran and the AIDS Research Office.
Harm
Social vulnerability and addiction, with the Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies.
Sema
Visual ethnography of Qaderi dervish sacred rituals, with a companion short film.
Short Documentaries
- SemaCollective ritual and dhikr of the Qaderi dervishes
- This is Not a StoryPublic health crises and social stigma
- HarmSocial vulnerability and addiction
Solo Exhibitions & Book Launches
- The GazeSolo photography exhibition
- Silent WarExhibition + monograph launch
- This is Not a StoryExhibition + monograph launch
- HarmExhibition + monograph launch
- Them and Their HairSolo photography exhibition
- SemaExhibition + monograph launch
Honors, Awards & International Archives
Red Ribbon, New Jersey, USA
Photography award
FIAP, Serbia & Montenegro
Single-photo selection, international festival
Fiebre Photobook Library
Monographs archived and preserved
International Addiction Festival
Certificate of appreciation
Haf Sin Festival
Certificate of appreciation
Research collaborations
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), UNODC, news photo agency
Skills
- SoftwarePhotoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro
- Book DesignBook, magazine, poster & cover design; editorial direction
- TeachingPhotoshop and InDesign courses
- LanguagesPersian (native), English (working proficiency, academic publishing)
Education
- M.A. in Art ResearchPars University of Art and Architecture, Tehran
- B.A. in PhotojournalismPress University, Tehran
Open Access
All monographs, short films and photographic projects are freely accessible and downloadable. Their purpose goes beyond commercial interest: fostering public awareness, supporting scholarly research and making visual knowledge open to all.
All works are published under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 international license. Unpaywalled digital copies are permanently deposited in Zenodo (CERN), Internet Archive, and institutional university repositories worldwide.
ORCID: 0009-0000-2469-1203 · Wikidata: Q141746403
My CV
I learned software skills other than the profession of photography and used them in practical ways in projects, which are mentioned in my resume, as well as books, short films, and my solo exhibition.
(Mehdi’s resume and portfolio update 2022)
My Portfolio
In this section, my portfolio has been updated in 2023 and can be downloaded
