2010 Infinity Award: Photojournalism

Reza Deghati, born 1952 in Tabriz, Iran, is an Iranian-French photojournalist, architect, and philanthropist. Known simply as “Reza,” he uses his lens as a weapon to fight injustice in the world. His work has been published in the world’s top international magazines for which he has traveled the world photographing wars, revolutions, and natural disasters. He is the founder of AINA, the Afghan Media and Culture Center. Based in Kabul, Paris, and Washington, AINA is dedicated to the education and empowerment of children and women through the use of media and communication. National Geographic Television has produced many films on Reza's work, one of which won an Emmy in 2002 with a second film receiving a nomination. In 2005, Reza was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the President of France, and the following year he received the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri. Committed to the education of future generations, Reza also spends much of his free time giving presentations and workshops on photojournalism, global issues, and his humanitarian work at international institutions and universities.