My Role: Designer, Director, and Executive Producer of the Event

In September 2013, I designed and directed a five-day national educational program titled “Urban Contemporary Photography” in Yazd, attended by more than 230 participants from across Iran and seven university-level instructors.
The program featured a structured series of lectures, portfolio reviews, artist presentations, daily promotional video bumpers, and a guided urban photography tour.
Certificates of participation were issued to all attendees, and a recognition ceremony was held to honor prominent photography instructors from Yazd.
Program Structure

Day 1
Introduction to Documentary Photography — Mohsen Bayram-Nejad
The Emergence of Urban Photography in the 19th Century — Shahryar Tavakoli
Urban Photography in the 20th Century — Kiarang Alaei

Day 2
Documentary Practices in the 11th & 12th Iran Photo Biennials — Dr. Mohammad Sattari
Documentary Approaches in Five Editions of the Mashhad National Photo Festival — Kiarang Alaei

Portfolio Review Sessions with: Esmaeil Abbasi, Dr. Mohammad Sattari, Shahryar Tavakoli, Kiarang Alaei, Roham Shiraz, Mahdi Vosough-Nia, Mohsen Bayram-Nejad

Day 3
A Review of Selected Projects by Contemporary Iranian Photographers — Mahdi Vosough-Nia
Ethics in Documentary Photography — Esmaeil Abbasi

Urban Photography Tour

Day 4
Roham Shiraz
The Subject in Front of the Camera
The Subject Behind the Camera
The Symbolic Image in Contemporary Photography
Additionally:
Photographic Series — Esmaeil Abbasi

Day 5
Roham Shiraz
The Contemporary Photographer as a Phenomenologist
Intermediacy in Street Photography
Followed by:
Artist Talk
Final Panel & Closing Session
Portfolio Review & Artist Talk

Participants submitted their work prior to the event. After jury selection, personalized one-on-one sessions were scheduled with their chosen instructors. Each instructor nominated one candidate for the Artist Talk, and one final presenter was selected to share their artistic experience.

Additional Outputs
Daily promotional video bumpers produced for the event
Official certificates issued to all participants
Appreciation ceremony for Yazd’s photography educators