Life in Iran is deeply entwined with Politics under the Islamic Regime. The country is governed by Sharia Law as religion is mixed with politics. The government ruled the nation with an iron fist, opposition movement is swiftly suppressed. Freedom of speech is virtually non-existent as human and womenâ??s rights groups are tightly clamped down. The internet and mobile phone technology proved to be a new challenge to the regime as it is a quick communication tool for any dissident movement to harness its potential to gather support. The government is quick to react by disabling internet and mobile phone connection. This project is a documentation of Iranian life as it revolves around anti-USA and anti-Israel movements, the upholding of the tenets of the Islamic Republic as represented by its founder, Imam Khomeini and Basijs (Revolutionary Guards) who roamed the streets trying to catch those who dare to break the Islamic laws.
A largely self taught photographer, Zann began her first serious foray into photojournalism after the tsunami in January 2005. In less than a year of building her portfolio while travelling, she joined World Picture News in December 2005 and Gaia in 2008.
Her works have been published in TIME magazine, â??Chocâ??, IKONO, Le Monde, Lâ??expresso, Geo Italia, AOL, UNFPA, Asian Geographic and various magazines and newspapers in the UK, USA, Czech Republic, Singapore and Malaysia. She has also taken part in the group exhibition â??Eye of the Cityâ?? (2002-2004) and Noorderlicht 2006: Another Asia in the Netherlands for her work on â??CAMBODIAN GLUE KIDSâ??. As one of the official photographers for the Singapore Season, her works were exhibited in Shanghai and Beijing in Oct 2007. In 2009, her work on â??Qashqai Nomads of Iranâ?? was exhibited at Gallery 2902.
As an emerging photographer, Zann has also received Honourable Mentions for the UNICEF photographer of the Year 2006, the International Photography Award (1 for 2006 and 9 for IPA 2009) and the PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris 2007 for her works on Iran and Cambodia. Zann also clinched the Humanity Photo Awards UNESCO 2006. She is also one of the top 5 finalists for the Care International Humanitaire Award 2007 and her work was exhibited in Visa Pour Lâ??image 2007,Perpignan. In the 2009 New York Photo Festival, Zannâ??s work on Iran and Cambodia were shown.
Zann contributes to the United Nations on humanitarian and environmental issues. In 2007, she became the field editor/photographer for ASIAN GEOGRAPHIC http://www.asiangeo.com
covering the Middle East and Asia.
