In his actions towards the progression of visual education for many years in France and internationally as well, the photographer Reza initiated in 2012 a photography contest for children and teenagers Children’s Eyes On Earth: thousands of young photographers, aged 17 and younger, from 90 different countries, have sent more than 4000 photographs on the theme “I love nature” and “I fear pollution” via the site Childrenseyesonearth.org. Six contestants will be awarded with prizes.

The contest Children’s Eyes On Earth was Reza’s first step in his global project; making children aware of the social and environmental challenges facing our planet through the alphabet of images.Following the contest, these talented young photographers will be accompanied, trained and exposed through the first International Photography Festival for Youth.

This festival will take place from the 12 – 14 of May, 2013 in Baku, Azerbaijan. It will expose a major exhibition of hundreds of young photographers,among them some of the most talented ones, as well as an awards ceremony, film screenings, musical entertainment, photography workshops with REZA, conferences on visual education and the environment…

Reza says: “The 100 incredible photographs that will be on display at the Festival are visual poems. They reflect the deep thoughts of young people and reveal how they see the incredible beauty of the world and the dangerous threat that pollution poses to our planet, its wildlife and humankind. I hope this very first International Youth Photography Festival & Exhibition will give children a global platform to show us the world through their eyes, and inspire everyone to take action.”

The Festival

Well before my lecture started, I saw a couple come in with their children. They took a seat in the first row. As I often do, while I am speaking, I get caught up in the energy of the public. On that day, I was transfixed by the intense gaze of this family seated at the foot of the stage. I felt that we we all bound by an invisible thread, and their attention inspired me.
After the presentation, I watched the room slowly empty, as one does a ritual observed many times, and the people, both close friends or total strangers, who remained to prolong our exchange. The couple and their children came up to me. Their faces still reflected the intense emotions our exchange had evoked.

The Invitation

The woman shook my hand and introduced herself. She and her family had made the journey from her nearby village of Roanne in order to participate in the conference. Catherine Angel said to me, “We are so happy to meet you. We have been following your work for a long time.” Head of the Phot’Objectif Mably club, she had proposed that her group of photographers do a project focused around my reportages, and hoped to welcome me one day to Mably.
It made me think of so many generous invitations that I am far too often forced to decline, due to lack of time, but, touched by her words, I immediately responded, “For you, I will come.”

The Exhibit

Thus it was that the Photo Club of Mably, and the Centre Hospitalier of Roanne now proposes this series, Crossing Destinies (destinies encountered along the crossroads of the world over three decades). My various paths have taken me from encounters with children, men and women, whose unique destinies have left a profound impression upon me. I feel close to each of them, their images testify to my rôle as a silent witness. They are so many bridges between individuals, peoples and cultures. The exhibit Crossing Destinies is dedicated to these children and to their parents, whose paths crossed mine one autumn evening in Lyon. It is the story of the human family, our family.

Crossing Destinies

L’Espace de la Tour – Mairie de Mably / 5, rue du Parc 42300 Mably
Centre Hospitalier de Roanne / 28, rue de Charlieu 42300 Roanne
Free Admission
6 April to 28 April 2013

This retrospective exhibition, entitled Hope, the first photographic installation by Reza in Qatar, is being presented on the Corniche of Doha at the same time as the World Innovation Summit for Education 2012. Conceived as an authentic visual promenade through 30 years of photojournalism, it consists of 80 selected photographs that bear witness to both the hurts and the joys of those whom Reza has encountered on his journey. Educational activities concerning the images, together with conference meetings, are offered to the public. Reza invites photographers of the Qatar Photographic Society for an exclusive workshop , and a reading of portfolios.

“Learning a living : Radical innovation in education for work”, Bloomsbury Publishing, forthcoming in early 2013.

Le Monde WISE 141112 UK

Yasmina Khadra has always been passionately interested in anything to do with his country of origin and has, what’s more, given voice to this passion through his many articles and novels treating all threats and dangers with scorn.

In this work, Yasmina Khadra, the Algerian who writes in French, delivers onto the page a true declaration of love for his country.
From Constantine in the Great South, taking in Oran, Algiers, Tizi, Ouzou, Rio Salado and Zahara, Yasmina Khadra holds out his hand and takes us to discover his Algeria. As with the impressionists, betwixt autobiographical narrative and a poetic fable, the text he offers is of rare intensity.
He has entrusted Reza, the humanitarian photographer, with the task of portraying his memories through photography and revealing a country where he still hopes for greater freedom and more tolerance. With each destination and encounter Yasmina Khadra and Reza sublimate an Algeria preparing to celebrate its fifty years of independence.

“Algeria has always been plural with its Algerian-born French, Algerians, French, Spanish, Greek, Jews, Berbers, Tuaregs… It is when we try to reduce it to one single identity that it disintegrates”

Toulouse – France

12th september – 11th november 2012

In 2000, while on assignment in Southwest France for National Geographic, Reza discovered the pink city and fell in love. In September 2012, Reza retraces his steps and – in collaboration with the Trois minutes d’avance agency and the city hall of Toulouse – he offers to share his worldview through a new project along the banks of the Garonne, entitled War and Peace.

An outdoor exhibit for all