About
MEI Foundation
The Middle East Images Foundation is a US registered charity, EIN number 87-2003930 and contributions are tax deductible to the full extent provided by US tax law.
Middle East Images Foundation presents Middle Eastern photography by accomplished local artists who seek to share their deep understandings of home through visual storytelling in critical global topics such as climate change, conflicts, and women’s rights. Our team of experienced photographers is committed to portraying these subjects from a culturally responsible point of view, incorporating aspects of the Middle Eastern experience beyond what mass media typically allows. Our goal is to uplift a visual narrative of the Middle East from within, where local photographers with a global vision can continue to document their homeland long-term, sharing their lens with the rest of the world.
Middle East Images Foundation primarily focuses on providing educational opportunities for budding journalists as a means of fostering and cultivating the visual-storytelling fields of photography and independent journalism. The Middle East Images Foundation bridges international access to publishing resources for photographers residing in conflict-torn areas which normally lack access to these opportunities. The Foundation also supports immigrant and refugee journalists in the US by giving them access to the resources and tools they need to pursue fulfilling careers in their newly adopted homes
Organizational Pillars
In order to achieve our mission, we rely on a number of key pillars that guide our work and inform our decision-making. These pillars include:
TEAM
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Middle East Images team is a highly skilled and dedicated group of professionals who are committed to telling the stories of the Middle East and North Africa in a meaningful and impactful way. With their diverse range of skills and expertise, the team is uniquely positioned to make a positive difference in the region and to inspire others to do the same.
One of the key strengths of the Middle East Images team is their ability to tell compelling visual stories that capture the attention of a wide audience. Whether through powerful photojournalism or engaging multimedia content, the team has a talent for bringing the stories of the region to life in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
In addition to their storytelling skills, the Middle East Images team is also highly skilled in research and analysis. The team is dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest developments in the region and to thoroughly researching and fact-checking their work to ensure that it is accurate and reliable. This attention to detail and commitment to quality is essential to the credibility and impact of the team’s work.
Another key strength of the Middle East Images team is their commitment to social impact. The team is dedicated to using their work to raise awareness about important issues in the region, such as climate change, conflicts, and women’s rights, and to promoting positive social change. This commitment to making a positive impact is evident in every aspect of the team’s work, from the stories they choose to cover to the way they engage with their audience.
Hossein Fatemi
Hossein Fatemi is an Iranian photojournalist. He received the 2nd place World Press Photo Award in 2017, and the Picture of the Year
International in 2016 and 2014 in two categories. He is member of Panos Pictures since 2010.
Nima Taradji
I am an Iranian-American editorial and documentary photographer based in Chicago, Illinois. Cultural, social and political themes attract my curiosity.
My aim is to photograph people and create stories that witness the multiplicity of human experience.
To be a photographer was my lifelong goal. In 2015 I left my job as an attorney to focus all my attention on visual storytelling. Since that time, my photographs have appeared in various national and international publications such as:
Younes Mohammad
Younes Mohammad is Born in 1968 in Dohuk, Iraq. He’s a Kurdish freelance photographer mostly active on assignments for newspapers, magazines, etc.
He spent his life in Iran as a refugee from 1974-1998 and graduated with an MBA from the University of Tehran.
Photography was his lifelong passion but he had no chance to follow it while the war was still continuing during Saddam Hussein’s time.
In 2011 he quit his job and started his journey as a photographer. His work has been exhibited internationally, published widely in publications and received numerous awards.
He is currently based in Erbil, Iraq.
