User:Shokoufeh malekkiani/Shokoufeh Malekkiani

Shokoufeh Malekkiani ( Persian: شکوفه ملک کیانی), born 25 February 1977[1] in Tehran, is a multi-award–winning[2] Iranian photographer.

Biography
Shokoufeh Malekkiani a law graduate born in 1977,is defending the people grappling with impoverishment by her strikingly moving photos. After graduationshe dedicated her life to helping the poor and the needy. She is a kind-hearted, serious and determined girl who has bravely given up practicing law since she has realized her talent in photography can better illustrate and depict the pain and desperation of the poor as an issue of paramount concern deserving more and more attention of the world community. Shokoufeh has won many international awards since2006, the 2nd rank in the Canadian Association for 2006 Photographic,2006 Annual digital Competition, Selected in Best photographer of the year 2009 in Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA(Photo Journalism), and some others  inUSA, England, Belgium, and Switzerland  to name but few. Her response to my question of the reason why she chose photography was:’ I wanted to illustrate the bitter sadness of poverty and hunger that existsaround us yet we don’t notice, so maybe it would be a better reminder to tell us we should help.” Shokoufeh has been Honorary Artistic Consultant of The United Nation World Food Programme in Iran since2009. The proceeds of her sole exhibition went into building a school for homeless and educationally underprivileged children. This shows that she is determined to fight hunger and poverty however difficult. Her fame and name did not stop her from risking her life by living for a while with Iranian nomads and gaining first-hand experience of the pain and suffering they go through. This experience of great value helped her even take better and more realistic photos raising deeper awareness about social issues not least among famous and influential people who can significantly alleviate these problems.

Her concern has not been just restricted to social issues she has taken every opportunity to improve and refine her artistic style over the years. Her philanthropic works and attitude have made her an outstanding figure whose works of art are being released and sold to raise money for charity organizations like WFP. “To me helping by all means has always been a point to consider not the name of the companies or organizations.” She said.

A gift bag of her photos collection along with a Persian Medallionto the 2011 Oscar Prize Ceremony guests and participants is one of those generous remarks of hers motivated by pure altruism. ”I could have carried the pleasure of such great honor alone but then there would still be a great many hungry people out there who would have food to eat and survive by the dedication of my work to WFP in Iran, so I chose the second and I’m proudof it.” It isn’t beyond imagination that she is strongly and seriously determined to follow the footprints of great people who have tried all their lives to fight poverty and hunger. “We have a long way to go and I hope one day we can remove the ugly words of poverty and starvation from the human vocabulary” she said.

Awards
Photography in USA.
 * Highly Commended in International Garden Photographer Of The Year, England, United Kingdom.2010
 * Selected in 2010 CPID (Color Project Image Digital) Open section In photographic society of America, International Competition of Photography in USA.
 * Selected Place in 2010 Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (People in theWorld).
 * Second Place in 2009 Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (Photo Journalism).
 * Selected in Best photographer of the year 2009 in Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (Photo Journalism).
 * Selected in 6th Tropical Image International Competition in United States of America (Open Section).2009
 * Selected in 6th Tropical Image International Competition in United States of America (Creative Section).2009
 * Selected in 2009 CPID(Color Project Image Digital)Open section In photographic society of America, International Competition of
 * Wining Image at FOEI photo contest, Netherlands.2008
 * Selected in 33rd Greater Lynn International Competition, Massachusetts, USA.2008
 * Selected in 76th Detroit International Salon of Photography in USA.2008
 * Selected in 5th Tropical Image International Competition USA.2008
 * Selected in 2008 Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (Human Interest).
 * Selected in 2008 Photographic Society Of America (PSA)  International Competition of Photography in USA (People in the World).
 * Selected in 2008 Photographic Society of America(PSA)  International Competition of  Photography in USA(Electronic Imaging-Open Color).
 * Selected in 2008 CPID(Color Project Image Digital)Creative section In  photographic society of America, International Competition of Photography in USA
 * Selected in 29th International foto festival KNOKKE-HEIST-BLGIUM.2007
 * Selected in 2007 Photographic Society of America(PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (Photojournalism).
 * Selected in 2007 Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (Human Interest).
 * Selected in 2007 Photographic Society Of America (PSA) International Competition of Photography in USA (People in the World).
 * Awarded 2nd rank in the Canadian Association for Photographic Art 2006 Annual Digital Competition