31 May Interview: Mostafa Nodeh
MostafaNodeh
Photographer
My name is Mostafa Nodeh, a minimalist photographer from a small village in Iran where silence and simplicity are part of everyday life. My journey into photography began when I discovered how much beauty lives in quiet moments. I wanted to preserve those…
NIPA Featured Artist
Photography is my way of being alive. When I take photos, I feel present and free. It's a form of meditation that helps…
A conversation with Mostafa Nodeh.
My name is Mostafa Nodeh, a minimalist photographer from a small village in Iran where silence and simplicity are part of everyday life. My journey into photography began when I discovered how much beauty lives in quiet moments. I wanted to preserve those…
The Interview
This NIPA feature brings together the artist’s reflections, selected works, and visual material in a long-form interview format.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how your journey into photography began?
My name is Mostafa Nodeh, a minimalist photographer from a small village in Iran where silence and simplicity are part of everyday life. My journey into photography began when I discovered how much beauty lives in quiet moments. I wanted to preserve those feelings — not with words, but with light and space.
What truly moves and inspires you as an artist?
I'm deeply inspired by emptiness, silence, and details that most people pass by. Freedom in its simplest forms — a bird in the sky, a shadow on snow, a single footprint — moves me the most.
How would you describe your photographic style, and how has it evolved over time?
My style is minimalist and emotional. I try to remove everything unnecessary until only the essence remains. Over time, my work has become less about showing and more about feeling — less external, more internal.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your artistic vision?
Nature has been my greatest teacher — its calmness, honesty, and balance. I also admire photographers like Michael Kenna, who showed me how powerful simplicity can be.
What is your relationship with your camera and equipment?
My camera is part of me. I don't think much about gear — it's the emotion that matters. I prefer minimal equipment, something quiet that lets me listen to the world.
What's the story behind your winning photograph?
The image is from my series Freedom. It was taken on a cold, silent morning and represents breaking invisible walls — the ones inside ourselves. It's a story about solitude, hope, and inner liberation.
What was the most important decision you made when creating this image?
To keep it simple. To trust the silence and not add anything more than what was already there.
How did you use light, composition, or emotion to bring your vision to life?
I used soft, natural light to create a sense of calm and honesty. The composition is open and minimal, like a pause in time — inviting the viewer to breathe inside the frame.
What do you hope people feel or think when they see this photo?
I hope they feel peace. Maybe they'll see themselves in it — their own kind of freedom, their own silence.
What does photography mean to you on a personal level?
Photography is my way of being alive. When I take photos, I feel present and free. It's a form of meditation that helps me understand myself and the world through simplicity and silence.
What message or idea do you want your work to communicate to the world?
That beauty doesn't always shout. Sometimes it whispers — through minimal forms, through emptiness, through light and distance. I want my photos to remind people that freedom and emotion can live in simplicity.
What was your first reaction when you found out you won a NIPA award?
I was silent for a few seconds… then I smiled. It felt like a quiet hug from the world — a reminder that honesty and simplicity in art can still touch hearts everywhere.
What are your upcoming projects or dreams for the future?
I'm continuing to expand my Freedom series. For me, it's more than a collection of images — it's an inner journey from fear to liberation. In the new parts, I want to explore freedom in deeper and more personal ways — not only as something physical, but as an emotional and spiritual state. I plan to photograph in different places and cultures, because freedom has a unique meaning for everyone. My dream is to turn Freedom into a global exhibition — a silent conversation between people around the world, reminding us that even in simplicity and emptiness, freedom is still alive.
What are your thoughts on NIPA, and is there any suggestion or idea you'd like to share to help us make it even better in the future?
I truly appreciate NIPA for creating a platform where photographers from all over the world can express their vision. It connects artists through creativity, honesty, and diversity. In the future, I would love to see even more support for emerging artists from smaller or less-known countries — because sometimes, the quietest stories are the ones the world needs to hear.
Photography is my way of being alive. When I take photos, I feel present and free. It's a form of meditation that helps…
Images from the Photographer
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