Firooz Zahedi (born 1949) is an American photographer of Iranian descent.
Firooz Zahedi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Firooz Zahedi 1949 (age 74–75) Tehran, Iran |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Spouse | Beth Rudin DeWoody |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | http://firoozzahedi.com/ |
Early life and education
editFirooz Zahedi was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1949. His family moved to England, where he received his secondary education. In 1969, he came to the US to attend Georgetown University in Washington DC., and received a degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service.[1]
After Georgetown, Zahedi worked at the Iranian embassy in Washington before leaving to attend Corcoran School of Art from which he received a degree in visual communication in 1976.[2]
Career
editWhile at art school, he began photographing for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine and served as its Washington DC correspondent.[3]
In May 1976, he met and became friends with Elizabeth Taylor, and soon after, they traveled to Iran. The photographs from that trip, which included the actress dressed in local tribal costumes, alongside portraits he took of her on the set of A Little Night Music in Vienna, became the subject of the cover story of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine in October 1976.[4]
In 1978, he accompanied Elizabeth Taylor to Hollywood as her personal photographer on the set of the film Return Engagement.[citation needed]
He settled in Los Angeles to pursue his photographic career.[5] He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, and started his professional career as a photographer.
In 1988 he was assigned by Vanity Fair to shoot for the magazine. Soon after he was placed under contract by that publication. His editorial work has appeared internationally on the covers of such magazines as Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, Town & Country, Glamour, InStyle, Time, Architectural Digest and Entertainment Weekly.
Some of the celebrities he has photographed include Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Bette Midler, Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.[6]
Zahedi shot covers for a number of Barbra Streisand's albums, including Release Me, Love is the Answer, Back to Broadway, and Timeless: Live in Concert.
Firooz has appeared as a guest photographer on CW's America's Next Top Model.
Exhibitions
editIn February 2012, a collection of his photographs of Elizabeth Taylor in Iran was exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.[7]
His portraits and fine art photography have been shown in New York at the Staley Wise Gallery and Leila Heller Gallery.[8] Internationally at the Laleh June Gallery in Basel, Switzerland, and the Doha and Dubai Art Fairs.[citation needed]
A solo show of his work, Firooz Zahedi: Photographs and collages was held April 26 to June 7, 2014, at the Paul Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles.[citation needed]
Personal life
editZahedi's son, Darian, is also a photographer as well as a musician. He has played with bands including The Rondelles and CRX. In 2012, Zahedi married Beth Rudin DeWoody, daughter of New York City real estate developer Lewis Rudin.[9]
Selected works
editMovie posters
editPublications
edit- Zahedi, F., Smith, L., & Colacello, B. (2016). My Elizabeth. Glitterati Incorporated.
- Rudick, J. A., & Zahedi, F. (2018). City of angels: Houses and gardens of Los Angeles. Vendome.
- Zahedi, F. (2020). Look at Me. Pointed Leaf Press. [10]
- Porter, L. D., Zahedi, F., & Appleton, M. (2022). Montecito style: Paradise on California’s Gold Coast. The Monacelli Press.
Book covers
edit- Goldie, A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn
- My Passion for Design by Barbra Streisand
- Prime Time by Jane Fonda
Awards and recognition
editThe Lucie Awards recognized Zahedi as a 2023 Achievement in Entertainment honoree.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Firooz Zahedi". LUCIES. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Marius, Marley (August 16, 2020). ""I Learned the Tricks": Photographer Firooz Zahedi Reflects on Photographing Hollywood's Stars in His New Book". Vogue. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Zahedi, Firooz. "Official site". Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ "New Again: Elizabeth Taylor". Interview Magazine. March 5, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Liz Taylor denies ninth marriage". BBC News. October 27, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ Shoen, Sarah (August 6, 2020). "Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, and More Stars as Only Firooz Zahedi Could Capture Them". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Elizabeth Taylor Masterpiece By Iranian Photographer Firooz Zahedi Sold For Dhs 65,728 At Sotheby's Auction | Harper's Bazaar Arabia". May 1, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Photographie, L'Œil de la (October 17, 2011). "Elizabeth Taylor -by Firooz Zahedi". The Eye of Photography Magazine. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Beth DeWoody and Firooz Zahedi". The New York Times. December 30, 2012
- ^ Shoen, Sarah (August 6, 2020). "Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, and More Stars as Only Firooz Zahedi Could Capture Them". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Firooz Zahedi". LUCIES. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
External links
edit- Official site
- Firooz Zahedi exhibition "Elizabeth Taylor in Iran" on YouTube Retrieved 2011-06-29
- Firooz Zahedi at IMDb