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Biography

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Photo Courtesy: Gregory Heisler

Md Zobayer Hossain Joati, also known as Zobayer Joti, is a Bangladeshi Photographer based in Syracuse, New York. His work concentrates on various social crises, gender equality, cultural norms, and underrepresented communities that comprise intimate human stories investigating social and cultural challenges and their emotional dimensions.
 

After finishing his Bachelor of Science in engineering, his passion for photography led him to a Professional Diploma in photography from Counter Foto in Bangladesh. Joati is currently a Master of Science (MS) Candidate in Multimedia, Photography and Design at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, as the inaugural Alexia Scholar, and a research assistant for The Alexia. He is a member of VII Community, an Up-Next member of Diversify Photo and an alumnus of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop.

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His long-term project on the martial arts communities in Bangladesh named "We Live to Fight" made him the first Bangladeshi photographer to win The Alexia Student Grant 2023 and one of the four finalists in The W. Eugene Smith Student Grant 2021 as well. Limited edition prints from this project have been acquired by prominent art collectors in India. His other awards, grants and publications include Courrier International, POY Asia, Inception Grant Solo Show, Sharjah Art Foundation, Pingyao International Photography Festival, Der Greif, Zeke Magazine and many others.

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Beyond photography, Joati loves playing music and travelling the world.


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Education

Syracuse University

Newhouse School of Public Communications

Master of  Science (MS) in Multimedia, Photography and Design  || Major: Photojournalism  || 2024 - Present

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Counter Foto - A Center for Visual Arts
Two Years Professional Diploma in Photography   || 2019 - 2023


Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) 
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) || 2014-2018

Rajuk Uttara Model College
 Higher School Certificate (HSC) in Science Group || 2011 - 2013

Rajuk Uttara Model School & College 
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in Science Group || 2009 - 2011

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Achievements

  • 2024

    NPPA Northern Short Course for Exceptional Journalistic Storytelling, Alexia Fall Workshop, Syracuse University, USA
    The Inaugural Alexia Scholar, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, USA
    Honorable Mention, Turkey Mobile Photography Awards, Turkey
    Honorable Mention, Traditional Sports Photo Contest 2024, Turkey
     

  • 2023    

    The Alexia Student Grant Recipient, New York, USA        
    1st Prize, The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) PHOTO 23, London, UK
    Honorable Mention, Eyeshot Open Call 2023, Italy       
    1st Runner Up, Breaking Story, Break the Circle Season XI, IUTPS, Bangladesh
    Participating Artist, The 23rd Pingyao International Photography Festival, China
    Shortlisted, Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, UK
    Award of Excellence, Spot News, Pictures of The Year (POY) Asia
    Shortlisted, Best Work by an Emerging Photographer, The Felix Schoeller Photo Award, Germany 2023
    Inception Grant Solo Show Awardee, Inception Grant, India
    1st Prize, ART OF LIGHT, Sylhet Agricultural University Photographic Society (SAUPS), Bangladesh
     

  • 2022

    3rd Prize, The 5th Silk Road & Young Dreams Photography Contest, China
    Judges Choice, Student Photojournalist of the Year, The BarTur Photo Award 2022. Germany
    Finalist, Vantage Point 10, Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE
    Young Author Prize, Educando la Mirada, Spain
    8th Place, Words in Images, Austria
    Award of Excellence, Cultural Practice, Pictures of The Year (POY) Asia
    Shortlisted, Young Portfolio Acquisition, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (KMoPA), Japan
     

  • 2021

    Finalist, The W. Eugene Smith Grant for Student Photographers, USA
    Shortlisted, Student Category, The BarTur Photo Award, Germany
    Shortlisted, Documentary & Photojournalism, Siena International Photo Awards, Italy
     

  • 2020

    Shortlisted, Open Category, Siena Creative Photo Awards, Italy
    Finalists, Single Category, London Street Photography Festival
    Shortlisted, Black and White Category, Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) 2019-2020, UAE
     

  • 2019

    FIAP Honorable Mention Award, Black and White Category, Orhan Holding 15th International Photography Contest, Turkey
    Grand Prize, National Photography Competition and Exhibition, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KEUT) Photographic Society, Bangladesh
    Finalist, Montanha Pico Festival, Portugal
    Convener's Choice, Public Health Photo Contest, Bangladesh
     

  • 2018

    Finalist, Chania International Photo (CIP) Festival 2018, Chania, Greece
     

  • 2017

    National Photography Competition & Exhibition (NPCE) Special Award, Rajuk College Photography Club, Bangladesh
     

  • 2016

    2nd Prize, National Photography Competition, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, People’s Republic of Bangladesh

     

Solo Exhibitions
 
  • 2023

    “We Live to Fight”, The Inception Grant Solo Show, Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, India

     
Publications

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  • Vol 5, Issue 2, March 2024, Docu Magazine, a Finland-based documentary photography magazine

  • Issue – 1722, November 2023, Courrier International, France

  • Issue 736, December 2023, OVERSEAS Magazine, UK

  • Issue 16, DER GREIF, Germany

  • Guest Room, Annekathrin Kohout, DER GREIF, Germany

  • ISSUE 2462 - JUNE 2022, MARIKA Magazine, a New York-based international fashion magazine

  • Vol 2, Issue 8, Sep. 2021, Docu Magazine, a Finland-based documentary photography magazine

  • Spring Issue 2021, ZEKE Magazine, a USA-based international documentary photography magazine

  • January 14, 2021, SHOUT, The Daily Star

  • 8th issue, LIGHT, a New York-based journal of Fine Art Photography & Poetry

  • Magazine MiratecArts dez 2018-março 2019, Portugal

Professional Developments
Reviews / Interviews / Video Podcasts

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