Solmaz Daryani’s “The Eyes Of The Earth” Series

Solmaz Daryani’s grandfather ran a lakefront hotel on Iran’s Lake Urmia, and her uncles were sailors there. The photographer spent summers on what was once the biggest salt lake in the Middle East. Climate change, excessive development, dam construction, and poor water management caused approximately 80% of the lake to dry up within only 20 years. Her photographs record a very personal view of the environmental disaster, which resulted in winning the 2021 FotoEvidence W Award.

Photo (detail) by Solmaz Daryani of an at-sea boat repair station from the fotoevidence.com announcement of her award.