Love is a vague concept in our daily lives. Everyday we can find ourselves practicing love in different ways and forms. For Mani and Lania, it was each other that they found love in. From the early days of their journey together, they stumbled upon a great feeling that feels far greater than love, since it was not just a simple romance but instead a more complex feeling that deeply touched their lives in any possible way.
Mani Reshad is an 18-year old professional film developer, architecture student and photography enthusiast. Born and raised in Tehran, Mani began exploring digital photography between the age of 11 and 12. His passion quickly expanded to film photography, leading him to co-found Darwag Laboratory with his wife, Lania, where they specialize in professional film development.
In 2021, Mani ventured into indie filmmaking, and in 2023, he directed a documentary about the Iranian composer and conductor Kaveh Mirhosseini. Alongside his passion for film and photography, he is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture from 2023.
The love between Mani and Lania is visualized in a collection of photographs. Mani recently shared insights into his collection that beautifully captures the love between him and his wife. His responses give us a glimpse into what it was like to create this collection of images.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into photography?
I started out photography with the help of my father at the age of 10. I specifically remember my first camera kit to be a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and a 24-105mm lens which actually belonged to my father before he upgraded to another camera. I started out by photographing graffiti around Tehran with my father and a friend of ours and it was back then that I felt that my camera is not just a tool to me but actually a part of my identity, especially since I grew up holding one. After a year I got a hold of another one of my father’s cameras but this time, a film camera, a Minolta α 807si with a Minolta AF 28-80mm, which was pretty similar to digital cameras in the sense of operation. This camera was my stepping stone to a greater side of photography which Lania brought out in me perfectly: film photography.
What drew you specifically to photography and photographing love while working on this collection?
I met Lania more than a year ago and I do not care if it is a cliche or not, but it was love at first sight. I remember that she had an Olympus point & shoot film camera which she showed to me and we started talking about film photography and the fact that I also had some experience with it, but also the fact that I had not had the chance to practice it as much as I used to. She encouraged me to get back out there and hold my film camera once again but this time I had a greater purpose and it was Lania herself. Lania’s beauty astonished me so vigorously that after a year and a half I have not found myself to be satisfied with the images I have taken of her and I do not think that I will ever be satisfied enough with my pictures of her; because the dimensions of her beauty is impossible to capture and I find this never-ending struggle to take the perfect photograph of her and not getting there as the essence of this collection.
How would you describe your photographic style when capturing these pictures?
I am not very good at describing my pictures, in fact I am not good at writing statements at all. To me, it does not make much sense, because if I wanted to describe my work I would not have gone through the trouble of creating a visual experience of them. But in general, I would say that this collection mostly focuses on feelings rather than techniques and specific styles of photography. Feelings are variable and so should the techniques that we use to capture them be and if you ask me no single style can photograph love. Techniques can easily mislead you and hide the meanings behind the artworks themselves but if the meaning behind a collection of artwork is significant enough to independently mesmerize the viewer, that artwork is much more valuable than complicated techniques that bring your attention to the less important aspects of a work of art.
What are some key elements you focused on while you worked on this collection?
My main focus is to capture our life and experiences as they are, without having them going through a filter of self-censorship. I find that showing your true colors, in this case our true feelings towards each other, is one of the biggest things a piece of art can do in the post-modern world we live in.
What type of equipment do you typically use for photography, and why?
Lania and I usually use film cameras of different kinds. We own a few cameras such as a medium format Mamiya, and many 35mm SLRs. All of them are Canon cameras from different ages and kinds and as previously mentioned Minolta. Our picks are Canonet QL17 Rangefinder, Canon EOS 30v with a variety of EF lenses (16-35 is our favorite) and a Canon new F1 with a 50mm prime lens which is mostly used for color photography. The reason we use photographic film for capturing our moments is that we are semi-professional film developers and we in fact have our very own photo lab that we co-founded together. We have a great amount of control over our photographs and how they are processed during and after being captured. Apart from this, we both feel that the chemistry of film photography is truly fascinating and much more fun than digital photography.
What was the inspiration behind this particular collection of photos?
The inspiration lies in our shared passion of having a life together and simply sharing our existence with each other as two souls that are in fact conjoined together in every possible aspect.
Were there any specific stories or moments during the shoot that stood out to you?
Every single moment is a new and significant story in our journey together and each of them stands out in their own unique way. I don’t think it would be possible to tell them all at once since they might actually qualify as a novel.
How did you select the photos featured in this collection?
Me and Lania actually share a moment of astonishment when we see a photo that we love and since we always look at our processed rolls of films together, we automatically select the ones that seem closest to our real life.
Which photo or photos from this collection are you most proud of, and why?
There is this B&W double exposure on 120 roll film that means a lot to both of us. The reason behind it is that we both had the equal share of capturing this photo and this picture would not have been 100% if it were not for the both of us and it kind of represents how incomplete we can be without each other.
How do you think your work impacts the way people view what love feels like?
Since we are Iran-based artists, we both hope to make an impact on how people perceive and express their feelings towards each other, particularly inside of Iran. It is very important to us that people can find the ability within themselves to share their reality with others without the fear of being judged. Life can be so complicated but for us the only uncomplicated part is our love; it is unconditional and it can be felt in every second and under any circumstances. People need to be more honest and real to themselves and those around them.
What advice would you give to aspiring photographers looking to develop their own style?
I am no master in photography but I would say always try to create new things and try to know what you are trying to capture before going out there in the field. I have always tried to be a thinker before a photographer because what is art all about, if we cannot even understand the world around us?