Ahmad Kavousian was born in a small town in Iran in the year 1948.
As a student of architecture attending Iran’s National University, he discovered what would become his true artistic expression; the amazing world of photography. Though camera-less, Ahmad’s enthusiasm and determination won him his first job from a professor who required a documentary study of the Royal Palace. From this successful beginning, Ahmad was able to purchase his own camera, a Russian-made 6”x6” format Lubitle and proper processing chemicals.

Committing himself to the study of the art and techniques of his new medium, Ahmad was soon able to offer his professional capabilities to fellow students. His continued architectural studies included many fieldwork projects that necessitated travel all over his beloved country. These experiences led to a deep and abiding appreciation for photography as way to document and to reveal his love for people, landscape and travel.

Graduating at the height of Iran’s years of expansionary excitement, Ahmad enjoyed the high respect accorded to his profession of architecture as a partner in his firm. This position of responsibility and affirmation of success in his field was not enough to keep Ahmad from pursuing his true desire. In 1974, Ahmad left architecture to initiate a photography company specializing in advertising and book illustration. This began his new career.

In 1976 Ahmad undertook a contract from Iran’s Ministry of Culture to be Stage Photographer for the renowned Rudecki Hall of Tehran. It was here that Ahmad began to refine his sensitive portrayals of individuals, photographing such luminaries as Rudolf Nureyev, Herbert Von Karajan and Marcel Marceau.

In the years to follow, Ahmad would photograph concert performances of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Companies, the artist beloved of all his country, the musician Shajarian, as well as many other artist interviews and public relations events.

Interested to document not just arts and culture, Ahmad also covered news of political events for the Tehran magazine “Ferdowsi”. This opportunity put Ahmad and his cameras at the center of events leading up to the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and its troubled aftermath. “ I was deeply in love with photography. I risked my life for it. I have paid a heavy price for my love of photography. I covered the revolution in the streets of Tehran. After two days I was arrested. I was let go, and arrested again and again. After my release, they took all my cameras. They said if I were ever caught again I would be sent to the front to clear the land of mines.

This was the only time I ever set aside my practice of photography. I was forced to live anonymously in order to protect my family and myself while I continued my political involvement. With the closure of Rudaki Hall, and all but essential services for the country, in the 1980’s I returned to work as an architect.”

In 1996 Ahmad and his family arrived in Canada to establish a new life. It was not until 2004 that he was able to take up again his love for photography. Beginning with nothing but his unwavering passion, Ahmad has quietly returned to his art with stunning documents of his unique vision of the world in the new digital technologies.

Recently his photography has been published in the New York Press, Max, Street Corner and Megaphone. His recent work has been exhibited at the Exposure Gallery, Gallery Gachet and Interurban Gallery in Vancouver.

On Thursday, May 14th 2009, Megaphone Magazine was the proud winner of the 'Best Photograph Evoking deeper perspectives on poverty and injustice' award at the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) conference in Bergen, Norway, for Mr. Kavousian's photo, 'Functionality'.