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Ako Salemi

 

Ako Salemi is an Iranian-born photojournalist and street photographer, now based in the U.S. His poetic images of daily life in Tehran have won international attention, showing city streets under cinematic light and human stories unfolding amid architectural geometry.

A Visual Voice Formed by Light and Silence

Born in Bukan, Kurdistan, in 1981, Salemi initially studied drama before discovering that photography—especially street photography—matched his introspective nature better. He worked for years as a photojournalist in Iran before turning to a more expressive, poetic style rooted in his love of classic cinema and visual tension.

Since about 2014, he has become known on Instagram as @f64s125, posting visual stories of Tehran shaped by striking light and shadow, formal alignment, and everyday poetry.

Gear: The Mobile Camera That Lets Him Blend In

Ako Salemi shoots almost exclusively with a smartphone, embracing its speed and stealth for street photography:

  • He began by using Hipstamatic for its immediacy and distinct filter aesthetic.

  • Since then, he’s transitioned into iPhone photography, often using the native camera app, and edits with Snapseed for quick in-camera-style edits. At one point he mentioned using an iPhone 5.

iPhone 5

  • He explains that using a phone allows him to continue working with journalistic urgency—but with discretion:

    With my phone, I was no longer perceived as a photographer. I took photos like anyone else. But my perspective was still that of a photographer. I had found a trick.

Visual Style & Themes

Salemi’s visual practice is grounded in:

  • Tehran’s architecture and everyday life: his images frame people moving through modernist buildings, markets, metro stations, and leafy alleys with a contemplative rhythm.

  • Decisive composition and chiaroscuro: he waits for moments where light, shadow, gesture, and graphic elements align.

  • Instagram as a medium: Salemi treats the platform not just as a gallery, but as a daily dialogue with audiences—all through a square, cinematic frame.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile photography as strategy, not compromise—Salemi extended his journalistic training into an artistic Instagram practice by leveraging mobile tools.

  • Discreet presence equals authenticity—his subjects rarely respond to the camera, preserving sincerity in gesture and environment.

  • Composition-shy, patience-rich—Salemi waits for the right elements to align silently, favoring visual calm but emotional depth.

Want to Shoot Like Salemi?

Consider replicating his approach by:

  • Carrying a smartphone with manual-style control and good low-light performance

  • Using Snapseed or Hipstamatic to apply subtle tonality and grain

  • Practicing street awareness: stay quiet, move slowly, observe light and structure

  • Treating Instagram not just as output, but as creative feedback


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