Recently retired Ali Ghanbari has been presented the Robert S. Carson Award by the Ohio News Photographers Association.
Recently retired WJW-TV photojournalist Ali Ghanbari has been presented the Robert S. Carson Award by the Ohio News Photographers Association. The award is given for outstanding contribution to photojournalism and is considered ONPA’s highest honor.
Ghanbari is the epitome for what this award recognizes. He was blessed with a gift and was always willing to share his expertise with others. He spoke at many NPPA Flying Short Course and Airborne seminars and created the Buckeye Television seminar in Ohio. Ghanbari was a motivator away from the stage as well, always trying to gin up interest in ONPA programs over the years.
His work has been recognized for excellence by numerous journalism organizations over the years including 12 ONPA Photographer of the Year awards. His name has been on the plaque so many times the ONPA board has decided to keep it there. Ghanbari’s named will be added to the ONPA Television Photographer of the Year award in 2021.
Ali Ghanbari and his son Haraz on the sidelines during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The secret to Ghanbari’s success – “I never looked at it as a “job!” I have a passion for telling people’s story in their own words through my lens.”
It was quite common to see Ali with his son Haraz at ONPA programs over the years who must have learned a little something along the way. Haraz became a Washington D.C. based photographer for the Associated Press before leaving the industry. He now serves as an Ohio State Representative for the 3rd House District.
Over the years Ali’s work was centered on the military and love of one’s country. Ghanbari served 11 years in the Iranian Navy, six of it going Naval schools in the United States for guided missile destroyer and submarine courses. Ghanbari said, “I traveled around the world twice and have loved every minute of it. It’s because of this that I have a very high respect for the military and veterans and I want to tell their stories.”
Ali Ghanbari at work in his mobile studio during the pandemic.
“This country has provided a path once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to do what I love! After all of these years, I suddenly realized I am 70 years old and I’ve been getting paid all this time for my hobby. Now it’s time for me to step aside so that younger photogs can rise up.”
His advice to younger photographers is, “go out do your best work everyday and the rewards will follow.”
Ghanbari doesn’t have any retirement plans at the moment. “At this time, I don’t have any plans and hope to just take it easy and smell the roses. Hopefully this horrible pandemic will be over soon so I can catch up with the kids, especially my grandkids.”