Meet Rejiar Barzani | Photographer & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rejiar Barzani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rejiar, what are you inspired by?
To be honest, I am inspired by so much sometimes that it feels overwhelming. I could see a pretty flower while walking to the store and immediately feel drawn to it. Or pass an old abandoned building and think of its entire life history. Or the trash on the street, thinking about who dropped it, why they dropped it, how old it is, etc. Unfortunately, this constant stream of inspiration can be intense at times because it creates too many ideas for photos or films. I constantly have to hold internal dialogues where I decipher what actually is a meaningful idea versus what isn’t.

In terms of other artists and palpable inspiration, I always love to tap into my Kurdish heritage because it feels natural and there’s so much to draw from both culturally and politically. Also, my childhood, especially the formative years. I love nostalgia and think it’s an interesting emotion, so I love to find ways to showcase that feeling through my work.

I discovered Kubrick in fifth grade after watching The Shining with my sister and I have been drawn to his stuff ever since. Not only is his subject matter and world-building extremely interesting, but I love the symmetry and visual craft that echoes through his body of work. Harmony Korine is also one of my favorites. I’ve always been inspired by his approach towards filmmaking and just art in general. From his raw writing style to intense visuals, I love the constant originality in his projects.

My dreams are also a big source of inspiration. I’m cliche and keep a dream journal by my bed so I don’t forget those weird but alluring things that manifest in my brain while I sleep. Also, nature. Nature is always inspiring.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a kid, I was always drawn to visual media and grew to become fascinated by its ability to convey feeling through single frames or images. I felt early on that photography and filmmaking were powerful tools, where instead of attempting to verbally explain complex feelings or scenarios, you could craft a visual to send the same message. I’m more of an introvert and observer by nature, so the idea of using a camera as my second voice has always been exhilarating. I’ve always hated public speaking and being vulnerable with my words, so I think it’s cool that I can do that with my art instead.

When I first got my hands on a camera, all these elements naturally clicked, almost audibly, and I made the conscious decision that I would pursue photography and filmmaking professionally. I knew how bumpy the road would be (and it has), but no other career prospects brought as much excitement and adrenaline as film and photography did, which I felt was more important to listen to than dollar signs. This decision though was a privilege in itself, and I’ve always recognized that. I constantly stay grateful and remind myself of how lucky I was to be raised in a home where I had the freedom to make these big decisions. Having immigrant parents and growing up first-generation, an art-related career was the last job my mom and baba wanted for me, but alas, here we are 24 years later.

In terms of my current work, I always like to remain intentional above all else. With photography, I don’t enjoy manipulating the environment, but instead capturing things in their true, authentic form. I just love to capture literally anything that visually strikes me. With filmmaking, this is more challenging because everything on a set is manufactured in some way. It can be difficult to correctly blend narrative with realism, where it still feels like a cohesive piece but not in the way a documentary does. Currently, this is one of the biggest creative challenges I have, finding a balance between impressionism and realism.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fortunately, this happens a lot, so I’ve gotten to test out a few versions of an itinerary. I think I got a pretty solid one down though.

First off, I would have to take them to try some of the best coffee LA has to offer, which is pretty easy considering the countless great shops the city has to offer. Some of my favorites are Kumquat, Canyon, and Verve—specifically the Arts District one.

After, we’d either explore around where we got coffee or drive to a different part of town to essentially do the same thing: explore. Whether it be Hollywood, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Silverlake, or Downtown, there’s always somewhere cool to stop by. From here, things start to build off each other and before you know, it’s dinner time. There are so many great spots all around LA for food, so it’s hard to get disappointed. Some of my favorites would have to be Sugarfish, Escuela, and Villa’s Tacos. From here, I personally just like to rely on spontaneity to see where the rest of the night goes, like maybe catching a movie at the Vista Theater or grabbing some saffron ice cream from Mashti Malone’s. Driving around the city at night is also one of my favorite things to do. You can stumble upon some pretty interesting scenes.

I also can’t forget about the stunning nature all around Los Angeles and California in general. A beach day in Malibu, hiking in the Angeles National Forest, and a picnic in a park would all for sure be on the itinerary. I’d even try to squeeze in a mini road-trip to Joshua Tree or Palm Springs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Above all else, the endless support from my parents and siblings is what has given me the confidence to turn my hobbies into a career. I’m the youngest of five, so I’ve always been blessed with so much love early on in life. My family truly acts as a unit, and I’ve always felt a sense of protection. My parents would always reassure my siblings and I that no matter what happens in the real world, we would always have each other to come back to at the end of the day, no matter what.

Coming from an immigrant household, it is oftentimes challenging for creative professions to be taken seriously, especially when the SWANA community carries so much pride in doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Fortunately, my parents have been nothing but supportive of my creative endeavors and I will always recognize the encouragement and comfort they have provided in my professional journey. They taught me how to be a good person, how to delicately view the world, how to stay true to myself. Without these qualities, I don’t think any of my work would feel meaningful.

Website: https://www.rejiar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rejiar/