Manoocher, born on 1954 in Iran, has worked as a photojournalist since 1978, covering the political developments, the revolution and following war in Iran.
After leaving Iran in 1984 he works as a correspondent for various agencies in Central America, Northern Africa, and the Middle-East.
Severely wounded in 1996 whilst covering a confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians in Ramallah, he spent 18 months rehabilitating in the military hospital Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, where he produced a photo essay about war veterans.
He has worked on different assignments as a freelancer for various magazines worldwide, including National Geographic Magazine, Time Magazine, Stern, Paris-Match.
In 2002, after the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, he founded AINA Photojournalism Institute in Kabul.
2006-2008 he worked as Head of Photo for UN – IRIN. Since 2009 he is freelance again.
He has won various awards like the American Deadline Press Club, Special Achievement Prize (1980), World Press Photo, 1st Prize (1981), World Press Photo, 3rd Prize (1986), 11th International Festival of SCOOP and Journalism in Angers, 1st Prize (1996), Georges Benderheim Prize, Paris and Fuji Prize, 1st Prize in France (2001), Howard Chapnick Award for Advancement of Photojournalism, New York (2004) and AFP Best Picture of the month in March 1991/August 1992/July 1994/October 1995/March 1996/February 2000.