He was the first Iranian filmmaker who went to Italy and Germany for technical training at Cinecittà Studios, Agfa Laboratories and Arriflex Cameras.
He worked as a Lab Technician, Sound Recordist, Editor, Assistant Camera and Gaffer before he shot his first film, Amir Arsalan, as cinematographer in 1955.
Broken Spell (1958) was recognized at the Berlin Film Festival for his color cinematography.
He won Best Cinematography for Joseph and Zoleika at the Sepas Film Festival in 1968.
Mahmoud & Esmail Koushan have family in Arlington Texas & Los Angeles California.