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Iran I
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Iran I


I went to Iran in 1971 to work on a book of the 2500th celebration of the formation of the Persian Empire.
 
It was instant culture shock. I had never experienced heat (like this) before. On a less that 110°F day I saw a security guy sitting at his desk with a heater to mitigate the cold.
 
Security was unbelievably tight. Everybody had to wear photo ID. That included people like Haile Selassie and Ferdinand Marcos. You get the idea. People with machine guns were every few feet. The Shah was in power at the time and I was supposed to photograph him (no photographers used the expression “shoot someone” the entire time I was there).
 
I passed the assignment to Burt Glinn because he was better dressed than I was and had brought a tuxedo along. I am always the worst dressed person in the room so they were relieved not to have me visible to VIPs.
 
The celebration itself took three or four days as I remember it. Then we went off to other places to “shoot Iran”.
 
I was arrested the first day of the trip because of lack of proper ID. I showed the police my photo ID for the “2500thCelebration of the Founding of the Persian Dynasty”. He said that was yesterday. “Today you need new ID.”
 
Of course it was all resolved because our guide knew a guy who knew a guy who knew the cop I was dealing with.
 
Contrary to most of my trips that ended up with me photographing mostly people, in Iran, I was amazed at the architecture, the interiors, and the landscape, as well.
 
It was an overwhelming trip. A kaleidoscopic journey that I still count as one of my favorite experiences.
 
I am saddened by what has happened since then, but I feel that it will inevitably change as all political relationships do.

Man in Blue and Man with Stick, Iran
Man in Blue and Man with Stick, Iran
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Woman in Black, Red Blur on Top, Iran
Woman in Black, Red Blur on Top, Iran
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Man in Tool Shop Smiling at Me, Iran
Man in Tool Shop Smiling at Me, Iran
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Children in Blue at School, Iran
Children in Blue at School, Iran
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Man and Mule in Courtyard, Iran
Man and Mule in Courtyard, Iran
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Boy Drinking Tea, Iran
Boy Drinking Tea, Iran
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Woman and Child Outside with Mountains in Background
Woman and Child Outside with Mountains in Background
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Girl Raising Her Chador to Show Herself, Iran
Girl Raising Her Chador to Show Herself, Iran
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Two Silhouetted Men and Their Shadows, Iran
Two Silhouetted Men and Their Shadows, Iran
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Man Holding an Orange, Iran
Man Holding an Orange, Iran
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Shepherd with Staff, Iran
Shepherd with Staff, Iran
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Children Lined up Against Wall with Flags, Iran
Children Lined up Against Wall with Flags, Iran
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Silhouetted Man with Hose, Water, Iran
Silhouetted Man with Hose, Water, Iran
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Desert Buildings and Mountains with Three Small Figures, Iran
Desert Buildings and Mountains with Three Small Figures, Iran
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Looking Down at Three Heads, Iran
Looking Down at Three Heads, Iran
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Desert Landscape and Mountains, Iran
Desert Landscape and Mountains, Iran
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Man with Grizzled Beard, Iran
Man with Grizzled Beard, Iran
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1000mm Telephoto of Railroad Line and Telephone Poles, Iran
1000mm Telephoto of Railroad Line and Telephone Poles, Iran
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1000mm Telephoto of Desert, Houses, etc, Iran
1000mm Telephoto of Desert, Houses, etc, Iran
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1000mm Telephoto of Desert, Bus and Power Lines, Iran
1000mm Telephoto of Desert, Bus and Power Lines, Iran
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Looking Down Arches on Bridge, Iran
Looking Down Arches on Bridge, Iran
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Close-up, Front of Bus, Driver and Passengers, Iran
Close-up, Front of Bus, Driver and Passengers, Iran
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Military Officers in front of Doorway, Iran
Military Officers in front of Doorway, Iran
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Soldiers, One Looking at Me, Iran
Soldiers, One Looking at Me, Iran
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Crowd of Soldiers, Iran
Crowd of Soldiers, Iran
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Policeman on Small Town Street, Iran
Policeman on Small Town Street, Iran
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Back of Women in Chadors, One with Baby, Iran
Back of Women in Chadors, One with Baby, Iran
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Man Holding Bread near Iranian Flag, Iran
Man Holding Bread near Iranian Flag, Iran
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Boy Silhouette with Bubble Dome in Background, Iran
Boy Silhouette with Bubble Dome in Background, Iran
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Two Boys with Spinning Wheel, Iran
Two Boys with Spinning Wheel, Iran
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Close-up of Man's Tanned Face, Iran
Close-up of Man's Tanned Face, Iran
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Close-up Face of Young Girl in Costume, Iran
Close-up Face of Young Girl in Costume, Iran
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Man Squatting in front of Bakery Window, Iran
Man Squatting in front of Bakery Window, Iran
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Young Man, Donkey with Burlap, Iran
Young Man, Donkey with Burlap, Iran
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Group of Kids in a Row Reacting to Me, Iran
Group of Kids in a Row Reacting to Me, Iran
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Two Men with Tombstones, Iran
Two Men with Tombstones, Iran
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People, Kids Outside of Building, Iran
People, Kids Outside of Building, Iran
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Man Sitting in Rug Store Window, Woman Walking By, Iran
Man Sitting in Rug Store Window, Woman Walking By, Iran
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Long Light Wall with Three Boys, Silhouettes, Running, Iran
Long Light Wall with Three Boys, Silhouettes, Running, Iran
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Man in Orange Car, Iran
Man in Orange Car, Iran
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Four Men, One with Bare Foot on Knee, Iran
Four Men, One with Bare Foot on Knee, Iran
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Surreal Camera Crew, One Silhouetted Man, Iran
Surreal Camera Crew, One Silhouetted Man, Iran
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Woman in Chador Against Yellow Lights, Iran
Woman in Chador Against Yellow Lights, Iran
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Young Boy in Shop Looking at Me, Iran
Young Boy in Shop Looking at Me, Iran
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Row of Soldiers at Mountaintop Checkpoint, Iran
Row of Soldiers at Mountaintop Checkpoint, Iran
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End of Iran I Collection_iran-27Row8of8Women8All8in8Chadors8Iran
End of Iran I Collection_iran-27Row8of8Women8All8in8Chadors8Iran
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