My Photo scholarship 2010 entry
Iran | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos
A few nomadic tribes exist in Iran such as the Qashqa’i, Bakhtiary, Kurds Lors and Baluchis. The Qashqa’i nomadic tribe of Iran stands out for their vibrant costumes and famous ‘Gabbeh’. During the last century, the Iranian government insisted on settling many of the nomadic tribes and integrate them with the greater Shia Persian majority. Many nomadic children attend school and some families are lured by the comfort of urban life. Hence, there are less than 1 million nomads left wandering in Iran. This photo-story focuses on the lifestyle and the production custom of the Qashqa’i tribe. They are based predominantly in the province of Fars where they migrate between the summer and winter pastures of the Zagros mountains.
As a self taught photojournalist, I aim to travel to far flung corners of the world to document lesser known communities and their lifestyle. For the past 4 years, I have been going to Iran often. My camera allows me to open the window into their world and as Iran is isolated politically and economically due to international sanctions, I like to show a different perspective of Iran other than the negative anti-western images we often see in the media.
Instead of "suppressed" women draped in black chanting death slogans to America and Israel, we see females in vibrant traditional Qash'qai costumes actively involved in daily chores. I am also keen to capture a traditional way of life before it becomes diluted by modernization and urbanization.
Besides Iran, I have also covered many humanitarian, environmental and human rights abuses issues in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia and Cambodia mostly with my own funds. I am working on a few exhibition and book projects on child labour, disappearing tribes, aftermath of conflicts and environmental change.
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