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Three Weeks in Iran

Recounting a three week coach tour of Iran with a dozen Kiwi pensioners

In 2013 I took 10,000 photographs on a tour of Iran.

In 2023 I marked the anniversary by recounting the trip one photo at a time, each shared on social media 10 years since the day it was taken. I accompanied them with words, sometimes from memory, sometimes from emails written in Iran and sent to my parents. It was surprisingly emotional!

I’d also like to flesh this out into a photobook to share with my friends and family.

Here are a few of my favourite photos:

Tehran cityscape as seen from my hotel window, with Milad Tower in the distance.

Tehran cityscape as seen from my hotel window, with Milad Tower in the distance.

On our way from Yazd to Kerman we travelled through Iran’s main pistachio growing region. The coach pulled over to let us see the pistachio trees and I gestured to ask permission to photograph these workers chatting by the road.

On our way from Yazd to Kerman we travelled through Iran’s main pistachio growing region. The coach pulled over to let us see the pistachio trees and I gestured to ask permission to photograph these workers chatting by the road.

Later we were dropped off at a park for a picnic of cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, feta, crisps, watermelon and little sweet biscuits. I was mystified to see one of the coach drivers climbing then shaking a tree in the distance. All became clear when he returned bearing a bowl of fresh mulberries for us! Here he is washing them.

Later we were dropped off at a park for a picnic of cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, feta, crisps, watermelon and little sweet biscuits. I was mystified to see one of the coach drivers climbing then shaking a tree in the distance. All became clear when he returned bearing a bowl of fresh mulberries for us! Here he is washing them.

Our first stop on the 5th was a mill where henna is ground and packaged. Once powered by camels, this millstone was turned by a motorised trolley running around the circular track. You can see another in the background. The rays of sunlight and domed ceiling gave this functional space an unexpected holy atmosphere.

Our first stop on the 5th was a mill where henna is ground and packaged. Once powered by camels, this millstone was turned by a motorised trolley running around the circular track. You can see another in the background. The rays of sunlight and domed ceiling gave this functional space an unexpected holy atmosphere.

In Sar Yazd I had a short camel ride. It was uncomfortable, but at least I got this nice photo!

In Sar Yazd I had a short camel ride. It was uncomfortable, but at least I got this nice photo!

Why Iran?

In the 70s my Granpa accepted a role as head teacher of the British School in Tehran, capital city of Iran. Thus began a great adventure for the whole family: exploring the sights of ancient Persia, learning to ski in the Alborz mountains, meeting the Queen Mother, and an epic 3,700 mile journey from Tehran to Edinburgh in a Paykan.

In 2008 my classmates Jo, Lee, Natalie, and I based our student project on my relationship with my Granpa and his relationship with Iran. We designed a pair of complementary objects which would allow him to share his stories and photographs, which were usually locked away in slides. We presented Storymaker, Storyteller at the Microsoft Design Expo in Redmond, Washington.

In 2013 I joined some family friends on their annual tour to complete the number one item on my bucket list, finally see the country for myself, and take some photos of my own.