{"id":3073,"date":"2016-07-07T17:49:19","date_gmt":"2016-07-07T17:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/?p=3073"},"modified":"2016-07-08T21:05:44","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T21:05:44","slug":"border-to-border-part-7-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/border-to-border-part-7-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Border to Border: Part 7 – Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continue your photo travel tour as Joan Ubide discovers Iran.<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Basaar in Teheran<\/p>\n

1\/60 F4 (+0,33)<\/p>\n

Iso 100, 12mm<\/p>\n

Iran is a much better country than we\u2019ve been told. It\u2019s a country where people are crazy about football teams like Barcelona (or Real Madrid). The people greeted me affectionately and cordially with \u201cWelcome to Iran.\u201d As I was strolling around the impressive bazaars in Teheran or Isfahan taking pictures, people came to shake hands with me. They asked where I was from and offered me tea, food, or even their homes. I was truly impressed with the ordinary, anonymous people who did everything possible to make me feel comfortable in their country.<\/p>\n

The \u201cgifts\u201d I found most interesting were the conversations that regular people started with me. Step by step as we talked, they let me know about their country and lifestyle\u2014which didn\u2019t seem that unusual to me, except for their treatment of women. That one issue is, without a doubt, a negative aspect of their lives according to our Western point of view. I am ignorant when it comes to the Muslim world, but I think we have to consider their lives from two perspectives–a critical one and an understanding one.<\/p>\n

The critical perspective focuses on the obvious censure and lack of freedom in Iran, especially for women, who cannot decide whether they want to cover their heads with a scarf or not or what clothes to wear. Some of the women don\u2019t want to live that life. I chatted with a few who, even though they were with their husbands, said they were fed up with living under such oppression.<\/p>\n

At the same time, when I adopted an understanding perspective, I met people who did want to live according to their culture and to be respected by the outside world. I had the feeling they were saying that the people outside should take care of their own business. \u201cWe\u2019re like that and that\u2019s the way we want to be,\u201d they seemed to say.<\/p>\n

You can clearly see which women on the street prefer what, as you see women dressed totally in black, showing only their eyes, and women wearing more \u201cWestern\u201d clothes, their scarves not totally covering their heads, and they\u2019re wearing make-up. Unfortunately, sometimes they\u2019re reprehended for their behavior.<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Woman in an small vilage near Kashan<\/p>\n

1\/125 F\/5.3<\/p>\n

Iso 160, 19mm<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Womans & Steeps, Kashan<\/p>\n

1\/320 F\/9 (-0,67)<\/p>\n

Iso 160, 12mm<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Darkness, Isfahan Basaar<\/p>\n

1\/40 F\/3 (-1,0)<\/p>\n

Iso 160, 50mm<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Woman Artist<\/p>\n

1\/200 F\/7.1<\/p>\n

Iso 125, 50mm<\/p>\n

Of course, I could never accept the Iranian way of life simply because I wasn\u2019t born there. If I had been and had experienced a very strict education in their culture, maybe I would have another opinion. I think it\u2019s not fair judging individuals; maybe it\u2019s the system we have to judge. As in many places, the people are not bad. However, there may be bad government and reproachable living conditions. Still, Iran and its people are delightful. The Persian region offers infinite possibilities and routes to discovering a country rich in culture.<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Street in Kashan<\/p>\n

1\/200 F\/7.1<\/p>\n

Iso 125, 12mm<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Kids after School in Kashan<\/p>\n

1\/80 F\/4.5<\/p>\n

Iso 125, 12mm<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide
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\n<\/strong>A white point..<\/p>\n

1\/45 F\/3.3 (-0,33)<\/p>\n

Iso 125, 50mm<\/p>\n

Travel tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For tourists\u2014except those from North America and some specific countries–visiting Iran is fairly easy. You can get a visa when you contract your trip, or you can wait until you reach Teheran and obtain a seven-day visa on the spot if<\/em> you have the following:<\/p>\n

1. Passport with more than six months validity
\n2. A 3 x 4 picture
\n3. Proof of the place where you\u2019ll be staying
\n4. A confirmed travel ticket for leaving the country
\n5. $50 USD or EUR<\/p>\n

(When I followed these guidelines, I was given a 15 day visa, instead of a 7 day one for reasons I don\u2019t know.) Extending your visa is not very easy, but in big cities there are agencies that can handle the problem for you.<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 Copyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Preparing banners and flags<\/p>\n

1\/20 F\/2.4 (-0,33)<\/p>\n

Iso 200, 50mm<\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 Joan Ubide<\/p>\n

Street Congregation in Isfahan<\/p>\n

1\/160 F\/6<\/p>\n

Iso 125, 50mm<\/p>\n

Interesting cities to visit:<\/strong><\/p>\n