Iran Through the Lens: Bushehr 1969-1976 - Photographs by Kamran Adle
After a promising career in Parisian fashion and advertising photography, Kamran Adle returned to Iran in 1968, answering a call to join the National Iranian Radio and Television (NIRT). What followed was a rare and intimate visual journey through a nation on the cusp of profound transformation.
This striking collection of photographs, taken between 1969 and 1976, opens a window into the soul of Bushehr. From the solemn rituals of Arba'ein-e Hosseini to the bustling street life, from the daily rhythms of Persian Gulf fishermen to the industrial power of oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz, Adle's lens captures both the sacred and the everyday with remarkable sensitivity.
A multidisciplinary figure whose career spans architecture, journalism, and cultural preservation, Adle worked closely with Empress Farah Pahlavi and the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation, documenting the evolution of Iran's cities, infrastructure, and artistic life. His images celebrate not only architectural grandeur but also the quiet poetry of ordinary existence.
Spanning Bushehr, Tehran, and beyond, this book is more than a travelogue-it is a visual time capsule. Whether capturing the elegance of Iran's historical landscape or the enduring spirit of its people, Adle preserves a vibrant, complex Iran that now lives only in memory.
A companion to his acclaimed A Visual Review of Persian Architecture: The Pahlavi Period (3 volumes), Bushehr affirms Kamran Adle's legacy as one of Iran's most significant visual historians.
Where is Bushehr?
Bushehr (Persian: ب و ش ه ر) is a port city in southwestern Iran, located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Known for its hot, humid summers, Bushehr's geography has long shaped its culture and strategic importance.
In 1734, Iranian military commander Nader Shah chose Bushehr-then a modest fishing village-as the headquarters for the Persian Gulf fleet he aimed to establish. This marked the beginning of Bushehr's rise as a key regional hub.
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