Sign up for free Newsletters

Once a month get new photos and expert tips.

Sign Up

June 2009 Archives

Iran Today

Posted on June 23, 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags:

author-alex-avakian-iran.jpg

At the temporary grave of Ayatollah Khomeini,1989

 Twenty years ago this month, in June 1989, I was in Iran photographing the mourning for Ayatollah Khomeini. Ten years ago I covered the reform movement when it was in power under President Mohammed Khatami. Iran has shifted from right to left and back again, but always within the context of an Islamic state. As I write this Iran is passing through dramatic social upheaval again with a moderate opposition movement taking to the streets to contest recent elections favoring the conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the conservatives crack down.

The stakes for the future of the Islamic Republic are high and the outcome is uncertain at this time. Read more about my experiences in Iran from my fall 2008 post: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/photography/windowsofthesoul/iran. And view my photos from Iran:

portrait-iran.jpg

Men standing near a painting of Ayatollah Khomeini

boy-kissing-portrait-iran.jpg

Boy kissing a portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini

 blood-street-iran.jpg

Blood of a sacrificed lamb streaks a north Tehran street on the day of mourning for Imam Hussain and the peak of the month of Muharram.

imam-mosque-iran.jpg

Imam Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

 actress-kish-iran.jpg

Actress on a movie set, Kish Island, Iran

 women-bench-iran.jpg

Women weaving a rug, Heris, Iran

 couple-iran.jpg

Young couple on Khajou Bridge, Isfahan, Iran

 bride-iran.jpg

A 17-year-old Kurdish bride at Zarivar Lake, Iran

Windows of the Soul on NY Times Lens

Posted on June 4, 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags:

burning-farm-gaza-blog-nytpost.jpg

Dear Friends and Colleagues, Check out today's New York Times feature about Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World.

Click here: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/

MULTIMEDIA | June 04, 2009
Lens: Showcase: Taking Risks
By James Estrin
Alexandra Avakian takes chances. She faced down militias in Somalia and covered riots and conflict in Gaza, Lebanon and the Caucasus to make the photographs in her book, "Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World" (Focal Point/National Geographic, 2008).
Source: lens.blogs.nytimes.com

View All Posts for Last Month  View All Posts for This Month View Archive

About This Blog

Alexandra Avakian
As a young photojournalist Alexandra Avakian was fascinated with revolution and the fight for freedom—even dreaming, many times, that she worked in a strife-torn city. She has braved bullets and hostility to photograph stories of searing conflict and bring them to the world. Going far beyond the brief news reports that most of us see, Avakian shares a richer, wider view of the Muslim world through her extraordinary storytelling and photographs—all beautifully showcased in Windows of the Soul, and highlighted here in this blog.
Read Alexandra's Bio
Visit photography.nationalgeographic.com

Share This Blog

 


Visit Alexandra on Facebook

Photo by Alexandra Avakian