UPDATED: Local Photographer Shares His Shots, and Impressions, of Iran

Photos submitted, Barry Pell

It was somewhat surprising to Barry Pell during his trip to Iran how helpful and welcoming the people were to he and his wife.

“They are typically warm and friendly,” said Pell, “but, as Americans with a difficult recent history with our country, we were particularly unprepared for such a kind reception.”

Pell is a professional photographer and recently traveled to Iran for more than three weeks in June of 2014. The result is a program he shows and leads called “Iran - Persian Glory and Islamic Revolution.”

This program comes to the Wayland Public Library on Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Note, this event was originally scheduled for July 17)

“The program describes aspects of the country’s magnificent history, landscape, and culture, and how this background has influenced modern-day life and current political conditions,” Pell told Wayland Patch. “Much of what I learned is in sharp contrast to what is reported and written about Iran by the western media. I chose to go there, in part, is learn for myself, first-hand, the reality of Iranian life.”

There were no unique obstacles to snapping shots in Iran, added Pell. In this age of technology, most were agreeable to photos, especially if it would help outsiders get a truer picture of Iran.

“Of course, as is typical in many countries, there was some resistance to photos taken by a man of religious women,”

A description of the program “Iran - Persian Glory and Islamic Revolution:” With a history dating 2,500 years, the Persian Empire was the largest of ancient times, extending from Central Asia to north Africa. The legacy of this power and wealth is manifest in the stunning tiled architecture of mosques and secular mansions, the distinctively spiced cuisine, the arts and crafts including arguably the world’s most beautiful rugs, and the diverse people who comprised the Empire as invaders or subjects. Iran’s recent history is marked by religious rule following the 1979 Islamic revolution. Barry Pell traveled nearly 4,000 miles through the country’s magnificent landscape, visiting historic cities and monuments, and meeting with Iranian people who openly shared opinions about their lives and relations with America. This program will be accompanied by Mr. Pell’s photography.