This travel photography of Iran was shot during a journey in 2002.

Iran is one of the most fascinating countries I have travelled through. It is a country many people mainly know through politics and headlines, but my experience as a traveller was much more. During my many years of travel, Iran’s culture is still one of the most interesting I have come across.

Once there, I discovered impressive landscapes, tasty food, a fascinating history, unique mosques, busy bazaars and very hospitable and friendly people. It is the kind of country that shows how different a place can be from the image many people have before visiting it.

During this trip I travelled through Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Bam and Shiraz. Each place had its own rhythm and atmosphere: the scale and traffic of Tehran, the religious importance of Qom, the architecture of Isfahan, the desert feeling around Yazd and Kerman, the mud-brick city of Bam and the poetry and gardens of Shiraz.

Some of these photographs have also become part of history in a different way. My images of Bam were made before the devastating earthquake of December 2003, which destroyed much of the old city and changed the place forever.

For me, these images are a visual memory of a country that made a strong impression on me: complex, beautiful, generous and often very different from the image many people have before going there.

If you’re looking for photos of Iran please send me an email: wilmar@wilmarphotography.com

Curious about my other photography work? Dive into my photography portfolio!

How did I capture my travel stock photography of Iran?

During my time (about 3 weeks) in Iran, I visited seven different towns, all of which offered up something a little different from the last. Here’s what you can expect to see from them:

• Tehran. Iran’s capital city, Tehran, sits in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains. When you first arrive, you may be overwhelmed by the chaotic streets and busy traffic, but you’ll soon discover a city full of history, culture and hospitable charm.
• Qom. As one of the holiest cities in Iran, Qom was once the centre of Shiite Islam and remains home to many sacred shrines. 
• Isfahan. If you’re on the hunt for stunning architecture, grand boulevards and tiled mosques, Isfahan is the place to find them.
• Yazd. Not far from the Spice and Silk Roads, Yazd was (or is?) still the beating heart of the silk weaving industry in Iran. 
• Kerman. The capital city of Iran’s Kerman Province, Kerman plays host to countless historic mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples.
• Bam. Famed for its large fortress, made entirely from mud brick, Bam has now become one of Iran’s many Unesco World Heritage Sites and is a must-see for any visitor. Bam is also known for its dates and its palmtrees. My images of Bam where taken before the earthquake of December 26 in 2003.
• Shiraz. Originally the birthplace of Shiraz wine, the city of Shiraz is also known as the home town of two great Persian poets: Hafiz and Saadi.