History of photography in Iran

All Kings of Qajar dynasty attempted to bring the country out of isolation by improving economical and cultural relationships with west. Iran photographers divide in three main groups: one group of photographers whose duty was investigating about cultural and ecological varieties of different nations and this group belonged to Europe geography and science institutes. Second group was local photographers who experienced new technical discoveries jut for fun and without any goal, and the third group was professional photographers which photography was their job.

Photography in Iran began in Gajar density and in reign of Nsseredin Shah.by photographs of that time, we could find traditional lifestyle of them. Photographs related to buildings and structures of that era are valuable for Iran 19th century historical studies and also illustrate the system of government and hierarchy.

The first photographers entered Iran from France, Austria and Italy was teaching in Darolfonoon School in Tehran. The technical and vocational Darolfonoon School established by Amir Kabir for educating officers, civilian and military engineers, doctors and translators. After ten years in 1860, photography added to Darolfonoon’s programs.
Likely, the first foreign man who printed a photo in Iran was Jul Richar from France started teaching French in Darolfonoon School (1844-1846). The first album was a set of Iran historical structures photos by Luigi Pesce, a colonel from Napal immigrated to Iran.
At the same year, the second copy of that album provided and sent to the first william, the king of Prussia. Thereafter, the first album was found in Rom. The other album which gifted to New Yourk Metropolitan Museum including 75 photos, maybe is the album sent to the King of Prussia. Originally, the album belonged to Ardeshir Mirza, grandson of Fathali Shah. Donator of the album believes that Luigi Pesce is one of photographers that their photos gathered in that album. Metropolitan album includes several subjects.
There is three portraits of Naseredin Shah when he was young, and a photo of many people in this album. Most of the photos show the architecture of that period, including; Ceremonial palaces, mosques, gates of cities, residential and public structures, monuments, passages and bridges and historical places and pictures of court shows and important governmental ceremonies that show the glory of the Qajar court. The album also includes two photos of two painting pictures: one is portray of Fathali Shah and the other is San military.
In Mid reign of Nasseraddin Shah (1921-1922), after his second travel to Europe, some attendances of Shah could learn about photography.
At the beginning the manifestation of photography, technical limitations of photography led to developing structure and buildings photography. Among photos of Italian album signed by Luigi Pesce, there is two picture of city gate, Golestan Palace and also some photos of the ruins of Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam and Taghebostan romantically. The oldest photos of this album related to 1852-1855.
Another album shows lifestyle of Qajar period has taken by Luicci Moontabune, the famous Tornio Photographer. The album includes 62 photos gathered in three different sets.
Moontabune came to Iran with a policy board. Naseredin Shah called him Akas Bashi. His photos of Iran historical places exhibited in International Harris Exhibition (1867) and received insignia.
His photos as a wonderful historical documentation shows people and Qajar curtains. Although there is no woman in his photos, but he took photos of men from different social level and their social situation hierarchy is shown by the way of arrangement photos.