Kiana Hayeri was born in Iran, and this was where she launched her career as a photojournalist and visual storyteller. Yet after traveling to Afghanistan for a 2014 assignment, she decided to relocate, spending the next eight years covering both the frontlines of conflict and everyday lives of the Afghan people.
In this second installment of our monthly series, Picturing World Cultures, we speak with Hayeri about her experiences living and working in a region mired in cultural upheaval, failing infrastructure, and rife with political violence.
Listen in as Hayeri shares insights about her early work documenting youth culture in both Iran and Afghanistan, while revealing subtle differences in how each society approaches a division between public and private life.
When it comes to making pictures, Hayeri’s first concern is for the latent potential of her photographs to endanger the lives of her subjects. She elaborates on making conscious calculations in her head related to every small detail to mitigate this risk.
Working as a woman within a patriarchal society involves great challenges, and we broach this subject, as well as the advantages she has when photographing culturally sensitive subjects.
While Hayeri has little problem maintaining focus on the frontlines while immersed in her work, we also discuss the tolls of making pictures in traumatic situations, and the importance of taking breaks to reestablish a sense of normalcy and maintain health and sanity.
Hayeri has worked with an extensive network of local contacts to arrange access for the stories she tells. She avoids using the term “fixer” for these essential collaborators, pointing out, “The credit for a lot of the stories that we work on goes to our local colleagues, because they are the ones who put themselves on the front of everything. It’s their reputation, their lives that they risk. I have a lot of respect for that.”
Check out the first episode of our new podcast series Picturing World Cultures, featuring my interview with Australian photographer Wayne Quilliam, here:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-wayne-quilliam-australiatasmania
Above photograph © Kiana Hayeri
Guest: Kiana Hayeri
For more information on our guest and the gear she uses, see:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-kiana-hayeri-iran-afghanistan
Stay Connected:
Kiana Hayeri Website: https://www.kianahayeri.com/
Kiana Hayeri Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kianahayeri/
Kiana Hayeri Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kianahj
Kiana Hayeri Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/speakers/kiana_hayeri
Taking Chances on Stories to Tell: Photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice at Bild
Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry at Bild
Fake Memories, Promptography, and Generative AI, with Boris Eldagsen
Photographer-Driven Projects, with Ashok Sinha and Anabel DFlux
Rodney Smith’s Leap of Faith: An Intimate Chat with Leslie Smolan & Terence Falk
Finger-Lickin' Food Photography, with Mica McCook, the Austin Food Guide
A Closer Look at Bruce Gilden: Depth of Field 2023
Adobe Software and AI: Scott Kelby & Kristina Sherk at Depth of Field 2023
Legal Matters for Photographers, with Rachel Brenke, TheLawTog®
Lighting Whisperers: Eric Stoner & Joe McNally at Depth of Field 2023
Photographic Innovation: Steve Sasson's Invention of the Digital Camera
The Business of Family Portraits: Michele Celentano & Monica Sigmon at Depth of Field 2023
#Kittens & Picturing Pets, with Karen Hoglund & Nancy Borowick
Confronting Algorithms and AI: Tati Bruening & Anya Anti at Depth of Field 2023
Photographic Craft & Connections: Sam Hurd & Dixie Dixon at Depth of Field 2023
Notable Lens Releases of 2022 & 23, with Kevin Rickert
The Business of Luxury Wedding Photography with James x Schulze
A World History of Women Photographers with Luce Lebart and Pauline Vermare
Building and Maintaining Your Web Presence with Alex Vita and Ben Von Wong
Flora Photographica A Potpourri of Pictures with Danae Panchaud and Abe Morell
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast
Art Sense
The Art Angle
Black Beauty
Anne of Avonlea
The Week in Art
The Beginner Photography Podcast