Behind the Photo: Alexandra Avakian, Iran | National Geographic

this picture was taken in Iran on the

this picture was taken in Iran on the island of Kish this is a movie set and

island of Kish this is a movie set and

island of Kish this is a movie set and this is a dress she’s preparing for her

this is a dress she’s preparing for her

this is a dress she’s preparing for her role in her husband’s film do you know I

role in her husband’s film do you know I

role in her husband’s film do you know I photographed on this movie set all day

photographed on this movie set all day

photographed on this movie set all day so I photographed every single little

so I photographed every single little

so I photographed every single little thing that happened but with this

thing that happened but with this

thing that happened but with this picture you know I just felt like ah yes

picture you know I just felt like ah yes

picture you know I just felt like ah yes you know she’s actually doing this thing

you know she’s actually doing this thing

you know she’s actually doing this thing in front of me and I thought she’s

in front of me and I thought she’s

in front of me and I thought she’s beautiful and I love the red behind her

beautiful and I love the red behind her

beautiful and I love the red behind her and you know but you’re not you’re

and you know but you’re not you’re

and you know but you’re not you’re you’re thinking this stuff but at the

you’re thinking this stuff but at the

you’re thinking this stuff but at the same time you’re not thinking you’re

same time you’re not thinking you’re

same time you’re not thinking you’re just making pictures it’s very intuitive

just making pictures it’s very intuitive

just making pictures it’s very intuitive she was in her own private world

she was in her own private world

she was in her own private world preparing for her role at the same time

preparing for her role at the same time

preparing for her role at the same time I think very conscious of the camera and

I think very conscious of the camera and

I think very conscious of the camera and both of us feeling in the moment I felt

both of us feeling in the moment I felt

both of us feeling in the moment I felt her moment and and and she knew I was

her moment and and and she knew I was

her moment and and and she knew I was there and that’s a kind of collaboration

there and that’s a kind of collaboration

there and that’s a kind of collaboration that does happen sometimes with a

that does happen sometimes with a

that does happen sometimes with a subject this photograph was on the cover

subject this photograph was on the cover

subject this photograph was on the cover of the National Geographic magazine and

of the National Geographic magazine and

of the National Geographic magazine and it’s also on the cover of my new book

it’s also on the cover of my new book

it’s also on the cover of my new book windows of the soul my journeys in the

windows of the soul my journeys in the

windows of the soul my journeys in the Muslim world