TEHRAN—Mexican documentary photographer Roberto Flores, who traveled to Iran for the first time, emphasized Iran's cultural and human potential and said: “My goal in traveling to Iran is to record the cultural diversity and lifestyle of Iranian nomads, a living reality that can challenge the stereotypical narratives of Iran in the world.”

In an interview released by Miras Aria on Wednesday, Flores referred to his motivations for traveling to Iran and said: “The idea of recording the life of nomads had been in my mind for years, and Iran, due to its cultural, climatic, and human diversity, was considered one of the most important destinations for this project.”

According to the news agency, despite his age of 26, he has a record of traveling and documentary photography in 75 countries around the world. “My perspective in photography is always focused on people; their way of life, the relationship between generations, and the connection with nature and animals. Contrary to popular belief, people around the world are more similar than different.”

Describing his journey in Iran, the documentary photographer said: “After arriving in Tehran and at the same time as it was snowing and raining, my journey changed to Lorestan and Khuzestan provinces. We took a local train from Doroud to Andimeshk and spent a whole day as guests of a nomadic family.”
Flores continued: “In Andimeshk and Dezful, I witnessed a Bakhtiari wedding and then spent some time with a family of Haftlang Bakhtiari. The sincerity, decency and hospitality of the people were beyond any imagination I had before the trip.”

He attributed his acquaintance with the lifestyle of Iranian nomads to nomadic tourism activities and said: “I became acquainted with the migration routes of Bakhtiari nomads through the nomadic tourism page of Nomad on Instagram. This experience is one of the most authentic examples of cultural tourism I have ever seen.”

The Mexican photographer, who has traveled among the nomads of Afghanistan, Mongolia, North Africa, and parts of Latin America in the last two years, said about the distinction of Iranian nomads: “Everywhere in the world, nomads value family and a simple life more than material things, but in Iran, family ties are deeper and warmer. The night I spent Yalda (Shab-e Chelleh) with a nomadic family was one of the most different experiences of my life.”

Expressing concern about the future of indigenous cultures in the world, Flores emphasized: “Many traditional lifestyles are rapidly disappearing. If they are not recorded and documented today, perhaps there will be no trace of them in 50 years. Documentary photography is an attempt to preserve this human memory.”

He announced plans to hold an exhibition of his works in Mexico and said: “Next year, I will hold an exhibition of my photographs in museums in Mexico, and part of it will be dedicated to Iran. I want the people of my country to see that Iran is not just a stereotype; it is a land of amazing cultural, climatic and human diversity.”

Flores concluded that Iranian people are noble, kind and hospitable. “This trip was not just a work project for me, but a profound human experience that I will never forget.”

KD