tsiklonaut
Well-known
As of drinking - yes it's possible, but only if you get to know in-depth family and they'll invite you for an evening and sleeping out at their place. There will be home brewed arak-like rather heavy drink on offer after eating, BUT only done behind closed doors and in a very civilized- and usually limited manner, even with mild drinking you most cases cannot leave on the streets (for an obvious reason - the speciefic smells on you 
) It's really a private 'secret tradition' (although done for centuries, and publically before the islamic revolution) and practiced just by few iranian families these days. It's certanly not some mass-drinking thing as wrongly claimed by some people.
Mass drinking in Iran is: black tea! By far and in massive amounts of tea's caffeine (very dark-strong tea), and unreal amounts of sugar (sometimes 1/4 of the glass is filled with sugar)! For the first few days I love it, but after many days of this my stomatch starts to protest although the irianian people keep inviting you for a tea everywhere, even in the bank office you often get tea and a very long chat with the banker and their staff who're all very curious of the outside world and also about your opinion on Iran. I've literally seen tears coming from iranian's eyes when I honestly voice out how I love Iran (since they know they're mostly negatively bashed by western media and opinions)
) It's really a private 'secret tradition' (although done for centuries, and publically before the islamic revolution) and practiced just by few iranian families these days. It's certanly not some mass-drinking thing as wrongly claimed by some people.Mass drinking in Iran is: black tea! By far and in massive amounts of tea's caffeine (very dark-strong tea), and unreal amounts of sugar (sometimes 1/4 of the glass is filled with sugar)! For the first few days I love it, but after many days of this my stomatch starts to protest although the irianian people keep inviting you for a tea everywhere, even in the bank office you often get tea and a very long chat with the banker and their staff who're all very curious of the outside world and also about your opinion on Iran. I've literally seen tears coming from iranian's eyes when I honestly voice out how I love Iran (since they know they're mostly negatively bashed by western media and opinions)
David_Manning
Well-known
Andrea, great shots...really a wonderful peek behind an unknown curtain, certainly for the average American like me.
Since this is RFF, I'm sure you expect some tech questions so here goes...
I like the Ricoh GR too...almost my favorite camera. Your color images...did you add grain? I love the look...the organic feel is warmer and more personal than the cold clarity of a shot right off the sensor.
Also, I understand it was personal travel. Did you ever feel very constrained by not having a lens longer than 28mm (equivalent)?
I traveled to Paris with only a Ricoh GR and had a great time...it was very freeing, in fact. I'm leaving again shortly, and your timely post has convinced me to just take the GR again.
BTW...My favorite of your images were the B&W in your usual style
---David.
Since this is RFF, I'm sure you expect some tech questions
so here goes...I like the Ricoh GR too...almost my favorite camera. Your color images...did you add grain? I love the look...the organic feel is warmer and more personal than the cold clarity of a shot right off the sensor.
Also, I understand it was personal travel. Did you ever feel very constrained by not having a lens longer than 28mm (equivalent)?
I traveled to Paris with only a Ricoh GR and had a great time...it was very freeing, in fact. I'm leaving again shortly, and your timely post has convinced me to just take the GR again.
BTW...My favorite of your images were the B&W in your usual style
---David.
Phantomas
Well-known
That can be easily arranged but will require making friends with some hip locals. The added benefit is that you will be invited to their homes and/or small parties (as indeed you won't be doing any drinking in public) Step 1: make friends with locals; Step 2: get invited to their home or alternatively Step 3: go with them to a local Armenian dealer and acquire alcohol. Warning: you will likely be drinking some vile stuff (unless you get lucky with some smuggled-in quality stuff or get stuff produced for self-consumption), so prepare for a raging headache the next morning
Andrea Taurisano
il cimento
Hi David!
Yes, I did add grain and did some contrast / brightness adjustment to get away from the razor sharp and sterile digital look and at least one step closer to film look.. Not much postprocessing actually, in fact I even shot directly in JPG.
I didn't feel VERY constraint by having a 28mm only, but there were indeed times where a 35 or even 50 mm would have been much better. The portraits to mention just one case. I love them with really shallow DOF, like the one I'm pasting below from my trip to Afghanistan (M9 & cron 50 @f2, which says everything..). I think I'm going to give the X100s a try, especially now that they announced a 50 mm converter that retains the good look at f2... But the GR is a gem..
anjoca76
Well-known
These are really, really wonderful images. I especially love the insight into a world that I must admit I do not know much about. Well done!
David_Manning
Well-known
Andrea...oops. Forgot the image. I've NEVER done that
danielsterno
making soup from mud
Andrea- I enjoy your work very much and follow your blog. I specially liked ruined my usual way images…. good work.
David_Manning
Well-known
Also...if you intend to carry an X100s and a 50mm converter, you might as well carry the FF M9. I have both...there is very little difference in size once you get that converter on the X100 body.
Here's a crazy idea, a la Thomas Dworzak/Anders Petersen. Take two different compacts. Anders shoots mostly Contax T3, but also some Ricoh GRv for wider...film, I know. In my own case, Ricoh GR for 28mm and Canon EOS M + 22/2 for 35mm. Both very small, fit in a bag or pouch, little Canon for portraits at f2, GR for everything else. the EOS M is slow to focus, but come on, it's a portrait right? About $200 or so.
The right tool for the job, I say. Of course, I like shooting my M9 for the shooting experience, but the compacts can and do bring home the goods.
Here's a crazy idea, a la Thomas Dworzak/Anders Petersen. Take two different compacts. Anders shoots mostly Contax T3, but also some Ricoh GRv for wider...film, I know. In my own case, Ricoh GR for 28mm and Canon EOS M + 22/2 for 35mm. Both very small, fit in a bag or pouch, little Canon for portraits at f2, GR for everything else. the EOS M is slow to focus, but come on, it's a portrait right? About $200 or so.
The right tool for the job, I say. Of course, I like shooting my M9 for the shooting experience, but the compacts can and do bring home the goods.
funkydog
Well-known
Anyone notice a huge cultural difference? Shiite muslims seem to be more cool about having their picture taken than (sunni) muslims in other countries.
Sparrow
Veteran
... no, did you? ... I noticed how relaxed it all seemed
Andrea Taurisano
il cimento
Well, there are so many possible combinations.. When I want film, I have already enough to choose from (GR1v, Hexar AF, M6 w 35cron, pinhole camera..). For when I want to go digital - which is not that often actually - I have only the GR right now. If Ricoh made a digital GR with a 45 or 50mm f2 (or even f2.8 as long as the closest focusing distance is max 40 - 50 cm), they'd make me a happy man... Then I'd go away with the two digital GR cameras, one 28 and one 50 mm, same charger, same spare batteries, same size.
David_Manning
Well-known
Andrea...totally, totally agreed. Even a Ricoh 35mm FoV (23mm?) would have a great perspective.
goamules
Well-known
Very nice, I commend you on your sense of adventure and great photo documentary!