Photography of a War that was a Classroom; Interview with Alfred Yaqoubzadeh

Alfred Yaqoubzadeh was young when he first became acquainted with photography during the 1979 Revolution. As he recounts, he was present as an observer at all the demonstrations of that time, taking photos for himself. This led to his acquaintance with Asghar Bichareh, a cinema photographer who was their neighbor, allowing him to develop and print his photos in his darkroom and benefit from his guidance. Alfred continued his activities by photographing the Iran-Iraq War for three years. He now resides in Paris and has covered many news events around the world through his camera lens over the past 36 years. I sat down with him to discuss his photography during the Iran-Iraq War. How much were you able to photograph from the Iran-Iraq War? The chance I had was that I managed to find a way to contact Dr. Chamran, who was very interested in photography, and he provided me with more opportunities to go to the front lines. The first time, I didn’t go home for six months because you had to be in and out, and you might get arrested at a checkpoint. When did you first go to the front? The day Tehran was bombed, we were having lunch in the Associated Press office when suddenly something flew in the air, and we all ducked. A few minutes later, when we listened to the radio, it was announced that the airport had been bombed. I made my way to Mehrabad Airport and saw everything was destroyed, and people were running. Two days later, when Khorramshahr had fallen, I found a way to get to Khorramshahr and Abadan by bus and truck and started taking photos, but I heard they said those who photograph in these areas are journalists and spies. I had to take a truck and bus back to Tehran. After Chamran's death, I stayed in Iran until 1983. When I saw there was no other way to work and it was very difficult for journalists, I left Iran. Where did you photograph at the front, and what limitations did you face? I had no limitations at the front. Once, the Mojahedin published a series of photos that had no quality and were unclear. Time magazine published them, claiming that Iranians executed prisoners. The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance came to us and created problems for us. I was interrogated for three months, and after it became clear that I had no issues, I returned to the front. But there were no limitations at the front. In the beginning, I had no experience; even when I went to the army, there was no issue. At that time, I was acquainted with General Fallahi, who was the commander of ground forces. Also, when Banisadr was the commander-in-chief, I was able to work at the front through them. Visual report: Eight years of war through the lens of Alfred Yaqoubzadeh. Alfred Yaqoubzadeh first became acquainted with photography during the 1979 Revolution and took photos for himself at all the rallies. He also photographed the Iran-Iraq War for three years. Alfred now resides in Paris and has covered many news events worldwide through his camera lens over the past 36 years. Have you had any official contact regarding the use of your photos? Not now, but during the war, our photos were used a lot. They made posters and put them up in the streets. But the truth is the war has passed, and all the good fighters have been killed. Now some opportunists have come and say how a kafir Armenian child could succeed in documenting the war while we were at the front but have no photos. Some eventually became photographers and work in radio and television and other places and do not respect my work. Some say it’s fabricated and that he made these photos in his kitchen, as it is more of a party issue than a professional one. My photo in Baalbek is painted or displayed on the wall of Hezbollah's command, but they did not ask for my permission. Older people say your photos were in school books, and we liked the photo but didn’t know it was yours. I know part of it is jealousy. You have photographed a lot from the war. What distinguished the Iran-Iraq War from other wars? The number of people involved in this war and all the strange military and mechanical equipment was remarkable. For instance, when Saddam's forces launched Katyushas, they created a desert. You would suddenly see thousands of Katyushas being fired. In large attacks, Iran sent thousands of fighters. The trenches were made with the skin and flesh of humans. Other wars have fortifications, and the forces do not mix. But on the Iranian side, sometimes thirty thousand or forty thousand would attack overnight. It was possible for five thousand or ten thousand to be killed overnight. Typically, in other wars, they proceed tactically and try to minimize casualties. The Iran-Iraq War, as I have read, was more like World War I, not World War II. Both sides sent millions of troops. Europe and the Allies and Germany and Ukraine. But the Iran war was a human war. What is a special image that remains in your mind? An image you wanted to photograph but couldn’t, or you photographed it and now have it? We photographers are always thirsty and want to photograph more. Even if I had photographed the eight years of war, I would still feel I had not done enough. For me, the war was also something new. I don’t exactly remember in my mind what I wanted to photograph and didn’t. I have photos of military issues, war issues, human issues, and the issue of refugees or changes in nature, etc., and I do not expect anything else, but from the start of the war until I left Iran, the war was new to me. Gradually, I recognized the sound of mortars, understood this sound was from cannons, and this was an AK-47. All this journey and path was a school for me, a class.