Iran’s mosques: Stunning photos showcase their colorful symmetry

By Barry Neild, CNN
Updated 1:07 PM EDT, Mon June 29, 2015
Iranian photographer Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji has compiled a beautiful portfolio of images taken inside landmarks like the Nasir al-mulk Mosque, in Shiraz, Iran.
Photographer's stunning mosque shots —
Iranian photographer Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji has compiled a beautiful portfolio of images taken inside landmarks like the Nasir al-mulk Mosque, in Shiraz, Iran.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji, 23, is a largely self-taught photographer, gaining most of his skills after watching internet tutorials.
Nasir al-mulk Mosque —
Ganji, 23, is a largely self-taught photographer, gaining most of his skills after watching internet tutorials.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
When he's not photographing Iran's great buildings, Ganji studies physics in Babol, a city in Iran's northern Mazandaran province.
Fisheye view of Nasir al-mulk —
When he's not photographing Iran's great buildings, Ganji studies physics in Babol, a city in Iran's northern Mazandaran province.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji says he was inspired to begin his photo project by some images documenting the interiors of the Egyptian pyramids.
Nasir al-mulk: Windows of light —
Ganji says he was inspired to begin his photo project by some images documenting the interiors of the Egyptian pyramids.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
"I wondered if I could take similar pictures of historical sites, and so through my trips all around Iran, I began to find old mosques suitable for taking interior pictures," says Ganji.
Vakil Mosque, Shiraz —
"I wondered if I could take similar pictures of historical sites, and so through my trips all around Iran, I began to find old mosques suitable for taking interior pictures," says Ganji.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Tourists are permitted to take photos in mosques, but tripods and other professional equipment are often forbidden.
Sheikh lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan —
Tourists are permitted to take photos in mosques, but tripods and other professional equipment are often forbidden.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
"Most of the time I had to take care of lots of paperwork, spending several days to get official permission," Ganji says.
Shah Imam mosque, Isfahan —
"Most of the time I had to take care of lots of paperwork, spending several days to get official permission," Ganji says.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji says he's been unsuccessful in his efforts to photograph some mosques as his requests were rejected.
Shah Imam mosque: Panorama —
Ganji says he's been unsuccessful in his efforts to photograph some mosques as his requests were rejected.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji uses fisheye and other wide angle lenses and panoramic tripods to create his photos, sometimes digitally stitching several images to create composites.
Palace of Hashet Behesht, Isfahan —
Ganji uses fisheye and other wide angle lenses and panoramic tripods to create his photos, sometimes digitally stitching several images to create composites.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
While many of his photos focus on mosques, bath houses, palaces and even landscapes feature in his collection.
Kordasht Baths, Jolfa —
While many of his photos focus on mosques, bath houses, palaces and even landscapes feature in his collection.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Much of his work to date focuses on Iranian towns known for their landmark architecture, such as Isfahan and Shiraz.
Aligholi Agha Baths, Isfahan —
Much of his work to date focuses on Iranian towns known for their landmark architecture, such as Isfahan and Shiraz.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
He says he now tries to find old mosques wherever he travels to add to his collection.
Emam Zadeh Hssan village, northern Iran —
He says he now tries to find old mosques wherever he travels to add to his collection.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji says he prefers capturing the interiors of mosques with symmetry, interior columns, good lighting and beautiful mosaics.
Jameh Mosque, Yazd —
Ganji says he prefers capturing the interiors of mosques with symmetry, interior columns, good lighting and beautiful mosaics.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
"I also like buildings that are well known, popular and important," he says. "I enjoy showing them in my own way."
Dome of the Seyyed Mosque, Isfahan —
"I also like buildings that are well known, popular and important," he says. "I enjoy showing them in my own way."
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji's work often involves an early start. "I prefer mornings, as the light is more appropriate and there are fewer people around," he says.
Dolat Abad gardens in Yazd —
Ganji's work often involves an early start. "I prefer mornings, as the light is more appropriate and there are fewer people around," he says.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
He uses a variety of lenses such as fisheye and wide angle to get his results.
Ceiling of Nasir al-mulk mosque, Shiraz —
He uses a variety of lenses such as fisheye and wide angle to get his results.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
His work also involves "post-production" techniques and images are sometimes digitally stitched together to create composites.
Ceiling of the Chehelsotoun Palace, Isfahan —
His work also involves "post-production" techniques and images are sometimes digitally stitched together to create composites.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
While his work has begun to attract international attention, Ganji says it's yet to stir significant interest in Iran.
Carpet repair workshop, Shiraz —
While his work has begun to attract international attention, Ganji says it's yet to stir significant interest in Iran.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji says he's entered his images in Iranian festivals but received no acknowledgment.
Ceiling of Alighapu palace, Isfahan —
Ganji says he's entered his images in Iranian festivals but received no acknowledgment.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Ganji says he's hoping to add images of more historic sites in Iran and also hopes to travel to photograph Jewish and Christian holy sites.
Dome of the Sheikh lotfollah mosque, Isfahan —
Ganji says he's hoping to add images of more historic sites in Iran and also hopes to travel to photograph Jewish and Christian holy sites.
Courtesy Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji
Incredible images capture dazzling symmetry of Iran's mosques

Story highlights

Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji is a physics student from Iran who takes photos inside mosques

Ganji's staggeringly beautiful images show a side of Iran seldom seen outside the country

The 23-year-old's camera skills are largely self-taught from internet tuition videos

CNN  — 

It’s a side of Iran the rest of the world doesn’t normally get to see – the kaleidoscopically brilliant interiors of the country’s intricately designed mosques.

With beautiful mosaics and stained glass framed by powerful architecture, the buildings are astounding.

Their fine detail has been captured in a series of breathtaking photographs by Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji, a 24-year-old physics student from Babol, a city in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province.

What’s equally incredible is that Ganji’s skills behind the lens are largely self-taught from watching internet tutorials. Add to that the difficulties of actually taking high quality photos in mosques, where using equipment such as tripods is heavily restricted.

Ganji says his project to document mosque interiors and other Iranian landmarks began in 2008 after he was inspired by images taken inside Egypt’s pyramids.

See hi-res gallery of Ganji’s photographs

Prohibited equipment

“The photos had aesthetically documented those historical sites and made me highly amazed and inspired,” he tells CNN.

“I wondered if I could take similar pictures of historical sites, and so through my trips all around Iran, I began to find old mosques suitable for taking interior pictures.”

It wasn’t an easy task. While tourists are permitted to take photos, using tripods and the professional equipment Ganji needed to capture his perfectly symmetrical shots in low light is usually forbidden.

“Most of the time I had to take care of lots of paperwork, spending several days to get official permission,” he says.

“This process is even harder than it sounds, and I’ve had several unsuccessful efforts.”

Ganji uses fisheye and other wide angle lenses and panoramic tripods to create his photos, sometimes digitally stitching several images to create composites. Often, his work involves an early start.

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Lack of appreciation

“I prefer mornings, as the light is more appropriate and there are fewer people around,” he says. “In the afternoon, these places are usually crowded, and in the evenings, some of them are closed for praying rituals.”

Ganji says he prefers capturing the interiors of mosques with symmetry, interior columns, good lighting and beautiful mosaics.

“I also like buildings that are well known, popular and important. Although there are many people and tourists taking pictures of those places, and there are numerous images on the internet, I enjoy showing them in my own way.”

While his work has begun to attract international attention, Ganji says it’s yet to stir significant interest in Iran.

“I’ve even sent it to national festivals. Not only was my work not been seen or selected, but I didn’t even receive any appreciation or support from organizations or government.

“In spite of that, I’m sincerely happy that my work is now being seen worldwide and that I’ve been able to show Iran to others through my art.”

Ganji says he’s hoping to augment his image series by visiting more historic sites in Iran and also hopes to travel to photograph Jewish and Christian holy sites.

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