QASHQAI NOMADS

QASHQAIE NOMADS, IRAN

In the highlands of Fars Province, Iran— between Shiraz, Firuzabad, and the slopes of the Dena Mountains – the Qashqai people have lived for centuries, moving with the seasons through a land of wild beauty and silence. Known for their finely woven carpets, sharp horsemanship, and strong tribal identity, they are among Iran’s most culturally rich nomadic communities. Their language, Qashqai Turkish—a Southwestern Oghuz Turkic language—is a vital thread of their identity, carried through song, storytelling, and daily life. This gallery is a quiet tribute to their enduring spirit, echoing the same reverence captured decades ago in Lords of the Mountains by Marie-Thérèse Ullens. Through daily rituals, migration scenes, and portraits steeped in pride and memory, these images offer a glimpse into a way of life shaped by wind, stone, and tradition.