Lenj Iran — Shipyard, boats and crews — Series VIII · Iran

A large wooden lenj under construction in a shipyard on Qeshm Island, held up by scaffolding, with timber offcuts on the ground.
A lenj on the stocks  —  Qeshm Island

About the series

The lenj is the traditional wooden boat of Iran’s Persian Gulf coast: built by hand, and for centuries used for trade, fishing, pearl diving and voyages across the sea.

In 2011 UNESCO inscribed the “Traditional skills of building and sailing Iranian Lenj boats in the Persian Gulf” on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. These photographs were made in June 2017 on Qeshm Island and the nearby coast, on commission for Morning Calm, the in-flight magazine of Korean Air.

PublishedMorning Calm, Korean Air — cover story, August 2017 · Read the article

Mohammadreza Domiri GanjiVIIISeries — Lenj

Plates I to XIII

13 photographs, shipyard, boats and crews

Place
Qeshm Island and the Persian Gulf coast, Iran
Photographs
13
Subject
Shipyard, boats and crews
  1. A large wooden lenj under construction in a shipyard on Qeshm Island, held up by scaffolding, with timber offcuts on the ground.
    Pl. IA lenj on the stocksQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 1 of 13
  2. A young brown calf walks past the stern of an unfinished wooden lenj, which stands on timber posts and stacked blocks on the shore, with the sea behind.
    Pl. IIBelow the sternQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 2 of 13
  3. A close view along the curved planking of a wooden hull, with scaffolding poles beside it.
    Pl. IIIThe curve of the hullQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 3 of 13
  4. Looking up through the timber frames of an unfinished hull towards two men standing at the opening above.
    Pl. IVInside the frameQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 4 of 13
  5. A man in a white robe, white skullcap and sunglasses carries two long split timbers, bound at the base with blue cord, across the shipyard; old wooden hulls lie beached on the shore behind him.
    Pl. VCarrying timberQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 5 of 13
  6. A rusted band saw with two large spoked wheels spans a pair of rails in the shipyard, in front of a small breeze-block hut and a broad tree.
    Pl. VIThe yard’s sawQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 6 of 13
  7. A man in white stands behind a small wooden boat, below the scaffolding of a large hull.
    Pl. VIIIn the yardQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 7 of 13
  8. An older man with a white turban and a grey moustache, in a dark polo shirt and a checked wrap, sits beside a small wooden boat in the shipyard, arms spread and palms open; another man sits behind him, partly hidden.
    Pl. VIIIPortrait in the shipyardQeshm Island, IranView the photographPlate 8 of 13
  9. On the deck of a wooden boat, beside its wheelhouse, a man holds a pair of scissors beside another man’s head, a comb tucked in the seated man’s hair, while a third man stands behind them with one hand on a rope.
    Pl. IXOn deckPersian Gulf coast, IranView the photographPlate 9 of 13
  10. A man in a dark blue tunic sits barefoot on a heap of fishing nets, white floats and round stone weights on the deck of a boat moored among others.
    Pl. XNetsPersian Gulf coast, IranView the photographPlate 10 of 13
  11. A young man stands in the fish hold of a boat, its floor scattered with small silver fish, beside stacked blue tubs, the top one heaped with fish; another man bends over behind him, and a breakwater lined with lamp posts runs across the background.
    Pl. XIThe catchPersian Gulf coast, IranView the photographPlate 11 of 13
  12. A man in a white robe and head cloth stands with both hands on the spoked wheel of a wooden lenj, under its open timber roof; behind him, boats lie at anchor in calm water near the shore.
    Pl. XIIAt the wheelPersian Gulf coast, IranView the photographPlate 12 of 13
  13. Three girls play in the shallow water of a harbour with a block of white polystyrene foam; behind them, large wooden lenjes are moored against a stone breakwater.
    Pl. XIIIIn the harbourPersian Gulf coast, IranView the photographPlate 13 of 13

List of works

  1. Pl. IA lenj on the stocks
  2. Pl. IIBelow the stern
  3. Pl. IIIThe curve of the hull
  4. Pl. IVInside the frame
  5. Pl. VCarrying timber
  6. Pl. VIThe yard’s saw
  7. Pl. VIIIn the yard
  8. Pl. VIIIPortrait in the shipyard
  9. Pl. IXOn deck
  10. Pl. XNets
  11. Pl. XIThe catch
  12. Pl. XIIAt the wheel
  13. Pl. XIIIIn the harbour

A documentary series, published in Morning Calm in August 2017. These photographs are not offered as prints or for licensing.

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