Nothing in the World Like Fresh Bread, a photo from Tehran, East

Photographer's Note

Before you tell me that the man's foot is missing, I need to explain that I couldn't move further back since behind me were smorgasbord tables and this friendly baker was wedged in this small space.
For me there is nothing better than the wafting aroma of fresh bread and no person more noble than a baker who with flour, water and maybe yeast, plus a pinch of salt or sprinkle of sesame seeds, ends up feeding families and solitary souls and only makes a profit of a few coins per loaf. The work is tiring and hot.

You need to look at the workshop photos to see something I had never seen before. The oven has pebbles in it which are heated by a blast of fire from a gas burner. The bread sits on top of the hot pebbles and in the process of baking it ends up having little, round perforations.

PHOTO DEDICATED TO SAYEED RAHMAN who also posted a photo of a baker in Morocco.

kordinator, abmdsudi, aliabazari, cagla, mirosu, bukitgolfb301, ourania has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kordinator (8738) 2014-11-11 3:55

Klaudio
Lepa posveta,sa interesantnim fotografijama pekara i detalja iz pekare u iranu.
Odlična fotografija sa isto tako odličnom radionicom.
Prijateljski pozdravi.
Saљa

abmdsudi (95869) 2014-11-11 4:33

Salam Klaudio
A warm and comforting aptly titled photograph! Indeed we can't beat the taste of freshly baked bread and this is as good bread should be. Excellent capture the colours and tones are superb and good texture on the stuff. Equally attractive is the direct eye contact there. How absolutely yummy delicious - that makes me feel hungry too!! Great shot, Congrats
Best regards

sabermonajati (11537) 2014-11-11 8:22

hi klaudio
excellent portrait you captured.and note is interesting.
best regard
saber

holmertz (101988) 2014-11-11 10:15

Hello Klaudio,
I remember with great pleasure the aromas coming out of the bakeries in Iran and Afghanistan and the marvellous taste of this kind of bread, at least if it was really fresh. Now I would worry more about the carbohydrates of the white flour :-(. It's a very nice photo, and I honestly think most of us would be too fascinated by the shape of the bread and the look inside the hot oven to even realize a foot is missing. Anyway, we have to make priorities when taking pictures unless we always carry a super fish-eye lens.
Kind regards,
Gert

sayeed_rahman (6461) 2014-11-11 11:58

That's one and a half feet tall, we call it the "tandoori roti" back here. "Tandoor" is the oven and "roti" is bread. The biggest I have seen is the size of a frisbee. Soft to be dipped in gravy and relished. Are you into into Indian food yet ? Or is just too much of spice and masala ?

That's alright, without the foot. I think bread is that part of the world is harder than here. I can tell you for sure not many Indians will get through that easily. I think it is the flour and the temperature which is responsible.

And hey, I just celebrated my third anniversary, so this dedication comes at a fitting time.

Thank your very much.

Hugs
Sayeed

lousat (138609) 2014-11-11 15:43

Ciao Klaudio,la forma di questo pane и davvero unica ed interessante,ho fatto molti viaggi nei paesi arabi ma non ho mai visto niente di simile.Un lavoro molto accurato che ci mostra il momento nel migliore dei modi e con i due utilissimi WS,complimenti e buona giornata,Luciano

emka (157280) 2014-11-11 23:31

Hello Klaudio, I have made very similar photo, with such a big bread, in Istanbul. And it seems to me that also they made it like this in Armenia. The baker looks proud with it. And such a fresh bread must be delicious.
Warm regrad s MAlgo

kasianowak (17672) 2014-11-12 0:20

Zdravo Klaudio
Wow! What a wonderful series of photos showing the process of making this many people's staple food. Your note reveals additional information about the process and the workers' toil.
One the man's feet is missing btw... Only kidding! ;))
Srdacni pozdrav
Kasia

dekanski (9269) 2014-11-12 10:05

Klaudion,

nemam љta drugo da kaљem, sem - DIVNO!!!

Saљa

aliabazari (21271) 2014-11-12 17:55

Hi dear Klaudio
A good portrait of this man baker. Thank you for sharing

mirosu (16313) 2014-11-13 4:32

Hello Klaudio,
Excellent photo with very nice colors, perfect light, very good clarity. Nicely framed in portrait format. The well-chosen tight crop eliminates all unwanted distractions. Well done.
Very well done.
Greetings,
Miro

williewhistler (16606) 2014-11-13 5:43

Hello Klaudio,
looking at your exposure settings it was pretty dim as well as cramped in your surroundings,none the less you have captured the moment ever so well, I can almost smell the bread.
The whole series shows the fascinating background to the production of bread in Tehran.
Best regards Les.

cagla (4342) 2014-11-13 17:54

Merhaba Klaudio, the pebbles seem very interesting, I've never seen or heard that kind of oven. The bread must be delicious. I'm learning many things about a very close neighbour country from a friend who lives in Australia, doesn't it sound strange? Anyway, that is what I like about TE and your gallery. Thank you.

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2014-11-14 16:34

Hi dear Klaudio, a great world traveler!

Great snap image indeed. His good expression with confidence for his job is so well shared with me. Great light condition is also admirable too.

Have a good weekend! Takero from Tokyo

omid266 (6814) 2014-11-17 19:57

Klaudio,

another really nice and useful text about daily life in Iran,

good portrait, nice text and notes,

also i took some fotos about bakeries in my town and hope for sharing in future,

well done and Thanks!

ourania (51103) 2014-11-18 13:09

Hello klaudio,
another reason why I admire and respect bakers is that they work at night and their work is done when the rest of us wake up and set out, looking for the warm delights they have already prepared. I like very much the warmth of this photo, coming out from the oven, the colours and the friendly smile. The bread the baker is holding is a delight all of us can share. Actually, we can only enjoy it visually and conjure its aroma through your note but I also like to see the humble pride in his eyes. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely day,
Ourania

willperrett (14195) 2014-11-23 7:26

Hello Klaudio

A proud baker with his product! I love these Middle-Easter flat breads, and often make pitta at home. I don't know what this Iranian bread is called: Nan-e barbari maybe? If it were in India it would be Naan, so the name may be similar. Since I retired, I make all the bread we eat at home, so I fully endordse your comment about there being no person nobler!! Yes his foot is missing: but there's plenty of head-room above him! And while I'm in whinge mode, what about the white balance? But hey, I really like this environmental portrait.

Regards

Will

adidas5nb (5743) 2015-05-20 6:32

foot missing or not, i really enjoyed the bread , oops i mean the pic. i love how i can see the inside of the oven and there is a bread inside it. also the pebbles mentioned in your note are visible.
regards
dwaipayan