EYEWITNESS is a photo book that comes with a biographical novel about my journey as a photojournalist, capturing images and tales of humanity amid conflict and turmoil around the world. It reflects not just the visual stories of war, revolutions, and social unrest but also the personal experiences and challenges I faced while documenting history. The book is a testimony to the power of photography in documenting the truth and raising awareness about global issues.

I realized my passion for photography during my teenage years in Iran. Photography became a way to explore and document the world around me, especially during times of political change. Witnessing the impact of imagery on people's understanding of events inspired me to pursue it as a career. An important time in my life was a moment during the Iranian Revolution, when I was shot at because I was carrying a camera. The thought that photos could install so much fear in the powerful only affirmed my determination.

As someone actively documenting the atrocities of the Islamist mullah regime in Iran, my work became increasingly dangerous. I was repeatedly beaten, arrested, my camera smashed. In 1985, I received a warning that my name was on a blacklist and I had to leave Iran to safe my life. Living in exile was bittersweet—it allowed me to work internationally, but I also felt a deep sense of loss and separation from my homeland.

There were countless moments of danger and emotional strain, but one of the hardest experiences was witnessing the suffering of innocent civilians, particularly children, in war zones. These moments stay with you forever, and the helplessness you feel can be overwhelming.

It was not easy, but I found solace in my family and in the purpose of my work—believing that my images could drive change. I also took breaks when possible, to reconnect with nature or focus on personal projects, which helped me maintain perspective.

Both experiences were fulfilling in different ways. Editing allows you to guide and shape narratives, ensuring that stories are told with impact and integrity. However, being in the field is a unique experience—it's raw, immediate, and deeply personal. Each role has its own rewards and challenges.

Photojournalism has evolved significantly with the advent of digital technology and social media. While these advancements have made it easier to share stories instantly, they've also introduced challenges like misinformation and the oversaturation of images. The profession still relies on the commitment to truth and ethics, which remains timeless.

Eyewitness is not my first novel; as an archaeologist I’ve mainly been writing historical fiction. When looking for a new subject, I realized that I had a perfect subject right in front of me, true stories more intriguing and more fantastic than fiction. And they needed to be told. Then came the Covid-19 lockdown in Italy, where we live, and we had plenty of time. Manoocher told me his stories, some of which I had heard before, others were new to me. I took notes and shaped them into a biographical novel.

Please let me reply with a few lines from Eyewitness:

Syria, 2002

He had to pack. He wouldn't need much. National Geographic would be sending the film rolls along with the American colleagues. What was the weather like in Syria this time of the year? He dialed the Syrian phone number Kent had sent him. It rang a few times before a young woman answered the phone. She answered with an “Allo” that could have been Arabic, English, or French.

“Hi, am I talking to someone from the archaeologists' team?” he asked in English.

“Yes, this is the Qatna expedition. I'm a member of the team; my name is Ursula.”

“Hi, my name is Manoocher Deghati. National Geographic is sending me as a photographer to your excavation. I'll be arriving from Kabul next Tuesday and wanted to ask about the weather. Because here it's freezing.”

“Here too, unfortunately. It’s already snowed once. And our excavation house isn’t really warm either.”

“Thanks, I'll pack warm clothes in that case.”

“I would definitely recommend that.”

“See you on Tuesday then!”

“See you on Tuesday!”

And so I had, without realizing it, talked to my future husband for the first time. As a matter of fact, our team from the University of Tübingen had indeed made a great discovery: Bronze Age royal tombs, four chambers hewn into the rock beneath the royal palace that had been destroyed by the Hittites around 1,400 BCE, thus sealing the crypt below, safeguarding it from grave robbers. The subterranean chambers were accessible via a wooden ladder that we had placed into the horizontal shaft that led into the antechamber, where two seated statues of kings guarded the entrance. It was like something from a movie.