In this episode of Talking Frames, Tim is joined by London-based Iranian photographer, researcher and visual artist Amin Yousefi. Originally trained as a documentary photographer in Iran, Amin's practice has evolved into a research-led exploration of photography, memory, history and archival practice. Amin has rapidly gained significant international recognition as one of the most exciting emerging voices in contemporary photography. His work has been exhibited widely across Europe and beyond, he was named a Foam Talent 2024–25, received the Royal Photographic Society's Award for Achievement in the Art of Photography (Under 30), and his first monograph, Eyes Dazzle, is published by Luhx Press with an essay by renowned photography writer and curator David Campany. Growing up in Abadan, a city profoundly shaped by the Iran-Iraq War and the country's oil industry, Amin developed an acute awareness of how landscapes, personal histories and political events become embedded in collective memory. These formative experiences continue to influence his work, which examines the ways photographs preserve, conceal and transform history, inviting viewers to look beyond the obvious and reconsider familiar narratives. The conversation centres on Amin's acclaimed project Eyes Dazzle, which began with a simple but remarkable discovery. While closely examining published photographs from the 1979 Iranian Revolution with a magnifying loupe, he noticed individuals within the crowds looking directly back at the photographer rather than at the unfolding events. Those overlooked gazes became the foundation of a project that reactivates archival photographs, revealing stories and relationships that had remained hidden in plain sight. Rather than altering the original images, Amin isolates these moments to encourage a new way of seeing history and the people who lived through it. Tim and Amin discuss the ethical questions surrounding the use of archival photographs, with Amin explaining why he considers his work to be a collaboration with the original photographers rather than an act of appropriation. They explore how historical photographs can be continually reinterpreted while respecting their original context, and why archives remain living spaces capable of generating new meanings decades after images were first made. The conversation also examines the realities of being an Iranian artist working internationally. Amin speaks candidly about the challenges of representing Iranian culture in Western institutions, the expectations often placed on artists from politically complex regions, and his desire for discussions to remain focused on photography, artistic practice and visual culture rather than reducing artists to political commentators. Along the way, they discuss documentary photography, vernacular archives, the power of close observation, the role of memory in photographic practice and the importance of slowing down to truly look at images. Amin also shares insights into his forthcoming monograph Eyes Dazzle and introduces his latest project, Defensive Readiness, which combines archival research with emerging technologies including 3D scanning. This is a thoughtful and deeply engaging conversation about photography's unique ability not simply to document history, but to continually reshape how we understand it Eyes Dazzle Luhz Press Amin Website Amin Instagram Talking Frames Instagram