Kiva Stories from the Field

Azerbaijanis don’t smile for pictures. After six weeks of taking pictures of and with Azerbaijanis, I can say this with certainty. Truthfully, it’s driving me a little crazy. I can be having the best time with NorMicro entrepreneurs – I mean, tea and sweets are offered, hands are held, cheeks are kissed, jokes are made, marital status inquiries are made – and once they catch a glimpse of my camera they immediately put on their Serious Photo Face. It’s so frustrating! None of my journal photos even remotely convey the bubbling personality of the entrepreneurs!

Thankfully, I know it’s not just me they use the Serious Photo Face on. I’ve looked at many a wedding album since I’ve arrived and not a single person (especially the bride and groom!) smile for the photos. Wedding parties look like the worst time on Earth.

Recently, I was staying with the family of a young, female employee of NorMicro in the northern town of Khachmaz. We planned to go to the park that evening and take photos. After work, I arrived at the house amid a flurry of activity. The four sisters, an aunt, and a sister-in-law were hurriedly fixing their hair, applying makeup, and changing into dressy clothes. I even put on silver glitter eye shadow they offered me. We were set to take some killer pictures in the park. We had a great time walking through the park and taking dozens of photos, but not a single one of those photos would later indicate that we had a good time! That is, except for the one oddly smiling person in every picture: me.

Since that night of the serious park visit, I’ve been practicing my “Azerbaijani smile” so I don’t stick out in pictures so much! Here’s my best attempt, with NorMicro/Kiva client, Sarfinaz. I should point out that Sarfinaz insisted that I take a photo with her and she had been, up until the second my camera appeared, a vivacious and smiling woman!