Traveling to Persepolis in the 1850s required a combination of diplomatic permission, logistical planning, and physical endurance. Pesce transported bulky photographic equipment through long stretches of rugged terrain, relying on assistants, pack animals, and goodwill from local communities. His supplies included glass plates, chemicals, a portable dark tent, and the heavy wooden camera typical of the early collodion process. The technical challenges were immense: controlling exposure times, protecting chemicals from heat and dust, and developing negatives on-site before they could dry or decay.
