A dark day

Waking up in a strange mood, as if I have been sleepwalking all night and images cut through my vision of past things or dreams? Lost in thoughts puffing at the morning's cigarette, and sipping my coffee with the sun creeping in from my half closed window. There s life out there, it crosses my mind but whats for me? It is one of those moments in the day that I do not feel anything but a loss. To express it in words or even in pictures how is it possible?
When I photograph I feel alive and its like a drag. I want more, I need more. To get away, to break free from complacencies that stupify my being. To learn and explore and play like there is no adulthood in me. Like when I hold the camera and everything is transformed.

A walk by the bridge

I am in Istanbul with the actor Takis Chrisikakos, I used to watch films of him and felt obliged to take some pictures of him. It was my own assignment; I could do what ever I wanted to. I always like to spend time with my subjects, getting to know them and understand them or even built an image that I have in my mind of them, and how I perceive them. I want to go deeper, to scratch the surface. I am not interested in the stylish glamorous portraits that most magazines require. He was happy to do it. I was surprised as most of the people working in the arts are very conscious of their image and how they will portrayed in the media. We walked and I looked for the light. I asked him to act for me, and pretend I was not there.....

The Greeks

We visit a greek's school lunch time. The children run happy in the big old room that functions as a dinning room, playing and teasing each other in their school uniforms. They travel me decades past in the 50's when life was different, simpler, maybe. There is a nostalgia in the air, maybe for my childhood.

Grey Wolves

Young members of the Turkish Nationalist Party "Grey Wolves"

In the night I visit the notorious Grey Wolves organisation in Istanbul. I find them suspiciously open and inviting. Nevertheless, happy to enter in their domain, I drink many teas and listen to their doctrine at length, until my moment arrives. With very little at hand I am rying to capture the atmosphere. Kemal is looking at you from every corner in every room. I feel like getting out of there. The rooms too small and the ceiling too low. Always felt a fascination for symbols and decorum, maybe because I dislike them in my life. This time time felt scared

Instanbul should learn from me

Ara Guler, Photographer, Istanbul

A great guy, too old but much too witty. And a great photographer too. Talked for hours and listened to his stories and saw his work. Inspiring time in Istabul. Makes you go out and capture the city with your camera. Long live Ara.

Instanbulu

To have reached the edge of Europe, to have entered a city full of history and myths, to smell the fog in the early morning and set my eyes on the immobile Bosphorus, that was delightful to say the least. I told myself that this is it; a city to live and dream. A city that brings your senses and emotions alive.
I had 5 days to see and feel things and work. No time at all to understand to go beneath the surface. I promised my self, I 'll be back. I m running out of time. I meet great people, share beautiful moments and I appreciate them in warm atmosphere, sharing views, ideas, dreams. We promise to keep in touch, that we should be friends. I feel so full of life.