My Scholarship Entry

My Scholarship entry - Down the street of Mardin

Turkey | Sunday, January 13, 2013 | 5 photos

My first camera was a point-and-shoot. I realized that my subjects were not focused like I wanted. My second was a point-and-shoot with aperture settings. I saw the full moon and other things that were not included in my frame. Now, I longed for a wide-angle lens and a dSLR. I met a group of photographers and overheard their conversation. My mental notes came out of their lips and I realized, photographers thought that way too.

I met a group of young boys during a 5km hike.We spoke in my bad 3 week-old turkish. They replied to this stranger and asked about the camera in my pocket. They did not want to be taken, they wanted to photograph me. They half-knelt, the boy shifted his body and then his hands, to get his perfect shot of me. Then it was my turn, I snapped their happy.

I watched a documentary once, about children living in poverty given cameras to document their days. That is exactly what I would like to do with my new-found skills. To let others see them as equals and let these children be a little more human - to feel more, to express more. I want to bring out their happy and capture it in places least expected. I want to reveal the little things, secrets of earth.