Samples of First Shots - 2008

Hi again, 

So here we are with my second post. I am still very excited and hope this will last forever. I will share with you 3 photos today, back dated to 2008. After I bought my very own camera and gears (lenses, flash, cards, tripod, bag etc.), I signed up to Muammer Yanmaz photography course in May 2008. After 4 months of training (2 months beginning + 2 months advanced levels) I started to undertstand how to control my camera according to the lens on it and the light in the environment. I am never a fan of using flash every now and then. I use it in special occasions, like when I want to lighten up the subject in a back light position.

These photos and the first one are taken after the beginning classes. 

This one was taken on 29 August 2008, at a live concert at Taksim, Istanbul. I remember how nice the music was. The clarinet sound always amazes me, I love it!  

The shop window of a typical Turkish restaurant on Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul, Turkey (02.10.2008). You can see pot meals, döner, chicken, pasta, prices of some meals, the chefs, customers on the line etc. Rush hour at the restaurant. It is said that approx. 3 million people walk along the 1,5 km long Istiklal Avenue. This number is so big, it is not a wonder that as a photographer you can find "a lot" to shoot!! Just imagine. Hundred of streets crossing Istiklal Avenue, leading you to old and mystic dark roads. Thousands of bars, discos, shops for every type of person. Nevertheless, 3 million people have to be fed up every day!! :)

Many thanks to my teacher Muammer Yanmaz again, who has taken some photographers (including me) with him to a Down Syndrome Center at the European Side of Istanbul on 27.12.2008. We took some photos for the center so that they could use "professional" shots in their campaigns etc. For them, we were professionals, equipped with big fat camera, lenses and flashes on top of cameras. After that, I thought that we could be more careful. Minimizing the equipment and spending more time with the families would be more better. 

Actually, that was the lesson for us I guess, because I became a person more taking time with the environment than trying to shoot everything around you all day long. Now, I try to take photos that reflect not only that specific time, but also gives the feeling of everyday. I mean even if you look at it after a certain of time, you should like it. There should be something that makes you feel good when you look at a photo every time.