Eleven years ago, I embarked on a journey to Istanbul, driven by a desire to immerse myself in a long-term project that would hone my skills as a photographer and help me discover a workflow that truly reflected my inner self. My passion far exceeded my skills, and I found myself eager to capture every moment that crossed my path. It took time to realize that I needed to learn the art of patience, to observe quietly and wait until the moment was right.
This lesson crystallized when I set out to photograph the black dog. For a week, I returned to the same spot at Süleymaniye Mosque, writing my thoughts in my journal, waiting with calm breath for the dog to walk into the perfect frame near the edge of the roof. Day after day, the dog roamed, never quite where I needed it to be. But on the seventh day, as I sat on the mosque’s lookout, pen in hand, I saw the dog moving slowly, and I knew—this was the moment.
The light was just right, and as the dog passed through the frame, I closed my eyes and gently pressed the shutter of my old Polaroid Land Camera. In that instant, I felt a deep connection to my art, knowing deep down that I had captured something special.
