20 stunning portraits from India by Aycin from Turkey
Aycin is an Istanbul based photographer who has traveled across the world but fell in love with India on her multiple visits to the country. She is our featured photographer this week and I must confess that I have stalked her account on Instagram to get my daily dose of inspiration!
Know more about her and how how she creates magic with her camera :)
So, who is Aycin?
I was born in Bursa, Turkey, being the one and only child of family. I was raised with a lot of care and attention but there are some positive and negative aspects of being the only child. I was longing for a brother or sister I remember but also I guess it gave me the sense of being alone -not lonely- is a great advantage for a vast imagination and ability to create. I am finding in myself a formation coming from my childhood that I am so much interested in human state and humanity and also feel relaxed to approach people maybe because of my being the only child of family. After many years of professional life as a marketing executive I am now more and more concentrated on my photography and also my one big passion which is travelling.
I have travelled almost all around the world, a pity that my photography came afterwards so for many countries I have visited I do not have photos at all. I am based in Istanbul and very lucky to live in this one of the most beautiful cities of the world .
What do you do Aycin? Studying? Working? What else?
After my super busy professional life ended, now I am taking time to travel and be inside of my photography more and more. Getting age is a period which you realise that material things are not so much important as we assume or run after but what more important is the friends and family you have collected all through the way, that is the richness in life to be more humble, more gentle and tolerant and live responsibly towards the planet and people.
Tell us about your childhood...
I was a tomboy I guess, luckily my childhood passed in the small cobblestone streets of neighbourhood full of fruit trees. I remember myself always on the top of a tree or riding my bicycle along the river near home. We were a gang of children very happy and very active and very close to each other. I am now quite sad when I see all children in my country are at home or at least they must find a playground to enjoy the life outside. They are all with their smart phones or iPads and never know to play a peek-a-boo but also I understand that this is the digital age and they build a new context around that. I don't want to sound as a grandma but yes my childhood was much different although it was not very long time ago.
Any major influences in life?
Everyone I crossed paths have an 'impact on my personality sure.I don't believe in coincidences in life, we are all part of a superior plan and all the events that happens to us or the people we walk together for a while has a bigger meaning and lessons for our personalities. I have had difficult meetings for sure but more I had many beautiful and meaningful coincidences I believe.
Tell us more about your photography Aycin...
I am a portrait photographer so my biggest inspiration is human and human state. I am interested in all humanity without any discrimination of age sex or gender. I see faces all the time, not landscapes or lines or graphics only faces and or human conditions. When I intend to take a photo of a person the biggest motivation is to capture his soul, I want them to be relaxed, in their most natural attitudes and show me their souls. Most of the time I have a final outcome of the photo in my mind yes, I can see what will be final photo in my mind.
But above all, I love all my subjects so much, literally I am falling in love with them, I always form a connection before shooting, talking if possible, if not possible then use body language, smile, touch.. I touch them a lot, a friendly touch on shoulder or a kiss to a baby or a hug to an old woman which I love to make all, then they laugh a lot, they get surprised and they open up themselves surprisingly well to take me their photos.
Tell us about your experiences in India...
India is an inspiration and a true love. I have been travelling in India for the last two years and a total 3 times and stayed in intervals like 17 days to one month each time. I have been many remote places because that is what I love to make everywhere I go, to find true genuine people who are conducting their daily lives as usual. India I must say is magical, the richness of culture, the kind and generous people, the colours, the smells, and above all it is still virgin in many aspects which is not destroyed by false modernity. I find a shining magic in Indian people and with each portrait I shoot I am falling in love with them.
As of travelling, it is a roller coaster to be on the roads and in the traffic and I admire and surprised every time for driving dynamics in India but that is also an adrenaline for us foreigners. Also I must say it is quite secure for female travellers, mostly all people are helpful and kind, after a while you feel like you are home.
Tips on your forte - Portrait Photography...
Portrait photography is said to be one of the most difficult discipline of photography and of course as all others it has its own characteristics for shooting. For me it is all about connection. For a good portrait you must be in connection with your subject by all means possible.It is not about make a quick click and go away on your way but more about spend time with them, a few mins minimum to maybe a few hours if you feel like. It is to exchange a few words, use body language, be respectful and be kind. For me the best shots are done when your subject forgets the camera in your hand and focuses just on you. Then the outcome is like they are directly looking into your eyes, not to the camera. the essence of my photography is to capture the souls of each individual I photograph. My followers call me as `"soul capturer" and this is exactly what I am trying to achieve.
For post process I use only LR, and in LR I make only basic editing, I am a purist I prefer my photography in its most natural form.
If someone is visiting Istanbul, would you recommend any special places which are now known to regular tourists?
Istanbul is one of the most wonderful cities in the world and I mean it. As a person who has travelled almost all the world around I can easily say that it is. It is a very cosmopolitan and historic city mixed with the most mind-blowing modernity hand by hand and this makes it very unique in the world. It is a connecting city of Asia and Europe continents with Bosphorus, a natural sea canal.
I think whatever one is looking for from a travel he can find it all here in Istanbul. It is also a great spot for photographers especially for street photography and also for some spectacular landscapes. There are many spots that can be visited for photography purposes for sure.
How about your personal life?
I have a wonderful family whom are supporting my photography by all means and encourage my travels for be away from home for my photography purposes. I find myself very lucky and very proud for having them.
And finally, what is your dream Aycin?
I can change the quote of Van Gogh a little and can say : "I dream my photography and I photograph my dream" . I believe dreams are out folding themselves everyday every moment and they are living in the moment so I prefer to stay present in the moment and enjoy each second with full awareness and happiness, that is my dream.
Know more about her and how how she creates magic with her camera :)
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| Portrait of a young girl from Gujarat |
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| A girl with henna from Rajasthan |
So, who is Aycin?
I was born in Bursa, Turkey, being the one and only child of family. I was raised with a lot of care and attention but there are some positive and negative aspects of being the only child. I was longing for a brother or sister I remember but also I guess it gave me the sense of being alone -not lonely- is a great advantage for a vast imagination and ability to create. I am finding in myself a formation coming from my childhood that I am so much interested in human state and humanity and also feel relaxed to approach people maybe because of my being the only child of family. After many years of professional life as a marketing executive I am now more and more concentrated on my photography and also my one big passion which is travelling.
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| Aycin Bayraktaroglu |
I have travelled almost all around the world, a pity that my photography came afterwards so for many countries I have visited I do not have photos at all. I am based in Istanbul and very lucky to live in this one of the most beautiful cities of the world .
What do you do Aycin? Studying? Working? What else?
After my super busy professional life ended, now I am taking time to travel and be inside of my photography more and more. Getting age is a period which you realise that material things are not so much important as we assume or run after but what more important is the friends and family you have collected all through the way, that is the richness in life to be more humble, more gentle and tolerant and live responsibly towards the planet and people.
 |
| Young girl from Gujarat |
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| A girl from Gujarat |
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| Inside a kitchen in Udaipur... |
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| A Gujarati family |
Tell us about your childhood...
I was a tomboy I guess, luckily my childhood passed in the small cobblestone streets of neighbourhood full of fruit trees. I remember myself always on the top of a tree or riding my bicycle along the river near home. We were a gang of children very happy and very active and very close to each other. I am now quite sad when I see all children in my country are at home or at least they must find a playground to enjoy the life outside. They are all with their smart phones or iPads and never know to play a peek-a-boo but also I understand that this is the digital age and they build a new context around that. I don't want to sound as a grandma but yes my childhood was much different although it was not very long time ago.
Any major influences in life?
Everyone I crossed paths have an 'impact on my personality sure.I don't believe in coincidences in life, we are all part of a superior plan and all the events that happens to us or the people we walk together for a while has a bigger meaning and lessons for our personalities. I have had difficult meetings for sure but more I had many beautiful and meaningful coincidences I believe.
 |
| A girl from Gujarat |
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| Another kitchen in Rajasthan... |
Tell us more about your photography Aycin...
I am a portrait photographer so my biggest inspiration is human and human state. I am interested in all humanity without any discrimination of age sex or gender. I see faces all the time, not landscapes or lines or graphics only faces and or human conditions. When I intend to take a photo of a person the biggest motivation is to capture his soul, I want them to be relaxed, in their most natural attitudes and show me their souls. Most of the time I have a final outcome of the photo in my mind yes, I can see what will be final photo in my mind.
But above all, I love all my subjects so much, literally I am falling in love with them, I always form a connection before shooting, talking if possible, if not possible then use body language, smile, touch.. I touch them a lot, a friendly touch on shoulder or a kiss to a baby or a hug to an old woman which I love to make all, then they laugh a lot, they get surprised and they open up themselves surprisingly well to take me their photos.
Tell us about your experiences in India...
India is an inspiration and a true love. I have been travelling in India for the last two years and a total 3 times and stayed in intervals like 17 days to one month each time. I have been many remote places because that is what I love to make everywhere I go, to find true genuine people who are conducting their daily lives as usual. India I must say is magical, the richness of culture, the kind and generous people, the colours, the smells, and above all it is still virgin in many aspects which is not destroyed by false modernity. I find a shining magic in Indian people and with each portrait I shoot I am falling in love with them.
 |
| An old woman from Gujarat |
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| An old woman from Rajasthan |
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| Rough hands from Rajasthan |
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| A young girl with henna from Rajasthan |
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| Another old woman with folded hands from Gujarat |
As of travelling, it is a roller coaster to be on the roads and in the traffic and I admire and surprised every time for driving dynamics in India but that is also an adrenaline for us foreigners. Also I must say it is quite secure for female travellers, mostly all people are helpful and kind, after a while you feel like you are home.
Tips on your forte - Portrait Photography...
Portrait photography is said to be one of the most difficult discipline of photography and of course as all others it has its own characteristics for shooting. For me it is all about connection. For a good portrait you must be in connection with your subject by all means possible.It is not about make a quick click and go away on your way but more about spend time with them, a few mins minimum to maybe a few hours if you feel like. It is to exchange a few words, use body language, be respectful and be kind. For me the best shots are done when your subject forgets the camera in your hand and focuses just on you. Then the outcome is like they are directly looking into your eyes, not to the camera. the essence of my photography is to capture the souls of each individual I photograph. My followers call me as `"soul capturer" and this is exactly what I am trying to achieve.
For post process I use only LR, and in LR I make only basic editing, I am a purist I prefer my photography in its most natural form.
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| A young schoolgirl from Gujarat |
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| Boy from Jodhpur |
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| A priest from Rajasthan |
If someone is visiting Istanbul, would you recommend any special places which are now known to regular tourists?
Istanbul is one of the most wonderful cities in the world and I mean it. As a person who has travelled almost all the world around I can easily say that it is. It is a very cosmopolitan and historic city mixed with the most mind-blowing modernity hand by hand and this makes it very unique in the world. It is a connecting city of Asia and Europe continents with Bosphorus, a natural sea canal.
I think whatever one is looking for from a travel he can find it all here in Istanbul. It is also a great spot for photographers especially for street photography and also for some spectacular landscapes. There are many spots that can be visited for photography purposes for sure.
How about your personal life?
I have a wonderful family whom are supporting my photography by all means and encourage my travels for be away from home for my photography purposes. I find myself very lucky and very proud for having them.
And finally, what is your dream Aycin?
I can change the quote of Van Gogh a little and can say : "I dream my photography and I photograph my dream" . I believe dreams are out folding themselves everyday every moment and they are living in the moment so I prefer to stay present in the moment and enjoy each second with full awareness and happiness, that is my dream.
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| Portrait from Gujarat |
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| A girl from Gujarat |
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| Another young girl from Gujarat |
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| A young girl from Gujarat |
Sid, this is superb. Am speechless and moved watching each face in those pictures.
ReplyDeleteI agree Shilpa...Aycin is brilliant with capturing portraits :)
Delete,🙏
DeleteAmazing portraits. Awesome post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rupam :)
DeleteVery Interesting and inspirational post!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ignacio :)
DeleteJust Beautiful. Thank You Sir Siddhartha Joshi for share...
ReplyDeleteAwesome photography.
ReplyDelete" Real, very much as is... as Harsh a reality very Humbling and with as much Brave Human Courage & Dignity allowing an Outsider to Portray their Very Existence in Photographing them as they are..."
ReplyDeleteYou could have seen few beautiful places & people also ,all poverty is not only india
ReplyDelete