My adventure began when I was very young, in my father's carpentry workshop. My love for creating was ignited when I learned that I could make great things from small pieces of wood. While I occupied myself in the workshop, I would constantly draw. When I got my first computer at the age of 14, I became curious about what I could create on it, and I started tinkering with it and making things on the computer. The video below is an example of the work I did when I was 14, trying to learn After Effects. :)
Because my camera was a simple webcam, I couldn't record high-quality videos. So I found a solution by recording and editing game videos. This way, I could save high-resolution images on my computer. I played games and edited these game videos until I graduated from high school. The video below is one I edited 10 years ago when I was 17.
University time arrived. Dreams of the New York Film Academy; reality: Dokuz Eylül University, English and German Translation Department. Sometimes life makes choices, and you live them. But getting the best out of those choices is still in your hands. Of course, my love for creating didn't stop when I went to university at 18. I almost didn't eat or drink for a year, saving up money with my scholarship until summer to buy my first camera: a Canon 500D. And then what did I do? One day, I gathered everyone in the neighborhood—kids, friends, everyone. The local grocer became our studio sponsor and gave us his storage space. We cleaned it up and started using it. The tailor became our green screen sponsor. We got a green screen from him for the effects we were going to do. The electrician provided the lighting, and thus our studio was fully prepared. For those who are curious, I'm leaving a small collage of my memories from this studio below.
Everything was great until my laptop fell and broke during a shoot. We couldn't find a sponsor to repair it, so I couldn't get it fixed for three months, and our shoot was interrupted. That was the second blow after the New York Film Academy. The Yenicuma Film Academy ended before it even began. After that, I tried to pursue photography. When I got accepted to the Erasmus program while I was studying, the idea of taking photos in Europe sounded great. So I took my bottle cap 18-55 lens and my 500D camera and went. I went to school during the weekdays; I traveled and took photos on weekends. I think that's how my first real travel adventure began. Here are a few photos I took during these trips:
After that adventure, it was time to upgrade my equipment and do better work, but that wasn't easy at all as a student, so it didn't happen. I experienced another disappointment at that point. I gave up. I said, "I guess these things aren't going to work, there's no point in forcing it." When things reached that point, I focused on my field of study and alternative jobs. I finished my translation degree and also got my foreign trade diploma from distance learning. I had two diplomas and I was ready to become a businessman. I got a job and started working. I went from one trade fair to another, from one client to another, but after a while I found myself giving my dreams another chance and saving money for a new camera. I guess no matter what you become in life, you can never fool what's inside you. I'm also sharing a few photos from that business persona.
Finally, I got my second camera. My second camera and lens: Canon 6D and Tamron 15-30 Lens. Now let them worry about that. :) I tried to continue where I left off with visual arts. Every weekend I went and explored places; I took photos. I tried to learn new things to improve myself morning and evening. Between us, I even watched educational videos at work because all this excitement was meaningless if I couldn't improve myself. I camped in the places I visited, took photos and videos, and I continued doing this for almost a year. Here are some of those shoots:
As time went on, I thought I was improving my filming skills. It was time to take a risk. What was the risk? Quitting my job and pursuing these opportunities. I needed to step out of my comfort zone. But it wasn't easy. Thinking about the next month is probably the biggest test for people today. It wasn't much different for me. I tried a few times but couldn't. I emailed many places, submitted my work, but got no response. Surprised? :) Just as I was lost in thought, one day I got a reply from one of the places I'd messaged. Their reply wasn't very clear. There was nothing definite. They just wanted to meet. But for some reason, it felt like a sign to me, and I quit my job. I didn't want to know if they would respond. Believe me, sometimes a spark is all we need. I quit my job. I didn't want to know if they would respond. A question for you: If you were told to go to an island, burn the boat you arrived in, and build a ship from the materials you find there for your next destination, would you burn the boat? Especially if you didn't even know if those materials were on the island. Many people probably wouldn't burn it. Maybe they wouldn't even go to the island. That's the logical thing to do. Because uncertainty is one of humanity's greatest fears. I burned that boat there that day. I went, I talked. It was quite exhausting, wondering if it would work, if it wouldn't, if it might, what if it did. But in the end, I gathered the materials on the island and started building my ship. This ship was important because with it I would sail further. So I got my first job and started working. I continued for a year, and of course I didn't stop. I never said I was completely ready. I improved myself whenever I had time, enrolled in a master's program, and a whole year passed by. Here are a few pictures from that year:
Everything was going well. I loved my job. I could have reached a point of fulfillment. I could have continued like this. But one of the saddest things for a creative person is reaching that point of fulfillment and repeating themselves. What more could I do? I think aloud: I love my country, creating and contributing to society with my creations is one of the most satisfying things, I know languages because of my education, I love nature. I repeatedly asked myself what I could do with what I had. I found the sum of my thoughts: to show the world the beauties of Türkiye using my advantage of knowing languages, thus benefiting society and leaving something behind. Because I believed that trying to enrich a country and its people, rather than a boss, was a more noble goal. I think this was the most influential thought in getting my first job. In pursuit of this goal, I started my latest project, "Show Me Türkiye," and I am still traveling all over Türkiye, filming for this project. Meanwhile, I continue with my other work. This is my Show Me Turkey project and my other current projects:
I started this adventure with my 2 megapixel computer camera, when I was 15 years old.
At the age of 18, I tried to take the photography to the next level by puchasing an entry level professional camera in the first year of university.
The feedbacks around me have supported my aim of being a travel photographer. With the projects I have done, I want to show the beauties of the places I have been to especially my country Turkey. For me Turkey is a world of its own. It gets more and more beautiful as I discover it. I am willing to show this wonderland to my people and the rest of the world. This is a responsibility I see fit for myself. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me for this purpose.
MY ADVENTURE
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