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I was invited by the Turkish Tourist Board to visit Cappadocia in Turkey to shoot an innovative profile of the region with the content of love, culture, and art.
Barely a week before we were due to travel, earthquakes struck regions in the south of Turkey and north of Syria, the consequences of which brought shock around the world. Our trip to Cappadocia was postponed but, with surprising resilience took place a mere month later, although the mood was overshadowed by the ramifications of the horrific earthquakes. Nonetheless, I was able to shoot the beautiful landscapes around Cappadocia, capturing the beautiful rock formations, and the historical and cultural richness of Turkey.
As one of the worst natural disasters in decades the effects of the earthquakes will be felt for years to come. It is obvious that there is a dire need to help the large numbers of displaced and vulnerable families in those areas. I felt that as a fine-art photographer I should help, even if it might only be a tiny drop in the ocean of what is needed. I decided to shoot a special project to raise donations towards funding charities in support of earthquake survivors/victims by selling limited edition art prints at reasonable prices and donate the proceeds to earthquake charities for Turkey and Syria.
My concept for the project was, with the cooperation of the diaspora of Turkish nationals living in the UK, to bring together dancers, artists, theatrical performers, actors as well as, potentially, any victims of the disaster who had found their way to the UK.
I photographed Turkish women, men and children floating through the air, tranquil and serene… peaceful, in marked contrast to those fearful days and nights when the earthquakes struck. The famous Turkish actress Berguzar Korel participated, as did Asya, a child survivor of the earthquake, now living in London. Turkish designer Bora Aksu’s dresses were perfect for this project as his flowy ethereal dresses were my reference to night attire worn when the agony took place.
The initial earthquake happened at night and threw everyone violently out of their beds. The models are floating ephemerally, a metaphor of the earthquake itself. Both female and male models wear Bora Aksu’s stunning dresses. They are by no means shocking or tragic images but are meant to highlight the vulnerability of mankind in the face of the violent forces of nature. The images are theatrical, playful but with marked overtones of darkness