The Mausoleum
One of the places I have photographed in Ankara is Anıtkabir. The symmetrical architecture of our Great Leader’s monumental tomb is truly remarkable. I am always fascinated by reflections and by the presence of young visitors. On a summer day, the symmetrical scenes shaped by the curious and excited gazes of visitors were also captured in my frame.
Faces on the Bus
Since I started street photography, one of the places that has fascinated me the most has been public transportation. Especially buses. Because buses are spaces where people who do not know each other briefly come together in the city, silent yet full of meaning. In this project, I photograph the portraits of people I encounter during bus rides. Faces, gazes, moods always capture my attention. On buses, people are often vulnerable—tired, absent-minded, thoughtful, or simply waiting. To me, that state feels very genuine. In the rush of daily life, we don’t look at each other. But photography makes that gaze possible.
Corona Portraits
In the early months of 2020, the world was overshadowed by an invisible threat. During this period in Ankara, I followed the traces of people confronting loneliness, uncertainty, and hope with my camera. The series “Corona Portraits” is an attempt to capture the emotions hidden behind masks. I focused on people who continued to exist in public spaces during the pandemic. Masked faces, anxious gazes, distanced bodies… Each portrait reminds us how much our relationships with the city and with one another had changed. I observed the spirit of the time—withdrawal, and a quiet solidarity. In this series, my aim was to document the pandemic not only as a health crisis but also as an emotional and social rupture. It stands as a personal archive bearing witness to the resilient side of humanity.
Laundry
When I went out for street photography, laundry—one of the simplest and most intimate aspects of human life—always caught my attention and found its way into my frame. These are some of the photographs I took between 2017 and 2025.
Subway
The subway atmosphere has always intrigued me as a street photographer. Since 2017, I have been photographing the metro. People there are both close to one another and distant at the same time. To me, it is not just a transportation network but a microcosm of the city. I both capture and question urban solitude, diversity, daily routines, and extraordinary scenes.
Fathers and Children
I often see fathers spending time with their children in the streets. The children are usually on their fathers’ shoulders, enjoying the world from a higher perspective. I, in turn, like to capture them from a lower angle. The photographs in my series come from different cities across Turkey, and the project is still ongoing.
National Holidays
National holidays help commemorate events that nations hold dear. Among the celebration programs, what fascinates me most is the public’s cheer and enthusiasm. Moments when people join the festivities as a community and celebrate together often find their way into my frame. These photographs are from the May 19, 2019 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day celebrations.
Chiaroscuro / Light and Shadow
The chiaroscuro technique is a term generally used in painting. Originating from Italian, it refers to light and shadow, and the use of contrast. I enjoy the sense of mystery and tension that emerges in my photographs through the interplay of light and shadow. Whenever I go out to shoot street photography, I always experiment with light and shadow.
Aquarium
When shooting street photography, I love including children in my frame. I have observed how they look at things they see for the first time with amazement and excitement. One day, when I took my daughter to the aquarium, I saw many children there and their enthusiasm deeply moved me. That experience inspired me to create a photo series. The photographs in this series were taken in different cities across Turkey: İstanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, Trabzon… and the project is still ongoing.
Two Faces, One Reflection
This series focuses on twins I encounter in the streets. Amid the crowds of the city, the presence of two people who look alike creates not only a strong visual impact but also invites reflection on identity, belonging, and individuality.
The photographs approach the theme of twinhood not only through physical resemblance but also through shared gazes, synchronized movements, and silent connections. These double portraits, encountered by chance in the streets, bear witness to the randomness of urban life while also evoking the human experience of seeing oneself in another.
Beyond the City Lights: Flash Street Photography
This series was created with an approach that challenges the natural light of the city. The flash suddenly makes ordinary street scenes visible. It reveals the details hidden in the darkness of night, while also creating a surreal effect in daylight. Light here is not just a tool of illumination but a language of expression—highlighting unexpected moments and interrupting the flow of everyday life. The photographs bring forward faces, gestures, and details often overlooked in the fast pace of urban life. Each frame is a frozen collision between city, people, and artificial light. This work is both a nod to the tradition of street photography and an exploration of how light itself can become a storyteller.
Bus Stops: Long Stories of Short Waits
This series, photographed in different cities, views bus stops not merely as points of public transportation but as temporary stages that capture the pulse of the city. I photographed these brief moments of waiting that emerged within the urban flow.
Each frame is a fragment of the city’s rhythm: moments where patience, fatigue, hope, and haste converge in the same scene. This project shows how ordinary stops actually transform into shared sites of urban memory.
This project was carried out in different cities between 2017 and 2025.
© 2025
Ayla Güvenç İmir