silhouette istanbul street photography in color by pierre belhassen

Istanbul: To the city A photography project by Pierre Belhassen

“Looking at these pictures is an unsettling play of mirrors. The more I look at them, the more they look at me. They don’t testify, they have nothing to tell, but they still leave their mark.

By taking these pictures I do not mean to photograph life but to breathe life and light into images. Istanbul is much more than a city to me, it’s the home of memories.

A place with multiple borders where my childhood rests. This work is a confrontation, a pictorial quest for lost treasures where I build a bridge into the past to reveal a secret present; in them, time does not exist.

The photographic act offers me the possibility to hold back minute fragments of eternity. Here and now, I stop time to see further and harder.

In an ultimate revelation of the soul, I photograph in the manner that poems are written, trying reveal something within us.” – Pierre Belhassen

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2025 Travel AWARD

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This summer, we’re looking for images that go beyond the picturesque, revealing the true essence of a place. Share your photos that capture the spirit of its people, the richness of its traditions, and the rhythm of daily life. From bustling markets to serene vistas, every compelling narrative is welcome!

*EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT* – Submit by July 15th to receive 50% off on ALL submissions!

 

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