Turkey has been my place of residence for quite a long time. It is a multifaceted, unpredictable, very diverse and changing country, where nature differs noticeably from one corner to another.
It is not for nothing that Turkish natural parts are often compared with different countries, such as Switzerland, Maldives, Greece, etc. Over the years, I have traveled a lot and visited different regions, each of which had its own unique features. During these trips, I took many photographs, including various flowers that I saw in different environments. Some of the pictures were taken in the Mediterranean, others in more inland areas of the country, such as Malatya, or in the mountainous areas of the north. In some cases, I remember the exact location well, in others, not very accurately, nevertheless, the photographs have survived, and together they reveal a great natural diversity.
Bougainvillea⬆️
The flowers in these images come from regions with different climates and conditions, even by their appearance it is clear that these heroes are from different magical galaxies, and each of them reflects their native home - the place where they were photographed.
In Turkey, flowers are part of the everyday landscape and are not separated from everyday life. They can be found along roads, in yards, near houses or on natural slopes. They are not always deliberately cultivated: often they grow spontaneously and merge with the surrounding world, without attracting unnecessary attention. Among these beautiful, magnificently visible creations, which are most often depicted in my photographs, is such a popular local flower as “Bougainvillea”, this plant is especially common in the coastal and southern regions of the country.
“Flower of the sun — simply incomparable. I stood there as if rooted to the spot, completely hypnotized.”
It can often be seen on climbing walls and fences, or it decorates balconies and entrances. The images include both lighter varieties such as yellow or cream, as well as more common ones with rich pink and fuchsia hues. Another flower featured in the collection is the Hibiscus, which can be recognized by its large petals and bright colors. In Turkey, it grows mainly in gardens and green areas of warmer climates. Each flower blooms for a short time, but the plant continues to bloom with new ones, creating a constant presence. Along with these more conspicuous plants, there are also more inconspicuous flowers such as Phlox subulata.
It grows low, close to the ground, forming small compact groups. It can often be found along roadsides or in less well-maintained areas, where it naturally blends into the environment. Other wild species include Anchusa, which can be recognized by its small blue flowers and slightly rough stems. It grows mainly in open spaces, meadows and hills, and is an inconspicuous but very common plant in the natural landscape.
My collection also includes sunflowers, photographed both from afar, in large fields along the roads, and up close, with an emphasis on individual flowers. Some of the pictures were taken during trips on the autobahn through the countryside, for example near Aksaray, where the sunflower fields stretch and spread out over large areas creating a yellow paradise. There are also simpler and more common flowers, such as daisies, which are often found in meadows, and marigolds, which can be found near houses and in small cultivated areas, although I photographed mine in a flowerbed that was in a square in Aksaray near a prominent mosque.
The roses appear in more carefully selected colors, adding a familiar and recognizable presence to the ensemble, some from other people's gardens and some given to me. In this story, I do not try to offer detailed botanical descriptions as a professional would do.
Rather, I show how different flowers coexist in urban and natural spaces, without being isolated from their context, and I love to admire and capture these fragile, gentle frames on camera. Together, these images convey a calm and continuous impression of the landscape. Flowers are presented not as exceptional elements, but as a regular and permanent part of the places we pass through, helping to define the atmosphere of different regions.