As we enter into October the weather is finally cooling. Cooling from 35 degrees to a pleasant 28 degrees. We had a tiny bit of rain in September but there are some clouds around finally. Summer here is like a 3 month heatwave, no clouds, no rain, no wind and very little change from day to day, not that I am complaining, but it is nice not wake up with sweat all over.
Covid 19 continues and its sort of old news. Borders and airports are open, but you have to be tested to cross or fly. Numbers keep increasing but nothing has been shut except the Casinos, which is a hard on the economy but not effecting me particularly. Bars and the like are sticking to the rules properly in the fear of being shut, so tables are set well apart and everyone has to wear their masks as much as possible.
So not too much going on this month in terms of photographs, well I say that but mean not as much as I would like. There was a wedding, 2 days out and a tattoo shop. This coming month I have a shoot I am excited about, but it is for publicity so not sure what and when I will be able to show.
So let's start with the wedding.
First thing to mention is that it was a Turkish wedding as apposed to a Cypriot wedding. The format is different and to my mind more fun. It was actually an engagement party, the wedding will be in Turkey in the Esentepe region in 2 years time. I have already been invited to attend!
So this engagement is my building's caretakers daughter. We hadn't met before but her father who pops in for coffee quite often and generally sorts me out flat wise when needed, asked if I would go along. It is not how I like to do things for this sort of event, I usually want a half hour with the couple before the start, and I like to be briefed of the schedule and such, but there wasn't time for all that.
It was a hot night (about 38 defrees at sunset), and the engagement was outside in a community area at the local park. I arrived and to my horror there was an official photographer who came with the music and video package. I could tell right away he wasn't set up properly for a night shoot. I could also tell he wasn't that good, he had no personal manner or a good sense of place. In the end I started directing people for him so that at least they were all looking at one camera.
Anyway despite the conditions, the heat, and the fact I wasn't immediately recognised as the main photographer, I did a decent job for them. They had me over to dinner a couple of weeks ago to say thank you and they all raved about the pictures. I had a look at the other photographer's pictures and there were a few decent shots but many bad ones too. He hadn't even edited the shots or rotated the portrait shots.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© The couple
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© The father and rest of family
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Lots of dancing. This is where the big difference is. At Cypriot weddings in Cyprus the couple stands for hours for people to pin money on them, like below.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© More dancing, they make a big circle and it goes on for hours
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© These Last two are my favourite.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© This one above is the bride's favourite
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©
Onto a day out with Naci and Elias and friend, a computer geek! We headed on the cosat road to the Maronite beach on the way to Akdeniz for fish.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©
Here is a shot of Elias. Did I ever mention that Elias is a musician? I am sure I have at some point. Before moving to Cyprus over 20 years ago, he was a touring session musician playing all over Europe. He plays guitar and piano, but several other things I don't know about. He is currently a music teacher and voice coach but has several projects ongoing.. He writes songs, arranges them, writes out other parts for other musicians. For the last few years he has been involved with an international band called West. They have several singles and met online. One memeber is from Brazil, another from America, one from England and one from Germany. You can view all their songs on youtube, facebook and more from Elias on Bandlab.
Off course it goes without saying that Elias is a very tolerant, multicultural, multitalented individual, which in a word means, he's cool. Do check out his music.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Onto Akdeniz, a good place to eat fish and watch the sunset. In the main village there is a small museum with these figures outside.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© The guy above with Naci is affectionately known as Rambo. Every time we go to this place he is there. He always chats to us and feeds the locval dog to bursting. Nice chap, and actually his family has lived in the region for generations.
Next up is my ex Iranian students (brother and sister). Went for dinner with the whole family and then some pictures on a walk and then back at the flat. Was lovely to see them.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Above shot is my personal favourite.
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©
Finally for this month Naci got a tattoo. We visited the shop twice, first for a fitting anf then for the actual session. He will need to visit again to get it finished. On the day we met a nice English lady that works as a sports therapist. She had a lovely dog called Hunter. She is pictured below with Naci.
Find the tattoo place here and the sports therapist
on instagram
Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© That is Orhan who came along to support Naci.
So that's it for this month. Thanks for reading. A few more shots in the album here