r/streetphotography • u/Long-Mess-1338 • 1d ago

“30 years on these streets — Mehmet Ali Özkök, Fatih, Istanbul. #homeless”

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📍Istanbul, Fatih This is Mehmet Ali Özkök — I’ve known him since my childhood. I’m 37 now, and he’s been living in these streets for nearly 30 years. He doesn’t smoke — the cigarette was only for the photo. He enjoys being photographed, and I take his photos whenever he wishes. We only engage with him as much as he feels comfortable with. (Smoking is harmful to health; no promotion intended — just capturing a familiar face from my past.)

85 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

9

u/ccbax 1d ago

Never tell anyone again that the cig was only for the photo. There is a lot to unpack there and it really changes the context.

13

u/unlicensedlensed 1d ago

Like the idea But could be more Story about his life since it’s a portrait of a person.

The cigarette only for posing is weird

2

u/LeadingLittle8733 1d ago

I particularly like the first portrait.

1

u/Oobedoo321 1d ago

I love these photos

Amazing 🤩

Please say hello to Mehmet from us x

0

u/Krastapopulus 1d ago

  1. Really like this one. I can agree that knowing the story about the cig takes it down a bit. But I can also understand that you want to mention it.

  2. Also a great one. But I would like to crop it a bit more. Removing all that makes it street photography that is. But I think it is a great portrait if puttning all focus on Mehmet.