Who We Are

As Istanbul Candid Street Photographers, with the power we gain from the synergy that arises from our differences, we want to make our mark in world photography with the moments we capture from the colors, light, and melodic emotions of this geography, and to represent our country with the footprint we leave behind.

Our mission is to bring our country’s street photography to the international level and at the same time to become one of the reference points of street photography in Turkey.

Our approach to photography also reflects our view of life. Our approach to photography is based on the belief that the truth is too extraordinary, simple and complex to be fictionalized, and at the same time beautiful.

We are the runners of a never-ending marathon who have been loving and respecting each other for a long time, running after extraordinary moments in the chaos and unpredictability of the city, in the pursuit of extraordinary moments in mediocrity.

Önder Sertçelik

For nearly nine years, I have been capturing photographs on the streets of Istanbul, where I live, as well as in various cities across Anatolia and Europe.

I take great pleasure in photographing the extraordinary moments of people and animals within the ever-changing rhythm of the streets, the layered relationship between space and human presence, and the textures born from the contrast between light and shadow. However, in the past two years, I have approached street photography with a more conceptual perspective. Every creative process is also a journey of self-discovery—exploring one’s potential, boundaries, and even what lies beyond them. Throughout this journey, my passion for photography has deepened and been enriched by other disciplines such as cinema and literature. I have realized that I can best express myself by capturing streets and people through the lens of symbols that reflect the political, socio-cultural, and psychological layers of our collective memory.

Lately, I have found great joy in creating series that take inspiration from the “stream of consciousness” technique in literature, blending my old and new photographs into fluid visual narratives.

Previously, I participated in group exhibitions at İFSAK, and my project Hatırlama Bahçesi (The Garden of Remembrance) was featured in various newspapers, magazines, and social media platforms. Additionally, some of my photographs have been published and exhibited in competitions and publications such as APF Magazine, Eyeshot Magazine, and Urban Photo Awards.