PROJECT HOPE - PHASE 2

Project HOPE is a photography project to create awareness in Mental Health again and raise donations for the Mental Health Foundation. On Project HOPE, I photograph dancers in lockdown. It is in a way, a documentary project, but I also want to create a positive perception to the situation we are in. There is always hope. There is always a joy in life. So I thought photographing dancers would fit perfectly in presenting this.

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As a photographer, dance doesn't only fulfil an artistic expectation, but also gives me hope to overcome challenges that ties us down. It is fascinating to witness how the hard work of a dancer results with such an elegant and flowing outcome. In that point, Project HOPE, unites with the positive perception of the dancer, whom overcomes the struggles and speaks out a universal language of joy. Space and time doesn't matter. While dance itself evoke to freedom, dancer is the hope. 

When we feel alone, and facing with struggles, I believe that the dancer can inspire us for progress. I'm trying to express this with the photographs in this project.

On Project HOPE, I started photographing only local junior dancers and dance students based in Wilmslow, avoiding unessential travel according to the previous guidelines. After the ease of the rules this week, I expanded the project a little bit further outside of Wilmslow. Thanks a lot for all the support of yours to carry this project so far. It was so much fun to photograph the junior dancers and dance students. And we had some fantastic photos, create lovely memories together, whilst helping for a good cause.

And now the project started a new phase and going to continue with Professional Dancers only! From now on Professional Dancers will be photographed at different outdoor locations in Cheshire and Manchester for Project HOPE. I will be writing a new blog about this new phase and sharing the beautiful photographs of dancers. We already had a photoshooting with professional dancer Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance, dancer Anna Papatheodorou / registered RAD ballet teacher / Noodle Performance Arts Cheshire / Fuschia School of Dance and Emma O’Hara / RAD registered and ISTD qualified dance teacher / teaches at Ambitions Dance School.

Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance

Emma O’Hara / RAD registered and ISTD qualified dance teacher / teaches at Ambitions Dance School

Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance

Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance

Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance

Anna Papatheodorou / registered RAD ballet teacher / Noodle Performance Arts Cheshire / Fuschia School of Dance

Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance

Anna Papatheodorou / registered RAD ballet teacher / Noodle Performance Arts Cheshire / Fuschia School of Dance

Project HOPE - PHASE 1

Yesterday my mood was on downwards. Almost as cloudy and grey as the weather. 
As a busines owner, I'm used to mood rollercoaster, but white in the lockdown and the uncertainty for the future, it gets worse and hard to manage sometimes.
When this comes, I always try to hold on to Photography. 
Photography has never been a job or just a way to make money for me. It's a language that gave me a voice. A way for me to communicate with the world outside, and with my inner self.
It is something I can always rely on. 
When I started Project HOPE this week, I didn't plan how it will go! Where it can go!
I just started.

Shortly I will write bit about the project here:

Like everyone, I had lots of plans and hopes for 2020. 
But we all found ourselves in this unusually hard situation that we couldn't of imagined. 

"Fear" suddenly became the main actor in our lives. Fear for our health, fear for our financial status, fear for the future... Fear for not being able to see our loved ones again.

Besides the physical health issues the COVID-19 pandemic has created, our mental health is also being threatened. People already struggling with mental health issues, found themselves having to deal with this new stress of the lockdown.  Including the youngsters.

As a photographer, I wanted to do my small part in supporting the community in the current situation that we all are in. So, I decided to convert a future photography project of mine and fit it to the current climate: This is how Project HOPE came to life. 

Project HOPE is a non profit photography project to create awareness in Mental Health again and raise donations for the Mental Health Foundation. On Project HOPE, I photograph dancers in lockdown. It is in a way, a documentary project, but I also want to create a positive perception to the situation we are in. There is always hope. There is always a joy in life. So I thought photographing dancers would fit perfectly in presenting this.

As a photographer, dance doesn't only fulfil an artistic expectation, but also gives me hope to overcome challenges that ties us down. It is fascinating to witness how the hard work of a dancer results with such an elegant and flowing outcome. In that point, Project HOPE, unites with the positive perception of the dancer, whom overcomes the struggles and speaks out a universal language of joy. Space and time doesn't matter. While dance itself evoke to freedom, dancer is the hope. 

When we feel alone, and facing with struggles, I believe that the dancer can inspire us for progress. I'm trying to express this with the photographs in this project.

On Project HOPE, I started photographing only local junior dancersjunior and dance students based in Wilmslow, avoiding unessential travel according to the previous guidelines. After the ease of the rules this week, I expanded the project a little bit further outside of Wilmslow. Thanks a lot for all the support of yours to carry this project so far. It was so much fun to photograph the junior dancers and dance students. And we had some fantastic photos, create lovely memories together, whilst helping for a good cause.

And now the project started a new phase and going to continue with Professional Dancers only! From now on Professional Dancers will be photographed at different outdoor locations in Cheshire and Manchester for Project HOPE. I will be writing a new blog about this new phase and sharing the beautiful photographs of dancers. We already had a photoshooting with professional dancer Rachel Maffei / co-director of Coalesce Dance Theatre / dance teacher at Aspinall Academy of Dance and dancer Anna Papatheodorou / registered RAD ballet teacher / Noodle Performance Arts Cheshire / Fuschia School of Dance. 

Here is some photographs we had taken with them.

Of course still keeping the social distance on the photoshootings, acting with in the guidelines, not risking anyone, including my self and my family.

You can donate for Mental Health Foundation via the link below.

YOU CAN DONATE HERE.

Thanks to everyone who is giving their support and contributing with this project.
Means a lot.

You can do your donations via gofundme link above but I will keep the main post on my Facebook page too, which has a link via Facebook that already got some donations.

Here you can find some of the junior dancers and dance students photographed on the first phase of Project HOPE.

The Dancers

As a photographer and combining these two arts; dance and photography is an increadible journey.

Here you will find a little start from my dance photography.

Do you know why professional photos are important for your business?

Today, not only high rank company CEOs, but almost everyone who owns a business are incredibly accessible, you and your staff are the AMBASSADORS of your BUSINESS / BRAND. Professional portraits are more important than ever now, to be used both offline and online. First impressions are crucial! Even more so in this modern world of social media, it's even more crucial.

Here are a few more reasons why you need professional photographs for your business:

1. Your photos REPRESENT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS. Unprofessional, bad quality photos will communicate the same about you and your business.

2. "CONTENT is KING!" Never forget that Photographs are a powerful and versatile form of content!

3. Photos can create ENGAGEMENT on different platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn pages. You can also use them offline, as in brochures, leaflets etc.

4. The photos are the MARKETING SHOP WINDOW for your business. The areas where you can use your photographic shop window are endless.

5. Your customers want to get to KNOW you. Photos of you, your team, your business are a good way to create a connection with your customers.

6. Optimised photos can help on the VISIBILITY of your website on a Google search.

Thats why, when it comes to deciding business expenses, professional photography should be on the top list. Wouldn't you agree?

A Christmas Runaway

New Year Eve is always a big deal for me. Every December, since my childhood, I am filled with excitement, joy and hope. To be honest, Christmas is something new in my life, but as a concept of celebration, it mixes with my sense of celebrating Winter solstice and the New Year, and of course the tales of Father Winter (Kis Baba). As every other “special” day, I don’t like it’s commercial wrapping, but I take it as a time for special ones, to be with loved ones, to embrace life and love.

This Christmas, with a last minute decision, my husband and I decided to go away for a few days, with our 20 month old son. Snowdonia was always in my head since I moved to UK, so we booked a hotel in the West cost of Snowdonia, a lovely seaside village, Barmouth.

Our hotel, The Bae Abermaw Hotel, was up on a hill, facing the Barmouth Bay. It’s a Victorian stone building, cosy and modern, and in a great location. We enjoyed the beautiful view from our room, and happy to have more than enough space for our toddler to play around. As becoming a parent after 40 made me a bit fussy and picky, I was pleased with the spacious room, huge bed and the very clean room. (Yes, it even passed my finger test!)

Before having my son, I never cared a lot about the hotel rooms I stayed in. If it's clean and food is good that was fine for me, as I was coming to the room only to sleep. My friends know I can walk nonstop for 10-11 hours, especially if I'm visiting a new place, to see and to do the most of it. But when you have a toddler with you on a trip, with needs, and tantrums, and not very strong legs, you have to adjust your priorities. So, we spent more time in the hotel than usual, going for shorter walks and try to avoid tough nature walks. Luckily, Bae Abermaw Hotel offered a homely environment that we really enjoyed as a family.

We had our traditional Christmas meal at Bistro Bermo, a tiny restaurant in the village, which was fantastic! If you visit Barmouth one day, this restaurant is a must go!

The village is bigger than we expected. It has the traditional seaside village feel, but not in an abondened way. Nice period buildings, encircled by a lovely scenery and nature. Sea, beach, tides and mountains came together with low clouds and an incredibly peaceful scenery. The Barmouth Bridge was like a necklace over the water, where you can have a walk beside the railway, enjoying the view. As winter adds it's own charm, the view was breathtaking from the bridge. I can say it was my favourite part of the village, whilst I took most of my photos here.

The second day we felt a bit more adventurous and tried to have the Panaroma Walk, which was offering a stunning view of both the sea and mountains on top of the hills. We couldn't manage to reach to the very top, as it was a bit dangerous to walk with a toddler. Because of the season, the path was wet and even partially swamped, and the last bit was very steep, narrow and rocky. Still we managed to reach bits of the amazing view up there. And left us with wet sweaty coats (the bottle of wine from the night before is guilty of this) and achy legs of old age. (Hubby was a bit grumpy for a while though! As he always says, I again picked a steep hill to climb.)

If you’re looking for a little winter runaway, Barmouth is only around 2 and a half hours drive from Wilmslow. In summer time it turns into a much more touristy area, so in winter season you can have the silence and peace you’re looking for.

On our visit, I think the only thing missing was, the Snow!

Hidden Town Saint-Cirq Lapopie

During my trips to France, always been surprised with the little medieval villages. Just like Saint-Cirq Lapopie. You can’t stop yourself taking pictures one after another. You want to absorb everything there, to keep it all in your mind all the time.

The medieval town of Saint-Cirq Lapopie is really one of the most beautiful historical villages in France. The villages history goes back to 13th century and got its name from the feudal Lapopie dynasty, one of the dominant families in the area. The families of Lapopie, Gourdon and Cardaillac shared the Fort of Saint-Cirq Lapopie in the Middle Ages. The Fort was abandoned by the lords after 16th century.

It’s not only the village that is beautiful, but also the “drive” to it. Driving towards the village, you are isolated, one side the river of Lot and the other side, the straight hills. Then suddenly you become amazed by the view of Saint-Cirq Lapopie, perched on the cliffs of the riverside.

A beautiful village hidden in the rich nature of France.

With its narrow streets, arcades and beautiful houses, Saint-Cirq Lapopie has an unspoilt texture of medieval. The first thing that catches my eye is the fortress. Below the fortress, the beautiful houses with stone and wood facades welcome visitors.

With in the narrow streets, there are small shops and restaurants. You have to try the deserts, believe me, you will regret it if you don’t.

After a walk in the narrow historic streets of the village, if it’s not that hot anymore and you’re still full of energy, try and climb the stairs to the ruins of the Fort. And do not forget, climbing up always comes with its benefit: The beautiful views.

When you reach to the highest part of the rock, where the Lapopie part of Fort was built, you will see the amazing view of Lot valley and the steep-sloped tile roofs of the village. It is a kind of view that keeps you alive, reminds you to be grateful of life. Not only the historic spirit, but also the nature, worth keeping the image of this view in your mind. That’s the place, where your camera will work more.

France A Fairy Tale

A couple of years ago, I was one of the people, thinking that France is all about Paris and Riviera. It was before I met with another face of France. Midi-Pyrenees and UNESCO World Heritage areas. If you admire the old world, thousand years old building, sites… you should visit these places.

Midi-Pyrenees / Aveyron / Conques / France – Photo: Senem Peace

"Do fairy tales breathe only in stories, times left far behind, or places never existed?

Time will come and these times would be far behind…

And this places would wither away, as if they never existed before…"

Midi-Pyrenees / Aveyron / Conques / France – Photo: Senem Peace

South of France, even though brings Medditerranean, romantic beaches and wealthiness to mind, is an important stronghold for world heritage. The footprints of past lays from Prehistoric caves to Medieval towns in this mistical territory. Standing between Atlantic and Medditerranean, South of France carries a generous nature, where the cool breeze from Pyrenees and Spanish sun meet.

Midi-Pyrenees / Dordogne Valley / France – Photo: Senem Peace

Midi-Pyrenees / Dordogne Valley / France – Photo: Senem Peace

Midi-Pyrenees / France – Photo: Senem Peace

South of France is one of the best destinations for the ones, who love to make road trips also. Especially curved woodland roads through the valleys offers amazing driving experience. While driving through the nature, get ready for a village pupping up with it’s unspoilt texture and taking your breath away.

Midi-Pyrenees / Dordogne Valley / France – Photo: Senem Peace

When you drive away from the coast to inside France, you step into an unspoiled land of history, a setting of a fairy tale. The narrow streets reminds you the story books you’ve read about Medieval. Some details in the timeless images all around, which seems like belonging to your own life, bears you dreaming.

Midi-Pyrenees / Dordogne Valley / France – Photo: Senem Peace

Why travelling is so intriguing?

Especially in the last decade, travelling became a hot topic all around the world.

Of course, to travel has always been something to be admired, and travellers were kind of heroes in times past. But today, after the rise of social media and easier access to cheaper travel, travelling became something not only to dream of, but also something reachable. Buying tickets for flights, booking for accommodation, communicating with people etc. is much easier and affordable now. It’s more appetising with all the pictures and posts that reach us through our mobile phones, laptops…

Saint Petersburg - Russia / Senem Peace Photography 

Now, lots of people have many experiences to share with others. And they share, share and share…

This might be seen as an overconsumption. But on the other hand, it shows us that travelling is a strong need, a desire. The demand for it is so big, that the possibility to become bored of it, is something very far. The world, still needs to be discovered.

Saint Tropez - France / Senem Peace Photography

But, why is travelling so intriguing?

It might be the desire to ‘discover’, in a plain way. In a bad way, the instinct to conquer, which lays beneath our human genes. In a good way, the seeking of knowlegde, understanding who “we” really are. On the other hand, superficially, might be the need to say, “I was there” only, as we witness millions of tags and posts queering for that.

Solomon Temple - Buxton, UK / Senem Peace Photography

Whatever it is for, travelling makes us feel good. We find the opportunity to break the loop of our lives. This loop is not only our jobs, or our environment but also, all kind of routines. While travelling to new places, we step into a new life cycle of different people, different cultures, different climates. Witnessing different lives and dimensions on art, history, cousine, culture… all feeding our souls. Let us make the correlation between them and our lives, pointing the differences and similarities.

Also, we discover that, not only the similarities that make us closer, but also the differences.

Nicaea - Turkey / Senem Peace Photography

When was the last time you looked back to your first years in business?

When I look back to the first years of my working life, it seems like another Age. I was only 21 when I started working as a photo journalist, on one of the biggest daily newspapers in İstanbul, Turkey. I didn't even know what I was really doing. I've been to live concerts, press meetings, interviews, social events, protests... I saw many different kind of lives and many different kind of events; from rich to poor, presidents to prostitutes, stars to humble artisans, from festivals to riots... All created a big impact on my perception of life at that young age.

Unfortunately I wasn't that wise to keep the photos from that time for my portfolio. I kept a few, but they are digitalised so badly, the quality has been lost, so unfortunately the images are horrendous. Those were the days of non-digital photography. We were using black & white negative films or dia positives. There was dark room for the black & whites, but for the dia positives, if you made a mistake on the light etc. it's done! That image then becomes useless! Photoshop and Lightroom wasn't in our lives as it is today! You should be very very cautious when taking a photo, as you can't have a look at the image display on the camera and repeat if needed. Unbelievable, isn't it?

I am now 41! When I look back to those photos from those days, it hurts, as I did'nt keep them all. I witnessed those lives with my camera. Some of them have passed away, as with time, some are as clear in my mind today as they were then! All is left behind for me is a few faded images, loaded with rawness and experience at the same time.

... But still, they make me proud.

As I had my new start up a few months ago, here in the UK, I was too focused on today. I was sharing only the new photos I took here. What I am today, as a photographer, it is the experience from the past that I hope to take my talent up to a new level.

Alanis Morissette. I think everybody knows who she is. I took this photo at her concert in İstanbul, after having an interview with her.

Isabella Rossellini, Italian - American actress. She was a guest of İstanbul Film Festival, when I took this photo of her.

Compay Segundo, Cuban musician. You probably remember him from "Chan Chan", most famous composition of the opening track on the Buena Vista Social Club album. Sadly, he passed away in 2003.

Atif Yilmaz, Turkish film director. He was one of the legend of Turkish cinema. He passed away in 2006.

One of the biggest stars of Turkish theatre, Yıldız Kenter. I had the privillage to meet and photograph her in her home years ago in İstanbul. Yıldız Kenter's husband, Şükran Güngör was also a succesful actor, who passed away in 2002, just a few years before I took this photo. On the framed photo behind is Şükran Güngör. Yıldız Kenter was talking about him just before she drifted into her memories. That's why there is a lot of emotions on her face, on that very moment I captured this photo.

İlhan Ersahin, Turkish musician. The founder of New-York based band Wax Poetic.

Turkish harpist Sirin Pancaroglu. I photographed her at 2001 while she was practicing for her performance during Istanbul International Music Festival.

Turkish actor and poet Menderes Samancilar. Samancılar has received many awards including the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in varios festivals such as Golden Orange Film Festival, Golden Ball Film Festival, Turkish Film Critics Association Awards, Orhan Murat Arıburnu Awards, Contemporary Film Actors Association Awards. It was year 2002 when I photographed this photo of him.

What would be your dream job if you had magical power?

Couple of days ago, I had been asked in one of the social media groups, if I got the power to have my dream job, (it could be anything and anywhere, just like in a fairy tale), what would it be? 
That moment I realized that, it’s been ages since I asked such questions to my self. After thinking on it for a while, and double checking my reply, I surprisingly saw that, I already have my dream job; photography.
But... Yes a big “but” is coming after this. But, what kind of photography? What do you want to photograph, and how do you want to live as a photographer? It’s easy! If I had that fairy kind of power, I would be travelling all around the world, and travelling in time, taking the portraits of significant people.
When I gave this reply, I’ve been asked another question! Whose photo you would like to take? 
Questions are good, because they bring more questions, so you can really see all different aspects of things. Those questions made me silent in my thoughts for a while.
The reply I gave was surprising for me and a bit interesting! 2 names come up to my mind, in seconds, I don’t know why! Something deep down, my subconscious maybe, because I really didn’t even think of this before. First one is, in today’s world, Sophia Loren. The second one is, if I could go back in time, Leonardo Da Vinci. I didn’t miss that both of them are Italian! Maybe, subconsciously I am willing to go to Italy again!
Anyway, this little question game really inspired me. It opened some new doors in my head. Before going to sleep, as it was bedtime when I'd been asked this, I kept dreaming about it. 
I think we should never forget to ask such questions to ourselves. The replies might surprise us and give some inspiration to new things!
 

It's been 2 months since Senem Peace Photography launched

I couldn't find time to share this photo of me and my son taken a couple of weeks ago. I am so glad to make the most of it with him and have plenty of time together, because it's not easy to do this, when you are trying to build your business up.

My chance is, as a photographer and boss of my own business, I can manage my times better and spare more time with the family. But on the contrary, it narrows the number of the photo sessions I can do in a week.

It's been only 2 months, since I gave a start up to Senem Peace Photography, I am glad of being supported as a local business and the interest on my works so far, but still there is a long way to go.