Faces of Van Photo

Photographer’s Note

Faces of Turkey - Number 4

On the streets of Van, in the bright winter sunshine.

A lot of the older men were wearing these flat caps - I think they used to be popular all over Turkey, but they've gone out of fashion in the west of the country in recent years.
Funny, men of a certain age in Yorkshire wear the same kind of headgear!

broglia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ChrysK (495) 2009-03-22 6:31

Hi Ben,
I really like the play of light and shadow here both with your subjects and the walls of the buliding and the market goods behind them. The colours and details of the man's clothing in the foreground are especailly striking. Nicely caught!
Regards,
Chrystyna

bantonbuju (48844) 2009-03-22 14:43

ben,
is it the photo of the series "i've been there..."?

mate, you for some reason do not show his eyes (i know, i know, sun, shade etc.)... but you miss a great chance to tell something about him just using a visual message...

what i really like though is the "independent interaction" between the two men...

bw, j.

broglia (3379) 2009-04-02 8:55

Hi Ben, the history hats in Turkey, and in particular, the Fez, is a fascinating one. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of "A Fez of the Heart" by Jeremy Seal, as he travels around Turkey to see if anyone still wears the banned headgear. These flat caps probably became popular when Ataturk made it illegal for the fez to be worn. Hats were imported from around the globe, and in particular Britain, to fill the gap. In fact, hats became so scarce, some had to resort to folding sheets of newspaper!

Yes, slight shame about the deep shadows over his eyes, but I guess that is precisely what the hat is there for!

Off to Turkey myself in 3 weeks to dig the garden, and hopefully down a few Efes.

All the best, Roberto