{"id":222028,"date":"2025-10-18T06:01:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T06:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/222028\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T06:01:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T06:01:15","slug":"through-ara-gulers-lens-visual-chronicle-of-turkiyes-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/222028\/","title":{"rendered":"Through Ara G\u00fcler\u2019s lens: Visual chronicle of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s history"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been seven years since the death of Ara G\u00fcler, the legendary photojournalist<\/a> whose photographs hold a significant place in both T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s and the world\u2019s visual memory.<\/p>\n

Born M\u0131g\u0131rdi\u00e7 Ara Derderyan on Aug. 16, 1928, in Istanbul’s Beyo\u011flu district, Ara G\u00fcler inherited his first name from the Ararat King Ara Geghetsik, known as “Handsome Ara,” and his middle name from his grandfather, M\u0131g\u0131rdi\u00e7. After the implementation of T\u00fcrkiye’s Surname Law, he adopted the surname \u201cG\u00fcler.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing up in Beyo\u011flu, G\u00fcler received his early education under the supervision of nannies and tutors at home before attending several prestigious schools: the Bomonti Armenian Mihitaryan Primary School, Galatasaray High School and Armenian Getronagan High School.<\/p>\n


\n \"Ara
\n <\/a>
\n Ara G\u00fcler poses for the camera, Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Sept. 19, 2025. (Shutterstock Photo) <\/p>\n

Early career <\/p>\n

From a young age, G\u00fcler was captivated by cinema. Encouraged by his father, who gifted him a camera during his high school years, G\u00fcler began to explore photography seriously. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s first journalism institution, the Journalism Institute at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Economics.<\/p>\n

During his university years, G\u00fcler worked for several Armenian newspapers, including Jamanak. His first real journalistic experience came in 1950 when he joined Yeni \u0130stanbul, one of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s leading newspapers at the time.<\/p>\n

After completing his military service, he worked briefly as a reporter for H\u00fcrriyet newspaper before joining the newly launched Hayat magazine, where he quickly became head of photography. Around this time, having graduated from Istanbul University\u2019s Faculty of Economics, he became the only Turkish member of the American Society of Media Photographers.<\/p>\n

International recognition<\/p>\n

After meeting legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1953, G\u00fcler joined the Paris-based Magnum Agency. In 1958, he was appointed Near East photojournalist for renowned magazines such as Time-Life, Paris-Match and Der Stern.<\/p>\n


\n \"A
\n <\/a>
\n A photo of Ara G\u00fcler on display at the \u201cMiscellaneous Istanbul\u201d exhibition. (Courtesy of Ara G\u00fcler Museum) <\/p>\n

The Photography Annual Anthology in the U.K. named him among the world\u2019s top seven photographers. In 1962, G\u00fcler earned the prestigious “Master of Leica” title in Germany, a rare honor, and the Swiss magazine Kamera dedicated a special issue to him.<\/p>\n

His powerful images documenting the 1960 coup in T\u00fcrkiye and the 1964 Cyprus Operation were distributed worldwide through international magazines and agencies. G\u00fcler\u2019s work has been featured in numerous important photography publications and exhibited internationally.<\/p>\n

Traveling extensively, G\u00fcler produced photo essays published globally via the Magnum Agency. He photographed and interviewed a wide range of luminaries, including authors Ya\u015far Kemal, Aziz Nesin, Kemal Tahir and Orhan Kemal; political figures like Ismet In\u00f6n\u00fc, Winston Churchill and Indira Gandhi; intellectuals such as John Berger and Bertrand Russell; as well as artists like Bill Brandt, Alfred Hitchcock, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.<\/p>\n

Publications, awards<\/p>\n

G\u00fcler received the first-place award in photojournalism from the Turkish Journalists Association in 1979. In 1980, Karacan Publishing released a collection of his photographs as a book.<\/p>\n

The photographs of Mimar Sinan\u2019s works, which he spent years working on, were published under the title “Turkish Style” in the U.K., U.S. and Singapore and as “Demeures Ottomanes de Turquie” in France.<\/p>\n

G\u00fcler continued to set photographic standards and style with his work. In 1991, he photographed “The Sixth Continent,” a book by the famous writer Cevat \u015eakir Kabaa\u011fa\u00e7l\u0131 (Fisherman of Halicarnassus), for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n

Legacy<\/p>\n

G\u00fcler was treated for heart and kidney failure at a private hospital in Istanbul\u2019s \u015ei\u015fli district. On Oct. 17, 2018, his heart stopped twice but was revived. However, despite further medical efforts, he passed away later that day after his heart stopped again.<\/p>\n


\n \"A
\n <\/a>
\n A photograph by Ara G\u00fcler shot in Aphrodisia’s ancient city Ayd\u0131n, 1962. (Photo courtesy of Ara G\u00fcler Museum) <\/p>\n

Following his death, numerous political figures, academics, journalists and business leaders, including President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan and then-Armenian President Armen Sarkisyan, expressed condolences.<\/p>\n

On Oct. 20, 2018, a memorial ceremony was held in Galatasaray Square. His funeral service took place at the Church of Three Altars in Beyo\u011flu, after which he was laid to rest in the \u015ei\u015fli Armenian Cemetery.<\/p>\n

Ara G\u00fcler Museum<\/p>\n

G\u00fcler\u2019s works are part of collections at prestigious institutions such as the National Library of France in Paris, the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, U.S., and the Sheldon Collection at the University of Nebraska. His photographs are also exhibited at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne and the Das Imaginare Photo Museum.<\/p>\n

Having created over 2 million photographs during his career, G\u00fcler received numerous honors, including the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism\u2019s Grand Award for Culture and Arts.<\/p>\n

From 1964 to 2018, G\u00fcler held over 100 solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including Germany, Italy, France, Japan and the U.S.<\/p>\n

Reflecting the soul of Istanbul through his lens, the Ara G\u00fcler Museum opened on Aug. 16, 2018 \u2013 his 90th birthday \u2013 at \u015ei\u015fli Bomontiada. The museum, dedicated to sharing his artistic legacy and inspiring life with a broad audience, was granted Special Museum status by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2022.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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