As part of the “Communication Days” event series of the European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Communication Sciences, the photographer Asst. Prof. Dr. İsmail Gökçe gave a talk on the art of photography and documentary photography. In the event that took place at the EUL Cinema Hall, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gökçe talked about his photography adventure and why he was interested in photography.

Having completed his master’s and doctorate education on the art of photography, Asst. Prof. Dr. İsmail Gökçe stated that he started taking photographs with his curiosity about life, people and their environment, and with this curiosity, he turned to documentary photography. Asst. Prof. Dr. Gokce; “Documentary photography is a type of photography that reflects human and life-related issues to the audience for the purpose of direct documentation without intervening. As a photographer, I’ve always been excited to observe and follow the subjects I’m curious about, interested in, life styles, different cultures, and document the moments I’ve witnessed by reflecting them on photographic frames and sharing them with the masses.”

Gökçe: There are many subjects that can be shot in the sense of documentary in Cyprus

In his speech, he mentioned his works which were made and exhibited in Cyprus; Sharing two documentary photography works he created by viewing two different life cultures, daily lives, habits and living spaces moment by moment, Gökçe noted that there are many subjects that can be shot in the sense of documentary in Cyprus.

Gökçe, who lived in Istanbul for many years and worked as Coşkun Aral’s assistant, mentioned that he wanted to develop projects by observing the changing culture and life every time he came to Cyprus and mentioned the continuity of documentary photography. Gökçe said, “No project is ever completed. As a photographer, you can never say that a photography project is completely finished, because time passes and life goes on. In each new time period, projects can continue with other photographs.”

Touching on the new photography and exhibition project in his speech, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gökçe shared 2 photos of his project and stated that he was trying to convey the feeling of abandonment and loneliness by taking photos of the abandoned places, living areas and derelict places of Cyprus.