Time for something a little more artistic. This scene was captured in the failing light of late afternoon, along a stream in the valley above Bekiruşağı Village, Malatya in eastern Turkey. Vedat and Seyit were off down the valley to my right, picking apples and pears from Seyit’s orchards and speculating on my strange obsession with taking pictures of the trees.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-400, f/7.1, 1/20 sec.
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As with many of the villages around Malatya, the most important export in Bekiruşağı is apricots. Both dried and fresh, these apricots make their way to open air markets in towns throughout Turkey.
Here, Ayşe Pektaş shows off some of this year’s harvest, dried in the sun on the back porch of the house where she lives with her son’s family.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-400, f/4.5, 1/6 sec. (Canon IS 18-200 @ 18 mm)
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Center of Attention: The Groom, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.
Emerging from the house as a married couple for the first time, Eren and Ayşegül are immediately engulfed by a crowd of relatives, neighbors and other well-wishers. Those closest to the bride and groom pin cash or small gold pins to their clothes, while those farther away either cover their faces at the presence of cameras, or record the whole proceedings themselves for posterity.
Most of the older male relatives have again been left on the outskirts making small talk and shaking hands, most likely not because of any traditional imperative, but rather because they just aren’t as interested as the women are.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/10, 1/200 sec.
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Blue Door And Window; Bike With Sidecar, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.
This was taken in the village of Bekiruşağı, in Malatya, Turkey. Since I visited in the fall, the house was deserted, like many of the nearby houses belonging to Turkish families who now live in Europe and only return for summer vacations. The bike was a very recent purchase of my host, who just before this picture was taken had used it to transport four of us on a rather harrowing ride from the village center to his house.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/9, 1/30 sec.
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Canon EOS Rebel Xti, ISO-1600, f/7.1, 1/40 sec.
On Ayşegül’s arrival at Eren’s family’s home, the couple join together to enter the house’s bridal chamber privately for the first time as a couple, while a female relative anoints the mantle of the door frame with butter. After a symbolic two or three minutes in the bridal chamber, the new couple emerge to everybody’s happy applause. Ayşegül is unveiled for the first time since the wedding began, and without a headscarf in public for the only time in her adult life.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/10, 1/40 sec.
An old house in the village of Kurecik, Malatya, Turkey. In a region where it’s still not hard to find abandoned church buildings a century or two old, the arches over these windows belie an architectural tradition older and higher than a square stone Turkish village house might normally be expected to reflect.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-400, f/11, 1/200 sec.
As the bride arrives at the groom’s home, still veiled and accompanied by her maid of honor, Eren stands above with his best man and showers confetti on her.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/13, 1/100 sec.
Cleopatra’s Arch in Tarsus dates from Roman times and is supposed to mark the place where the Marc Anthony and the notorious queen first laid eyes on each other. A pretty good pedigree for any structure, but here as many other places in Turkey, the arch takes a back seat to a Turkish flag and the inspiring figure and words of Ataturk.
On the left hand stone, one of Ataturk’s famous quotes: “Turk, plan, work, and trust.” On the right hand stone, and even more inspirationally: “O Turk, son of the future, the power you need is present in the blood in your veins.”
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/13, 1/125 sec.
Bringing Home The Bride, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.
Mehmet and Fadimana, proud parents of the groom, escort Ayşegül out of the bridal car and down the hill to the doorway where Eren waits.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/13, 1/200 sec.
