My journey began in the vibrant cultural mix of Istanbul, where I blended a solid German education with a diverse academic background encompassing a B.Sc. in Physics and a brief MBA pursuit. These experiences laid the groundwork for my transformative career, which commenced at Nestlé.
Over several years and various roles on the demand generation side of the organization, I spearheaded innovative e-commerce initiatives, utilizing analytics to drive growth and cultivate strategic partnerships with startups, tech companies, and eRetailers. My journey showcases my remarkable ability to blend diverse influences, educational backgrounds, and entrepreneurial skills, all of which have played an integral role in shaping my success.
n 2018, I embarked on a profound personal journey, leaving behind the comforts of corporate life to fully immerse myself in Central and South America as a street photographer. This transformative experience was not merely about photography; it evolved into an odyssey of self-discovery, prioritizing mental well-being, minimalism, and essentialism.
As a street photographer, I didn't just capture images but also uncovered a newfound essence of well-being and simplicity. This spiritual and creative expedition laid the groundwork for &Better, a Boston-based brand deeply committed to natural personal care, sustainability, and essentialism.
Beyond my role at &Better, I thrive on cool-hunting new ideas and transforming them into reality to make a positive impact. Whether it's developing innovative products or creating brands from scratch, I am passionate about taking concepts from ideation to execution. As a brand strategy consultant, I help brands with their marketing strategy, brand identity and visual curation
My obsession with art made me try painting but my real passion was photography. During my trip to Mexico, I discovered color painting. Since then, I’ve developed an inspiring and profound harmony with the journey.
Recently, I’ve been expressing photography with special color painting technique, minimalist approach into the street photography, and with different long term projects in Italy and around the world.
Photography is a way of thinking of life in a remarkable state of mind for me. Through photography, I’ve improved my understanding of human nature and found a charming way of expressing myself.
“There is a limitless combination of happenings around us and I intend every day to photograph those moments. It’s important to create awareness and to pause and reflect in the fast-paced world we are living in through visual storytelling.”
What's in your bag?
I am using a Fujifilm Xpro-2 with 23mm & 58mm Fujinon XF lens (eq. to 35mm and 85mm in the 35mm format) and a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm f/1.4 CanonFD lens.
How many times do you shoot a week?
I am mostly with my camera. Since I started the 365 projects I've been shooting on an everyday basis, which I believe helped my progress a lot.
Who are your photographic influencers?
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Joel Meyerowitz, Eliott Erwitt, William Klein, Matt Stuart, Alex Webb, Trent Parke.
How did you get into photography?
I discovered photography during the journey of building my creative confidence. My friend Kerem Nasipoglu, an Istanbul-based and documentary photographer, influenced me to get into photography.
Do you run into any trouble while photographing strangers?
I have learned to be more stealthy and quick while photographing on the street. I don't have such a concern as being stealthy in the streets. I am almost obvious while taking photos of people. If someone stops or asks me about what I am doing, I try to be polite and continue on my journey.
What advice would you give to someone starting in street photography?
Have a camera on you and be ready to shoot at all times, keep an eye out for a special thing for you, be patient, and optimistic, and enjoy it, keep learning, and get inspired.
“To me, photography is an art of observation.
It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…
I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see
and everything to do with the way you see them.”
Elliott Erwitt
Thank you!