At the Photography Workshop organized by ANTEB Association, we met with young people in the warm atmosphere of Pusula Book & Café, then slung our cameras around our necks and immersed ourselves in the autumn colors of the campus together.
Accompanied by the slightly chilly November air and the golden hues of autumn at Gaziantep University campus, we gathered at Pusula Book & Café. There was that familiar excitement of creating something new in the eyes of the young people who had come together for the Photography Workshop, organized as part of ANTEB Association’s Young Career and Digital Media Skills Academy. After a brief yet inspiring conversation about basic photography, framing, and light, everyone was eager to step into the world behind the viewfinder. We couldn't stay indoors for too long because a wonderful afternoon light and nature displaying all the generosity of autumn were waiting for us outside.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOOKING AND SEEING
With our cameras hanging around our necks, we hit the campus paths, allowing the unique character of the surroundings to guide us. On one side, the sharp, modern architectural lines of the buildings; on the other, the natural compositions created by leaves shifting from yellow to red—all came together in harmony. The young participants not only learned to press the shutter but also experienced walking along that subtle and magical line between looking and truly seeing. We chased the long shadows cast by the light across building surfaces and incorporated the fall of a leaf carried by the wind into our own visual stories.
MORE THAN JUST TECHNICAL EXPERIMENTATION
The most enjoyable moments of the workshop took place as we worked side by side in the field. While some combined the campus structures with the colors of nature to create their own perspectives, others focused on the tiny details of a branch. By the end of the day, the frames reflected on our camera screens were much more than simple technical experiments. In those photographs, the energy of youth, the pure joy of capturing a moment, and the autumn breeze of the campus came together. We all left with a deep sense of fulfillment and a lovely smile on our faces, carrying with us the satisfaction of freezing a moment in time and taking it into the future.
