A Selection of Photobooks

by Frederic Lezmi

Photobooks have become a very important and independent art form within photography in the last years. More and more Turkish photographers are expressing their visions and presenting their photography in book form.This has led to a small boom of photobooks from Turkey in the recent years.

Photobooks have become a very important and independent art form within photography in the last years. More and more Turkish photographers are expressing their visions and presenting their photography in book form.This has led to a small boom of photobooks from Turkey in the recent years.

But lacking good distribution structures, book stores and access to a large audience these books have stayed little jewels you need to discover. They are beautifully crafted, meticulously designed and conceptional to the point. Nevertheless Turkish photobook makers have built their own network through little specialized bookshops like Torna (www.tornaistanbul.com), self-publishing cooperatives like bandrolsuz ( www.bandrolsuz.org) and artists’ book institutions likes Banu Cennetoğlu’s BAS ( www.b-a-s.info). An active and interesting scene has evolved…

Frederic Lezmi is a photographer, book designer and teacher. He is co-founder of the BOOK LAB and curator at the Photobookmuseum in Cologne. He was based in Istanbul from 2012 until 2015.

Kaza ve Kader / Metropol Yeşili Istanbul‘u Resmetmek / Cahier No:2 Open House by Ali Taptik (with Okay Karadayılar) 

To choose between Ali‘s books is not easy. He might be the most prolific contemporary turkish photobook artist I know. Having seen Ali‘s books long before I moved to Istanbul they somehow shaped my view on the city. I have always seen Ali‘s books are an ode to this very special place. Designed by Bülent Erkmen or by his friend and publishing partner Okay Karadayılar each of his books is different, often housing the same photographs, and special. I like them all…