i spent 2 months in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of 2020. Since covid was still about I spent the 2 months just wandering the old and new cities with a camera in hand. I took this one at a time when I was greatly obsessed with Jeff Walls’ photo “The Destroyed Room” and how I would love to recreate something of that sort. One night I was on Istiklal (one of the busiest promenades in the city with shops and restaurants and a trolley that rolled thru the middle of it) and it was time to pray the evening prayer, yet I was too far from a mosque (surprisingly) that I needed to pray out in the street. My cousin and I put our jackets down in preparation of making our prayer, when right as we were about to start, two men outside of their restaurant told us there was no need and invited us inside their establishment to pray in there. They led us down to their basement, which funny enough, was slightly flooded, and the spot in which they set for us to pray, was an old wooden table top floating above the leaking water. Looking around the basement, at the far wall, were these stacked chairs, tables, and junk, possibly leftovers from a recent renovation. And there was this obscure painting sitting perfectly in the middle of it all. Two Arabic letters painted on the canvas which I‘d noticed in many other places in Istanbul, yet never really understood the meaning behind. And as my cousin went to pray first, on the floating piece of wood, I couldn’t help but think of Jeff Walls‘ photo and how reminiscent the composition, colors, and overall optics were to this junk in the basement. I took one single photo and was happy with it. And as much as I love the work itself, the story behind it is my favorite. It’s always the first that comes to mind when someone asks what my favorite photo I took is.
Thanks for this ask! Always love sharing this. 😁
Jan 6, 2025
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adam as a photographer sees the world the most similarly to me, and takes photos the way i want to take them. i especially like his work without people in it, because it almost all has the presence of a person without capturing that individual’s body. tldr he captures human presence well.
this series he did (linked) of his parents’ long time apartment when they were moving out has always stuck with me. and he has a book of photos from the UN right before it underwent renovation called international territory that i am obsessed with (if anyone wants to buy the book for me🫨)
Dec 9, 2024
went to the exhibition of the photographs he took around europe in the sixties and it was incredibly beautiful and inspiring
Dec 9, 2024
I usually walk around and take photos of people, but today experimented at home. I love how slow and meticulous still life can be.
Highly recommend!
Apr 17, 2024
Top Recs from @bilalbikile
Been off this app lately cuz ive been busy opening an art gallery in my hometown (San Diego) called Deixis Gallery! Been such a wonderful experience so far. It’s so beautiful to see how community comes together to help with every step along the way. Friends came by and helped paint, do construction, a friend of mine built us some benches from scratch, and a bunch of amazing artists participated in the inaugural exhibition. So hyped, truly recommend. And shout out to allstnyc for the encouragement back when I first posted an ask about opening a gallery! 🤞🏿🤞🏿🤞🏿also if you find yourself in San Diego, make sure to stop by! @deixisgallery
Jan 6, 2025
👥
I got an IG follow and message last night from a girl I knew in MIDDLE school (12+ yrs ago).
I haven’t talked to or seen her since then, but she’d often pop up in my mind, the last time being just a few days ago. All I remember is that I used to enjoy talking to her.
the first thing she said in her message was that for some reason, she’d think about me often, and also, for no particular reason… we barely knew each other back then
So, we decided we’re gonna hang out soon - don’t know why, but it just feels right. 🔮
Feb 22, 2025
Spent a month in a cabin in a rural town in Washington state and fell in love. Spent my days gardening, writing, cooking, working out with logs and trees, just living the most simple life. Being back in a city makes me sick to my stomach now and capitalistic 🤮. It sucks.
Nov 14, 2024