~ Original framing & colors ~
The mother of my mother was born in Constantinople in 1906 but had to leave for France in the 20's, like all my grand-parents, the 4 of them Armenians from Turkey. As a refugee, she was not allowed to return in her beloved city. I am.
╰☆╮
La mère de ma mère est née à Constantinople en 1906 et a dû la quitter pour la France, dans les années 20, comme tous mes grands-parents, Arméniens de Turquie. En tant que réfugiée, elle n'était pas autorisée à retourner dans sa ville chérie. Moi oui.
(Orient tales serie, Istanbul - 2009)
All original frames (excepted the square croppings) / Hormis les formats carrés, tous les cadrages sont d'origine.
© Karine Mazloumian. All rights reserved. Thank you very much for your visits & comments here.
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera" — (Dorothea Lange)
un retour aux sources en quelque sorte ...........................
2 Jul 2011 5:33am
Super, ces vieilles photos d'Istanbul, je pense voir Istiklâl et bien sûr Galata.
Joli post.
2 Jul 2011 6:17am
@Gérard Beullac: A l'époque, l'istiklâl (qui veut dire Indépendance, je crois) c'était "Grand Péra" et ma grand-mère m'en parlait comme de leurs Champs-Elysées, j'adore ce quartier de Beyoğlu que tu sembles connaître aussi ?
A strong composition. Dynamic colors and contrast with the photos behind the car.
Now you are the generation that can go home again..... :-)
2 Jul 2011 6:47am
I used to have a good friend when I was young who was Armenian, remember photographing
his sisters wedding - a super wedding with all the incredible traditions and surprises. Constantin-
ople was a place for so many immigrants to first land from the escape from Russia, for a lot of
Royalty, and your mother must have known of many people who further immigrated to France
after leaving Constantinople. Must be so exciting to hear of her wonderful stories she must have
had. I love the car careening dangerously in this photo, the driver looks non-existant, Superb
capture of beauty.
2 Jul 2011 6:52am
@Phil David Morris 2011: You mean my grand-mother (my parents were born in France) ? Yes, i do agree - many thanks Phil !
Une excellente compo qui nous transporte directement en Turquie, ce pays que je ne connais pas! Tu nous y emmènes, je te suis! :) J'aime beaucoup le cadrage avec ce taxi passant devant ces anciennes photos! Bon week-end Karine!
2 Jul 2011 7:12am
Un cadrage original .
Tu retournes découvrir tes racines, on est toujours en recherche de ses origines et de son identité, cela nous renforce.
Bises. Bonne journée.
2 Jul 2011 7:25am
superbe compo devant ses vieilles photos d'Istanbul ! non seulement tu as pu retourner en Turquie à la place de ta grand-mère, mais tu as été transportée à son époque ! très bon week-end Karine ! bises*
2 Jul 2011 7:28am
@Anna.C: Je ne vois que l'Hier dans cette ville que j'adore, à suivre ;) (et je me prépare à y retourner, l'an prochain j'espère, yeepee). Bon w-e, Anna*
I'm always envious of families who have had traumatic dramatic experiences as dominating as you grandmother's. Not because of the huge upheaval but because of the richness that is embedded into the family history and the fact that you have tenuous ... no no not tenuous but strong roots with Armenia.
Fascinating stuff Karine and the image aint bad either ... in fact it's superb.
richard
2 Jul 2011 7:34am
@Richard T: My strong roots are with Istanbul, that's the contradiction for an Armenian (i'm not the only one ;) Thks much*
Un retour sur le passé pleins d'émotions je pense!!! Ta photo est superbe avec cet effet du temps qui passe. Belle journée.
2 Jul 2011 9:21am
A fine photo to visualize impressively (contrast of sepia photos and the yellow taxi) your and your grandmother's dream ...Your name with the ending -ian (son of..) signalizes me that you are an Armenian by origin and culture- I know the Armenians and their sad lot and history rather well because I had a friend Kevork - he studied in Beirut, lives in Jerusalem, and loves Paris where a lot of Armenians emigrated to - Surely you know the famous novel by Franz Werfel "The 40 days of Musa Dagh", he was a friend of the Armenians , too.
2 Jul 2011 10:00am
@Philine: Of course i know this book. I'm in Peace, if not with the past totally at least with actual people I met in Istanbul that i love so much. Thxx (your link is not activated, is it normal ?)
wow i REALLY like this photo, the right amount of blur and colour and an intersting backing, just great, my friend!!
2 Jul 2011 10:21am
et bien je suis dans ma période taxi jaune moi aussi, étrange prise de vue qui fonctionne bien, bon rendu du mouvement
2 Jul 2011 10:41am
Great shot to capture the speed and movement of the modern world. Very touching background story as well.
2 Jul 2011 11:06am
A real original piece of framing and a great result that keeps drawing me back for another look. (happens a lot with your photos!) I love this added bit of detail about your history, and I find it poignant how times change and lives that are linked by love and blood can be so contrasting in the details.
2 Jul 2011 11:21am
@Rick: My first post about my origins was here, very early as you see and i added a lot, all of them in the tag Orient tales. Thanks for appreciating, Rick*
A wonderful image Karine to summon bach those childhood memories of stories told by parents and grandparents. There is a large Armenian community in South America and I have had the privelige of knowing many of them over the years. They are warm, friendly people with a rich culinary heritage! ;-)
2 Jul 2011 11:32am
@Eric Cousineau: Oh yes, thanks. The ones who had more money left Istanbul for Buenos Aires, the poor ones for France ;)
J'aime la composition et les différences de couleur de cette image, passé présent.
Je suis sûre que tu as fait des photos pour ta grand mère, et qu'elle en a été heureuse.
2 Jul 2011 11:33am
"So take me back to Constantinople : No, you can't go back to Constantinople :Been a long time gone, Constantinople : Why did Constantinople get the works? : That's nobody's business but the Turks" (you know this song?)
Great framing. I love the street car in the window as well as the $ sign reflected!
2 Jul 2011 12:02pm
A wonderfully observed frame Karine and so interesting to find out about your family history and roots which I always feel has a direct force on our own lives. It's always good to understand the struggles of our ancestors, the sacrifices and decisions that they made, the hardships that they faced along the way.
2 Jul 2011 12:57pm
Très sympa. J'aime beaucoup l’enchainement avec la photo précédente !
2 Jul 2011 1:13pm
I really like this, the taxi has the perfect amount of blur.
2 Jul 2011 1:41pm
Unfortunate ... I'm sorry dear friend! few of us have in our recent history (grandparents) problems like this or ver y similar ... The life we lose life. The light always comes back to our spirits. is our hope. A hug dear Karine. Adela
2 Jul 2011 3:28pm
@Adela Fonts: It makes us stronger and we appreciate life even more, don't we ? Hugs back*
Brilliant and I look forward to seeing the photos you bring back from Constantinople and Istanbul :)
2 Jul 2011 4:09pm
je le savais de ma propre expérience que le coeur était "territorial", mais de lire que deux génération plus tard, il le reste toujours, quelque part, ça me saisit à la gorge. Photo et titre vont de pair, le jaune comme un symbole de soleil et donc de lumière
2 Jul 2011 4:14pm
@10Fraction: Tu as tellement raison, et je rêve d'y retourner encore et encore, figure-toi ;) Gros bisous & bon we, V*
Cette prière dans tes mots, ta grand-mère a dû la faire bien souvent et elle s’est exaucée en retrouvant avec toi, au travers de toi la terre de ses(vos) racines et elle doit, de là où elle est maintenant, là-bas peut-être dans la Constantinople de ces photos étalées sur les murs, en être heureuse, et fière aussi de t’y avoir guidée. Belle image forte que celle de ce taxi couleurs soleil dans ces rues du présent marquées du passé. Il y a déposé ses passagers et n’en repart pas vide mais chargé d’émotions ! Bisous Karine et belle soirée :)
2 Jul 2011 4:42pm
@Kiki: Merci ma chère Kiki de ta lecture toujours si sensible* Beau w-e plein taxi (I mean Soleil) à toi ;)
k@, how powerful, stirring and evocative... especially when read along the touching story! Isn't it strange that the "present" (the taxi) is blurry and fast passing; yet once it's became real history, its clarity can be surprising and timeless like the pictures in the backdrop!!! Every time I heard about some sad stories of our past generation, I'll feel grateful for havng lived luckily in peace and particularly irritated by those insane people who let human tragedies recur! (The father of my father was killed during the invasion of HK by the Japanese; my father and his family were left terribly helpless...) Have a lovely and peaceful weekend!
2 Jul 2011 5:08pm
@hugo poon: Our roots are tortuous & rich, we remember and feel graceful to our ancestors and we can feel their blood in our veins, can't we ? Despite all the horrors, i want to be in Peace with actual Istanbul and crave to return (next year ;-) Peaceful w-e to you too, my dear Hugo.
love the composition...great backdrop to the rushing cab
2 Jul 2011 5:09pm
C'est bon de ne pas oublier les origines. Heureuse toi Karine.
2 Jul 2011 5:58pm
Un émotionnel flashback à travers cette image dont le fond est quasi-grisé et le premier plan pète la couleur. Cette ville m'a toujours fascinée et j'ai hâte de la découvrir ainsi que les histoires nombreuses qu'elle cache en septembre prochain. Bon weekend à toi!
2 Jul 2011 7:23pm
@Smitha: Je t'envie, si tu avais besoin de renseignements, je vois que tu es sur Paris, on peut aisément se prendre un café avant ton départ et que je t'indique des lieux si ça te tente. N'hésite pas*
A fine composition full of nostalgia. Fine chromatic and cultural contrast between the yellow cab and the photos on the wall. This is really creative.
Brava,
Donato
2 Jul 2011 7:43pm
J'adore... Le coté figé des photo et le mouvement du taxi jaune vif.. Chouette contraste, belle prise !
2 Jul 2011 9:13pm
Nice. I still think of it as Byzantium. Hagia Sophia is an architectural wonder. I have hard time with it being a museum, or even a mosque.
2 Jul 2011 11:27pm
A journey so full of meaning and emotion for you. To walk the streets your grandma once walked and to experience some of the sights, sounds, and smells she experienced is an adventure worth having. I'm guessing she would have been happy that you went there seeking your roots. Bravo, Karine.
2 Jul 2011 11:47pm
@Steve Rice: Many thanks for your sensitive words, Steve, i felt it this way being there, yes*
I'll go with you! Fabulous moment captured. The colors are great between the stark yellow and the tones of the photographs.
3 Jul 2011 4:36am
J'adore cette ville où le passé est si présent, ta photo non retouchée est magnifique, contraste entre passé et présent, couleur vive et NB, statique et mouvement... au-delà j'aime le titre et cette référence émouvante à l'histoire de ta grand-mère ~
3 Jul 2011 5:41am
Your emotions are laid bare in this superb capture of the blurring, driver-less cab against the city of your grand mother's birth! It is a sad thing to banish one from the land where their memories live as that is the most cherished part of us that nothing can take away....and to be able to revisit is a privilege that should not be denied us. Recently the great painter Hussain (and great human being) passed away in exile in London. His wished dearly to return to India, but sadly, passed away before he could. Mourning his loss is futile and hypocritical. One must love and cherish the living....what do they care after they are dead?
A wonderfully sensitive post dear Karine!
p.s. Sorry if I rambled on:)
3 Jul 2011 6:24am
@Pavan Kaul: You are more than welcome Pavan, expressing such deep & true emotions, my pleasure* Thxxx (i notice you are the only one i think who 'saw' it's as if there was no driver, i noticed too & it meant a lot for me, metaphorically. Thanks again*)
Très belle image qui mêle présent et passé dans de superbes couleurs et un doux mouvement comme un voyage à l'intérieur de la mémoire. Histoire très touchante de ce déracinement et comment toi tu es devenue, en image et en mots, le témoin d'une histoire qui continue...
Bon dimanche K@.
3 Jul 2011 6:58am
I was lovely talking to you about this magical city. It made me want to return there with my camera this time.
3 Jul 2011 7:29am
@Richard: Thanks Richard, it was lovely talking about everything to you 2. Have a great w-e*
émouvante histoire et une photo forte !!!! bien vu karine !!!
3 Jul 2011 8:18am
Un retour aux racines... Jolie illustration de tes propos.
Bonne journée.
3 Jul 2011 9:30am
awesome image, Karine! Love the feeling of motion with the images in the background....such a metropolitan feel, if that makes sense. Oh, regarding the D3s....I sold my soul to the devil for it....so far it has been worth it:D
3 Jul 2011 12:54pm
@foto forté: Devil3s seems a super one, enjoy ! ;)
beaucoup d'émotion sans doute...
une image de richesse....
3 Jul 2011 2:19pm
An image loaded with strong emotions. After reading your text, the image turn to a very moving one.
3 Jul 2011 6:26pm
istanbul not constantinople
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks...
superbe image Karine avec toute une symbolique et une histoire résumée!
ils ont en bavés nos grands parents!! une pensée pour eux!
3 Jul 2011 8:29pm
@Tomix: Génial, et quel à-propos, merci ! La suite illustre l'inverse du titre quitte à contredire ces joyeux fous chantants ;))
Par images interposées, c'est un retour, un regard vers le passé, là où il est impossible d'oublier ses origines, ses racines, celles qui vous permettent de tenir debout !
4 Jul 2011 8:04am
J'aime beaucoup que tu parles de cette histoire qui est la tienne et celle de ta famille au travers de cette image d'un taxi qui te ramènerait vers tes origines et où tu retrouves ton histoire...Une image forte !!!
5 Jul 2011 4:51pm
Your grandmother lived through some of the darkest times Karine--I'm so glad she found safety in another land and that I get to enjoy the thoughts and images of her granddaughter all these years later.
6 Jul 2011 2:06pm
The motion and perspective on this is fabulous. You are seeing for your mother.
7 Jul 2011 4:09am
@Becky: Grand-mother, actually - thanks so much for all your visits, i missed you & i'm touched you pass by. Hope you are fine*
Wonderful and emotive shot. Your words bring thoughts and stories to my mind. I can't imagine not ever being able to go "home"...
9 Jul 2011 2:50am
A great photo to tell your story. I'd love to have you guide a tour of Istanbul – it's definitely on my list of places to go. Your grandmother had quite a journey.
21 Jul 2011 5:43pm
NIKON D90
1/100 second
F/10.0
ISO 200
48 mm