Ara Güler

Ara Güler — Biography

Born Mıgırdiç Ara Derderyan on 16 August 1928 in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Ara Güler was educated at the Getronagan Armenian High School. Over a career spanning more than five decades, this Turkish photojournalist of Armenian descent became known for his black-and-white images of Istanbul and earned the nickname "the Eye of Istanbul." His camera captured portraits of numerous statesmen and artists, among them Indira Gandhi, Maria Callas, Willy Brandt, Alfred Hitchcock and Salvador Dalí, making him one of the few Turkish photographers to achieve international recognition.

Güler received honors including the French Legion of Honour, the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award, a Lucie Award and the Medal of the City of Paris. He also stepped in front of the camera once, playing the character Süleyman in Yeşim Ustaoğlu's film Journey to the Sun (1999). He died in Istanbul on 17 October 2018; his legacy continues through the museum and archive that bear his name, with his work still reaching audiences through activities such as a Cannes-themed exhibition and a French edition of his book on Istanbul.