Hans of Istanbul, the latest edition of an Istanbul anthology

Renowned for his photography and documentary films on Istanbul's urban transformation, Timurtaş Onan dedicates his latest book to the inns and inhabitants of the Historical Peninsula and Sirkeci.

"Occasionally, I catch snippets of music on the streets, scenes from films, or lines from poems. Sometimes, I see the characters from novels or movies in the people I photograph. Other times, I simply enjoy the moment without taking any photos, savoring a café in a back alley."

Onan, who expresses his passion for Istanbul with these words, is an artist who loves to "get lost" in the city, immersing himself in the moments and lives he captures through his lens. His Turkish and English book "Hans of Istanbul" is the culmination of a decade of dedicated work.

Onan frequently visited the Ottoman trade inns in the Historical Peninsula and Sirkeci region, forging friendships that allowed him to become part of this unique habitat. Perhaps this is the secret behind the captivating moments he captured in Istanbul hans —places that resist the passage of time with their enduring splendor, despite the wear and tear.

His photos reveal the magic in the corridors, courtyards, and dimly lit workshops and shops, where light and shadow chase each other.

Like the other volumes of the Istanbul Anthology that reflect Onan's personal rhythm within the city, "Hans of Istanbul" consists of only black and whites, a total of 308 frames. Onan often chooses black and white in his works to evoke a sense of timelessness, capture moments in their purest form, and emphasize contrasts and tones more strongly. With his powerful images, Onan once again leaves a lasting impression on our collective visual memory.

About the Hans of Istanbul

 <...