Captured Moments: A Snapshot of Istanbul Life Through the Art of Photography

Nestled in the heart of Uskudar's bustling Baglarbasi neighbourhood, FotoAS stands as a beacon of history and community. This unassuming photo studio, with its collection of black and white and early colour portraits, has captured the heart of Istanbul and become more than just a collection of portraits—it's a visual archive of a city always in motion.

FotoAS's gallery tells an alternative history of Turkey, showcasing faces like Hulusi Kentmen, Baris Manço, Yilmaz Köksal, Ferhan Şensoy, Fuat Güner, Zuhal Olcay, Metin Tekin, Sevval Sam, Ilker Ayrık, Vural Çelik, Emrah Safa Gürkan, Ebru Gündeş, Zehra Güneş, and Lütfi Arıboğan. Among these, Ebru Gündeş's portrait offers a glimpse into her past, before her fame as a popular singer. Zehra Güneş's portrait, on the other hand, represents the nation's shifting imagination from cinema and song to global arenas of sport.

For many, the neighbourhood photo studio is a fragile bridge to those lost geographies. Recognizing a face in the Baglarbası window is to step back into a shared past. The viral reaction to FotoAS's display was less about fame and more about pride, longing, and a collective act of remembering. The response to a shared photograph of FotoAS's display received over a million views, shares, and comments.

Baglarbası, once the edge of the city, is now crowded with apartments, cafes, and constant traffic. Yet, the streets around FotoAS keep local life alive, with baklava shops, kebab houses, and tradespeople maintaining the neighbourhood's character. The Baglarbası Armenian Cemetery, a solemn marker of the city's multiethnic past, stands nearby. Old tram depots in the vicinity are being transformed into cultural centers, such as Nevmekan.

FotoAS, with its rich history and connection to the community, is a testament to the power of memory and belonging. Standing before a photograph from FotoAS's gallery, we realize that memory is never only personal, it is shared, woven into the city's fabric—a portrait of Istanbul itself. Despite the waves of redevelopment and gentrification that have displaced countless families, FotoAS remains, a humble storefront that continues to capture Istanbul's heart.

Regrettably, specific information about the history of the photo studio FotoAS in Baglarbası, Üsküdar, remains elusive. However, its impact on the community and the city's collective memory is undeniable, making it a vital part of Istanbul's history.