Last week, it seemed like every professional and amateur photographer within a 3-country radius had descended on Bursa.  The streets were full of people with big cameras hanging around their necks snapping photos in all directions.  This, of course, included me—except that I tend to carry my camera strapped to my wrist rather than hanging from my neck.  What got everyone with a camera excited last week is that it was the fourth annual, internationally acclaimed International Bursa Photography Festival.

Hosted by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, the Bursa City Council, and the Bursa Photographic Art Society, the Bursa Photofest consisted of exhibits, lectures, seminars, portfolio reviews, and a highly competitive photography contest.  World renowned, award-winning photographers and masters from Turkey and abroad exhibited their work and shared their secrets with photo enthusiasts from all over the world.  This year’s festival theme was “Living Together,” a timely concept that sought to highlight through photography the need for humans to reconcile with each other and with nature.

Being a giddy amateur photo enthusiast, I took the opportunity to attend the festival’s opening parade, take a slow walk through the exhibition hall, and peek in on a seminar.  Here are a few snapshots from this year’s Photofest:

A traditional color guard leads the Bursa Photofest opening parade.

This guard member seems to be enjoying his duty.

The parade band plays a tune.

The exhibition hall at Merinos Atatürk Congress Center.

Photos from the streets of Istanbul by German artist Ralph J. Diemb.

An especially captivating photo by Turkish photographer Birgül Yıldırır.

A special exhibit by Turkish artist Dr. Işık Akgün.

Local students also enjoy the Photofest.

You can visit the Bursa Photofest website at www.bursaphotofest.org.  In particular, I recommend taking a look at the fantastic work of the photo contest winners and honorable mentions.