Photographers honored by Culture Arts Grand Award

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Prime Minister Erdoğan borrows a reporter’s camera and takes the photos of Ara Güler at the ceremony. AA photo

The Grand Culture and Arts Awards this year honored four photographers – Ara Güler, İzzet Keribar, Sıtkı Fırat and Sabit Kalfagil – at a ceremony held yesterday at Istanbul’s Lütfi Kırdar Congress Center with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay.

Speaking at the ceremony presented by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, Erdoğan said now everyone had cameras in their pockets thanks to the development of technology, but great photography was not an easy thing to achieve.

“These [master photographers], who are being presented with awards today, have made photographs that have left their mark on history. They have photographed the most exciting moments in Turkey’s history and reflected the country’s colors. I ask those who want to see harmony among distinct groups to look to these four artists. Whatever their religion is, whatever their language is, they are from Turkey. [Their] photographs are the best answer to racism and hatred in this country,” Erdoğan said. Following his speech, Erdoğan and Günay presented the awards to the four photographers. Erdoğan borrowed a reporter’s camera and took photos of Güler while presenting his award.