Murat Bakmaz
Murat Bakmaz was born in Adana in 1982, where he also completed his primary and secondary education. He later pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in Turkish Language and Literature in Çanakkale. In 2011, he moved to Istanbul as a teacher. It was during these years that his interest in photography, which began as a simple hobby, gradually turned into a profound passion. What started with landscape shots soon evolved into an exploration of street, travel, and documentary photography—marking the beginning of a lifelong visual journey.
As Murat Bakmaz delved deeper into photography, he began to move beyond landscapes and experiment with macro imagery. However, it was street, travel, and documentary photography that truly resonated with him. These genres allowed him not only to document what he saw but also to reflect what he felt. Photography became a language—a way of telling stories without words. Inspired by daily life, Murat wandered through city streets and rural paths alike, seeking candid moments that revealed truth, culture, and emotion.
He believes that photography is more than capturing light—it is about capturing life. With this philosophy, he has photographed in 78 cities across Türkiye and nearly 20 countries abroad, building a diverse and compelling portfolio. His work often focuses on ordinary people in ordinary settings, yet manages to elevate those moments into something universally meaningful. He is particularly drawn to Istanbul’s dynamic streets and Anatolia’s deeply rooted traditions, which he portrays with sensitivity and authenticity.
Through the years, his photographs have earned recognition and awards both nationally and internationally. Still, for Murat, the real reward lies in the ability to preserve fleeting moments, create visual memory, and hold a mirror to society through his lens.
Murat Bakmaz’s photographic journey is as much about exploration as it is about expression. His camera serves as a tool to observe, question, and connect with the world around him. As a teacher of language and literature, he naturally carries a narrative instinct into his photography—each frame tells a story, invites interpretation, and offers reflection. His images often focus on themes of identity, belonging, and the unnoticed poetry in everyday life.
He is particularly interested in how environments shape people, and vice versa. Whether photographing the quiet solitude of a street corner or the energy of a market scene, he seeks the subtle gestures and textures that define a place. Murat is also attentive to social change and contemporary issues, believing that photographers have a role in witnessing and archiving the times they live in.
Despite a demanding teaching schedule, he actively participates in exhibitions, festivals, and collaborative art projects. His work continues to evolve as he explores new regions and visual languages. Through his photography, Murat Bakmaz offers not only aesthetic compositions but also cultural insight, personal perspective, and a genuine connection to the human experience.
