By Heidi Trautmann

I am late to write the review but not too late or even…it is never too late to comment on something special and beautiful.

May the light be with you…..thus the photographer is greeting the guests at the exhibition and in the introduction of his catalogue sponsored by Limassol Turkish Cooperative Bank.

The title 10X10…he has taken it as a sort of leitmotiv:

10 Years with FODER

Ten different categories of photography

10 photographs in each category

That makes altogether 100 photos

Mehmet Gökyiğit is a reknown photographer who has started as a hobby photographer and being fascinated by this art form he joined FODER, the oldest Photography Association in North Cyprus, to become more professional, to learn and improve his knowledge. He joined the board and finally became its chairman. I have seen his work in many competitions, photos that won many prizes in Cyprus and abroad.

Photography has come a long way, he says, with the first ‘camera’ in 1839 by Louis Daguerre and the possibilities today with digital photography has opened the doors wide for everybody to enter this fascinating field. We know that, photography exhibitions become more and more the rule in the local art scene, photography plays important roles in the techniques of fine arts and graphic design. It depends though on the sensitive and trained eye of the artist to make the best use of it by adapting and manipulating digital photos, working them into the art work.

Mehmet mentions that he has always been chasing the light, the moment when the object of interest presents itself in its best light; often photographers wait for hours until their moment has arrived. But also other senses are involved, not only the eye.

Beautiful photos documenting the beauty of nature, cultural traditions, documenting old forgotten professions such as the kettle maker, architecture….however, his portraits show the sensitive approach to the landscape in faces.

The exhibition was end of November 2015 at the Atatürk Cultural Centre in Nicosia.