özhan arıoğlu

In this Golden Shot Photography Awards interview, özhan arıoğlu reflects on the path into photography, the ideas behind the awarded work, and the visual language that continues to shape their practice.

I was born in 1986 in Istanbul,Turkiye. I am an electronics engineer with a master’s degree and a long-standing passion for photography. My interest in visual storytelling began during my university years, but I started formal training and consistently practicing photography in What drives me most is the ability to freeze time  to capture a moment with its aesthetic essence and perceive every detail down to its smallest trace. Through my work, I aim to create images that reflect both precision and emotion, blending my technical background with an artistic perspective.

My work “The Circle of Solitude” was taken on Buyukcekmece coast. In a rainy day, i saw a woman sitting and a man walking away with his umbrella. I used the statue niches to clear up the scene. My work “The path” was taken at Ali Kuscu mosque, in Arnavutkoy. I used myself as a model in this photo and took it using a tripod and timer.

“The Circle of Solitude”: It expresses the sense of isolation within the contrasts. “The path”: It depicts the human journey toward enlightenment and inner clarity through prayer, as taught in Islamic doctrine.

“The Circle of Solitude”: It encourages the audience to ponder the link between contrasts and how it inherently breeds loneliness. “The path”: How light and geometric harmony bring tranquility to the human spirit.

“The Circle of Solitude”: Aligning objects within a circle without overlapping, despite the limited time.Additionally, as it was a rainy day, managing a camera while holding an umbrella and crouching to frame the circular gap in the sculpture made for quite challenging condition “The path”: Capturing a photograph inside a mosque requires waiting for the opportune time.

The crowd of people coming for prayer and respecting prayer times are essential considerations. Using myself as the subject, it was also difficult to keep the posture clean and unobtrusive.

I consider photography to be a fairytale where aesthetics and unexpected moments blend together. I dislike over-editing and prefer to stay present in the moment. While street photography is my priority, I also enjoy capturing architecture and landscapes shaped by geometric forms. My goal is to capture and convey life as close to its natural state as possible

In my photography, I pay close attention to geometric forms, frames, human life, and the ways in which people shape their lives. Hence, I am drawn to human solitude, social interaction amidst the crowd, and how individuals project their inner state relative to time and space.

As a Turk, I am naturally deeply influenced by our legend, Ara Güler, and his iconic photos of Istanbul. Beyond that, Alex Webb and Serkan Tekin are the photographers whose styles I resonate with the most and whom I look up to as idols. Additionally, my close friend from Turkey, Serkan Doğuş, has taught me the dedication and hard work that photography truly requires.

Golden Shot Awards is a prestigious platform I have been following for a while, and its gallery of winning photographs is truly breathtaking. Having my work appreciated and awarded by such an esteemed jury brings me indescribable joy. It also serves as a defining benchmark for me, confirming that my photography is continuously evolving and growing stronger step by step.

You just need to keep trying and never give up. Even if it doesn’t happen today, it will one day, and when that day comes, you will have climbed another step up. Love and take photos.