MIRA ARGUN

Fine Art Photographer | Visual Storyteller | Photography Trainer

[miraargun]

VOICE OF THOSE THAT REMAIN SILENT

Discovering Presence Within Absence

With my photography students, our street workshops often take us far beyond our comfort zones—to neglected fields, scrapyards, landfills, and abandoned industrial sites. We have become accustomed to constructed scenes, man-made wonders, and perfectly composed photographs. Yet when it comes to learning, discovering presence within absence is just as valuable.

I often tell them: "You're finding it difficult to notice things right now, but be patient. Wander. Explore different perspectives. Don't just look—truly see. Listen to the conversation between objects. Nothing is random. Notice the strange harmony hidden within chaos, dirt, and rust. These places carry volume, joy, hope, and sorrow no less than you do. Through your photograph, become the voice of those that remain silent."

[miraargun]

CONSTANT STATE OF EXPECTATIONS

Photographer Bill Brandt Case

As a photography instructor, I often notice that many of my students believe they can only create better photographs if they own a better camera. Yet in photography—as in life itself—living in a constant state of expectation prevents us from appreciating the only moment that truly exists: the present. It also keeps us from creating something meaningful with the tools we already have.

For professionals working in commercial photography, high-quality technical equipment is, of course, essential. But for artists—or for amateurs who simply follow their passion—the situation can be quite different.

During my latest class at Decollage Art Space, I shared an interesting story with my students. The celebrated British photographer and photojournalist Bill Brandt (1904–1983) created many of his iconic photographs—the ones famous for their exaggerated limbs, warped interiors, and extraordinary perspective distortions—using a 70-year-old wooden Kodak camera that he had purchased from a second-hand shop.

It was an unusual camera. It had no shutter release, its focus was permanently fixed at infinity, and it featured an ultra-wide-angle lens. It is believed to have originally been used as a forensic crime-scene camera before being discarded. Even after Brandt later adopted modern cameras, he continued to see the world in exactly the same way. In other words, it wasn't the old camera that mattered most—it was the way that camera had taught him to see.

Would you choose to photograph with a camera that has no shutter release and a lens permanently focused at infinity?

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"NEW PHOTOGRAMS 1962"

A Timeless Book

Today, I found myself once again leafing through New Photograms 1962 (Iliffe Books Ltd., London), a remarkable book that my dear niece, Ahsen Eravcı, discovered while studying in Europe during a visit to a historic building and thoughtfully brought back for me.

Its cover has faded with time, and its pages carry that unmistakable scent only old books possess.

Published 64 years ago, the book presents 104 photographs by some of the most distinguished photographers of its era. Each image is accompanied by technical notes, critical commentary, and thoughtful observations. It is more than a visually inspiring collection—it remains an invaluable educational resource for photographers even today.

I truly believe this is a timeless book.

The photographs are still striking by contemporary standards, while many of the technical notes remain entirely relevant for today's workshops and photography education. I cannot help but admire the photographers whose work earned a place in this carefully curated collection. If these photographs were exhibited today, I have little doubt the gallery would still be filled with art lovers.

Another fascinating aspect is the publisher itself. As far as I have been able to discover, Iliffe Books, once known primarily as a book publisher, has evolved into a diversified media company. Its corporate transformation is an interesting story in its own right.