Izmir with Mark Klett

İZMİR WITH MARK KLETT a rephotography workshop at Izmir University of Economics

İZMİR WITH MARK KLETT a rephotography workshop at Izmir University of Economics

Kordon with Mark Klett by Gary McLeod (2013) Inkjet Print, 82.1 x 54.6 cm

Foreword: a conversation about a place over time

M

y encounter with rephotography grew out of a simple curiosity in 2006 while living in Japan. Looking at British photographs that depicted temples and views within Kobe in 1875, I wondered if those locations still existed, and what they would look like. After studying maps and searching archives, a lot of time was spent walking around the city, periodically holding up printed copies of the old images hoping to see remains of the old within the contemporary Japanese landscape. Initially, the experience gave me a sensation akin to that of time traveling, but I came to realize its potential for learning about an environment through discussing and sharing an experience with others. Admittedly though, I was a bit behind the times.

American landscape photographer Mark Klett has been working with rephotography since the 1970s. Within the photographic works created by Mark and frequent collaborator Byron Wolfe, rephotography not only illustrates the passing of time, but it also serves to initiate discussions about a place over time. While the images evoke awe, they secretly gnaw away at you. They whisper you to try it for yourself: to get an old image, get your camera and experience time/change. Rephotography is essentially the beginning of a journey.

This rephotography workshop began life as an impromptu suggestion. I had been given an imminent deadline to find overseas guests for the coming semester so I braved an email to Mark and Byron pitching the idea of a workshop in Izmir.

Despite having never met me in person, both were enthusiastic and a budget was quickly drawn up and submitted for their visit.

Byron was unfortunately unable to make the trip, but Mark withstood three long flights to spend a week here in May of 2013.

Prior to the workshop, time was spent in Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Piristina City Archive and Museum looking

for hi-resolution images of locations within the city that could continue to exist today. This search generated over 100 images, a number which was whittled down to approximately 30 possible scenes through two preliminary site visits. The workshop itself took place over five days with originally six students from the Faculty of Fine Art and Design at Izmir University of Economics, and was structured as follows: the first day saw the participants being taught the core principles of obtaining an accurate rephotograph; the second day was spent applying those principles on a very hot day in Izmir city centre (the location of most of the historical images); the third and fourth days saw participants work with Mark in the studio to combine their contemporary images with the historical ones, while also rephotographing locations further afield; the fifth day (by far the most chaotic!) had participants preparing and printing their work for an exhibition.

Despite the small number of participants, the exhibition was a successful event with a number of visitors appreciating the work long after the exhibition opened. Moreover, each of the participating students experienced a valuable and memorable change in their relationship with images and time. Yet probably most significant of all was that a discussion was started about a place over time. That place was Izmir and that discussion is now well-and-truly ongoing.

Gary McLeod, August 2013 _________ Gary McLeod is a photographer and practice-led researcher teaching at Izmir University of Economics, Turkey. He is currently finishing his PhD on a participatory rephotographic method at the University of the Arts, London.

the workshop

the exhibition

the artists

Mark Klett

Bazar Souven覺r de Smyrne (2013) Inkjet Print, 78.7 x 28.8 cm

Meydan (2013) Inkjet Print, 176.9 x 106.7 cm

Two Men Walking Past the Clock Tower (2013) Inkjet Print, 125.8 x 73.7 cm

Statue and Bus (2013) Inkjet Print, 110 x 46.9 cm

Fading Tower (2013) Inkjet Print, 69.9 x 32.8 cm

Utku Namlises

Alsancak Gar (2013) Digital Video Installation, 35 secs

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Digital Video Installation, 1 min 42 secs

Hakan Özgür

Meydan (2013) Inkjet Print, 41.7 x 62.3 cm

Meydan (2013) Inkjet Print, 8.1 x 9.7 cm

Konak (2013) Inkjet Print, 43 x 32.2 cm

Sirket Buluvar (2013) Inkjet Print, 11.3 x 7 cm

Konak (2013) Inkjet Print, 22.4 x 15.6 cm

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Inkjet Print, 34.7 x 52.1 cm

Gรถkberk Nur

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Interactive Digital Installation, Dimensions Variable

Sirket Buluvar (2013) Digital Video, 23 secs

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Digital Video, 24 secs

Statue (2013) Digital Video, 34 secs

Ä°skender YĂźksel

Alsancak Gar (2013) Inkjet Print, 54.9 x 36.6 cm

Konak (2013) Inkjet Print, 54.9 x 36.6 cm

Konak (2013) Inkjet Print, 60 x 40 cm

Statue (2013) Inkjet Print, 50.6 x 33.8 cm

Alsancak Gar (2013) Digital Video, 27 secs

Meydan (2013) Inkjet Print, 60.4 x 40.2 cm

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Inkjet Print, 54.9 x 26.6 cm

Izmir Clock Tower (2013) Inkjet Print, 36.6 x 54.9 cm

Acknowledgements:

This rephotography workshop owes its existence to a number of organizations and people. Firstly, thank you to Izmir University of Economics and the efforts of members of the department of Visual Communication Design to make the workshop possible. Particular thanks are expressed toward Asst. Prof. Dr. Fulya Ertem Başkaya, Gökhan Mura, and Artun Özgüner for their general assistance prior to and throughout the workshop. Thank you also to Eser Sivri for his technical assistance, Ersan Çeliktaş for documenting events, and Offisser for use of their printer. A warm thank you to Utku Namlises, Gökberk Nur, Hakan Özgür, and İskender Yüksel for their participation and enthusiasm throughout the workshop. In addition to the aforementioned participants, thanks must also go to Can Aviral and Alp Güngör, who participated in the initial stages of the workshop but unfortuantely could not continue. Appreciation goes to the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Piristina City Archive and Museum for providing historical images of the city of Izmir. Gratitude must be expressed to Prof.

Dr. Ender Yazgun Bulgan, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, whom along with the Izmir University of Economics Board of Trustees, made the workshop financially possible. Lastly, a special thanks goes to Mark Klett, without whom the workshop could never had existed, nor would we have learnt so much.

Gary McLeod

The copyright of all artworks contained within this book belong to the respective creators. Book design by Gary McLeod. Photography by Ersan Çeliktaş & Gary McLeod. Typeset in Akizendz & Times.