California Streets

CALIFORNIA STREETS I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS I AM TURKI

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

INTRODUCTION I flew halfway around the planet to escape a painfully dull job in Riyadh.

I knew that I had more to give to the world; I just needed to figure out what it was. I am Turki, and in spring 2014, I departed Saudi Arabia to begin my journey to San Francisco, California.

My love of apparel and textiles lead me initially to become a Merchandising major at the Academy of Art University. However, seeing as that path was leading down the road of a business-focused profession, I wanted to change course for something else where I could express my creativity. Hence, I changed my major to Photography. I took the risk, hoping that photography would open a new chapter in my life, and a journey in which I can work at something that reflects my passion. Early on I was drawn towards documentary and street photography. The work of photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, Alec Soth, Arnold Newman, and Eli Reed strongly appealed to me.

Bresson’s concept of the decisive moment is genius, and I had a chance to visit his exhibition at the Leica Store in San Francisco in early 2017. Looking at the original photographs of Tours De Notre Dam, and Place de L’Europe, and Gare Saint Lazare 1932, was like poetry for my eyes. Joseph Koudelka and his book “Gypsies” made me understand that documentary photography goes deeper than just having an eye or creating an image. One would have to understand that when choosing a long-term subject to photograph, he must love the people he is surrounded by, and become them in a certain way. Alec Soth’s approach of lyrical documentary also made me understand how a series of images can tell a story. Arnold Newman and his placement of subjects in their environments made 6

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

me think of portraiture differently. Finally, after attending Eli’s Reed lecture in 2015 at the San Francisco Art Institute, I had the pleasure of meeting him and had a book signed by him. I was stunned by the diversity of work he has created during his career. The use of different lenses for different occasions and different subject matter taught me that lenses are like outfits; you must know which one to wear for a given occasion.

My work is heavily inspired by my travels during my undergraduate studies at Franklin University in Switzerland. We had what we called “Academic Travel” instead of normal school breaks. Each trip was led by an instructor and had a specific topic that we focused on. We got to visit New York and learn about banking on Wall Street from Citibank. We traveled to Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia to learn about sustainable agriculture. The university also took us to Harvard, MIT, London, Southern Germany, and the Dominican Republic as well. After graduating I continued to travel because it is the best education. I went to Peru to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu. I traveled to Ecuador and climbed one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, Cotopaxi. I went to Argentina and visited La Boca District of Buenos Aires. I saw where tango artists perform in Caminito, and visited La Bombonera Stadium, home of Boca Juniors. Because I seek out these experiences, my eye is distinguished from peers.

This work includes a series of images taken candidly between San Francisco and San Diego during the years of 2015-2017. They are a portrait of the streets, places, and the people who happen to be there at very specific moments during my journey.

7

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

Although this stand was far from legal, the owner was friendly to my friend and me. We chatted and laughed a little bit, and then I asked if I can respectfully take a portrait and that is when he yelled back saying “Yeah dude you got that old school looking camera, you know what you are doing.”

ABBOT KINNEY BLVD, LOS ANGELES

8

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

9

I AM TURKI

HAPPY DONUT, SAN FRANCISCO

10

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

MAIDEN LANE, SAN FRANCISCO

11

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

Finding something delicate in a harsh location is one of the things that attracts me to street photography.

MONTGOMERY BART STATION, SAN FRANCISCO

12

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

13

I AM TURKI

LA JOLLA BEACH, SAN DIEGO

14

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

CIVIC CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO

15

I AM TURKI

UNION STREET, SAN FRANCISCO

16

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

CHINATOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

17

I AM TURKI

BROOKLYN GIRL RESTAURANT, SAN DIEGO

18

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

UNION SQUARE, SAN FRANCISCO

19

I AM TURKI

RESPONSIBILITY

20

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

The Tenderloin is full of people down on their luck, but I do not think it is ethical to exploit them photographically. To me, the man popping out of the window expresses the feeling of uncertainty and being on the edge.

THE TENDERLOIN, SAN FRANCISCO

21

I AM TURKI

SOMA WEST SKATEPARK, SAN FRANCISCO

22

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

SOMA WEST SKATEPARK, SAN FRANCISCO

23

I AM TURKI

24

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

I like how urban people behave in public spaces. It is just so varied. Not in a homeless way, but in a way that makes the streets an extension of their home.

LOWER NOB HILL, SAN FRANCISCO

25

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

This used to be a more common sight back home in Saudi Arabia. People used to hangout and socialize more on the street than they do today.

RUSSIAN HILL, SAN FRANCISCO

26

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

27

I AM TURKI

HAYES VALLEY, SAN FRANCISCO

28

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

THE MARINA, SAN FRANCISCO

29

I AM TURKI

THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT, SAN FRANCISCO

30

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

THE MISSION, SAN FRANCISCO

31

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

It does get a little chilly in San Francisco, but to see someone pull off a cape like that is a rare scene. The matching soft shapes contracting with shiny shoes looked beautiful. She knew what she was doing with her style.

RUSSIAN HILL, SAN FRANCISCO

32

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

33

I AM TURKI

SOUTH OF MARKET, SAN FRANCISCO

34

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

UNION SQUARE, SAN FRANCISCO

35

I AM TURKI

DOWNTOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

36

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

BELCAMPO RESTAURANT, SAN FRANCISCO

37

I AM TURKI

NOB HILL, SAN FRANCISCO

38

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT, SAN FRANCISCO

39

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

CONCLUSION These streets have shown me grit and they have shown me beauty. I feel honored and humbled that these strangers trust my eyes to tell their stories.

The experience is both exhilarating and meditative. I need it to live.

40

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

WHERE WILL THESE STREETS TAKE ME NEXT?

41

I AM TURKI

CALIFORNIA STREETS

DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my mother and father, my two brothers and sister, and to my friends and family. It is also dedicated to the instructors who led my path to become the photographer I am today. These are Jeff Weston, Jim Sienkiewicz, Michael Hirst, Emmanuelle Namont Kouznetsov, Eric Butler, Andrei Riskin, Adrienne Pao, Michael Sims, David Wasserman, and Roger Muller. Thank you all for the continuous constructive feedback, and for always pushing me forward.

42

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

43

I AM TURKI

COLOPHON TURKI ALANGARI PHOTOGRAPHER

iamturki.com info@iamturki.com Nick Drexler Copywriter Scarlett Liu Graphic Designer scarlettliu.com Plotnet Vadim Zaychick (Principal) (415) 762-0200 ext 101 1228 Folsom Street, Suite 100 San Francisco CA 94103 Key Printing and Binding 1934 Park Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606 (510) 595-3311

44

CALIFORNIA STREETS

I AM TURKI

48

CALIFORNIA STREETS