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HISTORIC ARCHIVES OF STUDIO OSEP REVEALED
AZG DAILY
13-01-2010
Diaspora
Sociologist Tayfun Sertta has revealed the near-forgotten story of
Studio Osep, the leading photography studio in Turkey for decades,
with a new book that synthesizes 10 years of research and presents
some 6,500 archival photos, Hurriyet Daily News reported, according
to Armenian Mirror Spectator.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story omitted the origin of
Minasoglu's family.
If the story of Osep Minasoglu - born Hovsep Minasyon to a family
of Armenian origin - had not accidentally crossed the path of
sociologist Tayfun Sertta, then Minasoglu's 70-year adventure as a
Turkish studio-photography pioneer could have been lost to history.
Minasoglu started taking photos with an Agfa camera that his brother
gave him when he was still a child. During the 1950s, he learned
photographic techniques from experts at the U.S.-based Kodak Company
in his spare time.
His family was wealthy. Minasoglu received his education at Saint Beno,
French School in Beyoglu, which was attended largely by students of
privilege. But a surprise awaited the Minasoglu family during World War
II: the Wealth Tax, which was issued in 1942 during the administration
of Prime Minister Saracoglu. This tax on the country's rich was
applied in part to discriminate against the financial independence of
Turkey's non-Muslims. Many successful non-Muslims lost their wealth,
while those who failed to pay the tax were sent to work camps in the
eastern Anatolian province of Erzurum.
Non-Muslim financial independence was similarly affected by the events
of Sept. 6-7, 1955, which left a stain on Turkey's recent history.
Tension between Turkey and Greece had been increasing because of
the Cyprus problem while public opinion was very sensitive toward
further provocation, meaning that even the slightest spark could
cause a societal explosion. This inferno duly happened.
On Sept. 6, the Istanbul Express reported that Ataturk's house had
been bombed in Thessaloniki. People rushed into the streets, attacking
Greeks, Armenians and Jews over the course of two days. The Minasoglu
family was also attacked, shortly after losing its wealth in the wake
of the Wealth Tax. Minasoglu had to leave school.
Following the events, Kodak closed down its branch office in Turkey.
With reference letters from the company in hand, Minasoglu left
Turkeyfor Beirut and traveled on to Paris.
Now, in honor of the photographer, sociologist Tayfun Sertta has
published Studio Osep, a Turkish- and English-language work from Aras
Publishing that features the results of his 10 years of research on
Minasoglu. Furthermore, an exhibition displaying photos compiled from
Minasoglu's archives has opened at Gallery Non in Istanbul'sTophane
district.
All photos in the book and exhibition were compiled from 6,500images
found in Minasoglu's single-room house in Tarlaba.
The sociologist, speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News; Economic
Review,recounted the photographer's 70-year story.
"I have been researching the life of Minasoglu for 10 years. I spent
most of my days with him, but I only realized that I was with such
a legend five years ago", said Sertta.
Minasoglu's Paris adventure ended because of the 1956 war between
France and Algeria; because of pressures against immigrants, he was
forced to return to Istanbul. He opened a studio in Sirkeci and took
tourist photos using a Polaroid camera.
Minasoglu said the Polaroid camera was not used in Turkey during
those years, meaning that Minasoglu was able to take advantage of
the technology and earn good money within a short time.
Later on, Studio Osep moved to a new location covering 350 square
meters on Topagac Street in Taksim. Minasoglu began to take photos
of future actors and actresses. Turkey's Hollywood gained new faces
thanks to him. Fittingly for a photographer involved with actors and
actresses, the studio is also remembered today as thefirst in Turkey
to retouch photos.
Minasoglu not only photographed actors and actresses but also
politicians and ambassadors.
AZG DAILY
13-01-2010
Diaspora
Sociologist Tayfun Sertta has revealed the near-forgotten story of
Studio Osep, the leading photography studio in Turkey for decades,
with a new book that synthesizes 10 years of research and presents
some 6,500 archival photos, Hurriyet Daily News reported, according
to Armenian Mirror Spectator.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story omitted the origin of
Minasoglu's family.
If the story of Osep Minasoglu - born Hovsep Minasyon to a family
of Armenian origin - had not accidentally crossed the path of
sociologist Tayfun Sertta, then Minasoglu's 70-year adventure as a
Turkish studio-photography pioneer could have been lost to history.
Minasoglu started taking photos with an Agfa camera that his brother
gave him when he was still a child. During the 1950s, he learned
photographic techniques from experts at the U.S.-based Kodak Company
in his spare time.
His family was wealthy. Minasoglu received his education at Saint Beno,
French School in Beyoglu, which was attended largely by students of
privilege. But a surprise awaited the Minasoglu family during World War
II: the Wealth Tax, which was issued in 1942 during the administration
of Prime Minister Saracoglu. This tax on the country's rich was
applied in part to discriminate against the financial independence of
Turkey's non-Muslims. Many successful non-Muslims lost their wealth,
while those who failed to pay the tax were sent to work camps in the
eastern Anatolian province of Erzurum.
Non-Muslim financial independence was similarly affected by the events
of Sept. 6-7, 1955, which left a stain on Turkey's recent history.
Tension between Turkey and Greece had been increasing because of
the Cyprus problem while public opinion was very sensitive toward
further provocation, meaning that even the slightest spark could
cause a societal explosion. This inferno duly happened.
On Sept. 6, the Istanbul Express reported that Ataturk's house had
been bombed in Thessaloniki. People rushed into the streets, attacking
Greeks, Armenians and Jews over the course of two days. The Minasoglu
family was also attacked, shortly after losing its wealth in the wake
of the Wealth Tax. Minasoglu had to leave school.
Following the events, Kodak closed down its branch office in Turkey.
With reference letters from the company in hand, Minasoglu left
Turkeyfor Beirut and traveled on to Paris.
Now, in honor of the photographer, sociologist Tayfun Sertta has
published Studio Osep, a Turkish- and English-language work from Aras
Publishing that features the results of his 10 years of research on
Minasoglu. Furthermore, an exhibition displaying photos compiled from
Minasoglu's archives has opened at Gallery Non in Istanbul'sTophane
district.
All photos in the book and exhibition were compiled from 6,500images
found in Minasoglu's single-room house in Tarlaba.
The sociologist, speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News; Economic
Review,recounted the photographer's 70-year story.
"I have been researching the life of Minasoglu for 10 years. I spent
most of my days with him, but I only realized that I was with such
a legend five years ago", said Sertta.
Minasoglu's Paris adventure ended because of the 1956 war between
France and Algeria; because of pressures against immigrants, he was
forced to return to Istanbul. He opened a studio in Sirkeci and took
tourist photos using a Polaroid camera.
Minasoglu said the Polaroid camera was not used in Turkey during
those years, meaning that Minasoglu was able to take advantage of
the technology and earn good money within a short time.
Later on, Studio Osep moved to a new location covering 350 square
meters on Topagac Street in Taksim. Minasoglu began to take photos
of future actors and actresses. Turkey's Hollywood gained new faces
thanks to him. Fittingly for a photographer involved with actors and
actresses, the studio is also remembered today as thefirst in Turkey
to retouch photos.
Minasoglu not only photographed actors and actresses but also
politicians and ambassadors.