Kırkpınar — Elif Öztürk

Anadolu Ajansının deneyimli foto muhabiri Elif Öztürk ün gözünden Kırkpınar photobook u AA Kitap tan yayımlandı World Press Photo da ödüle layık görülen Kırkpınar serisi pehlivanların üç gün süren er meydanındaki hırslı mücadelesi ve müsabakalar öncesindeki hazırlıklarını anlatıyor Siyah beyaz estetik fotoğraflardan oluşan Kırkpınar kitabını tüm seçkin kitapçılardan temin edebilirsiniz

Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling is the world s oldest wrestling festival with its origins tracing back to the 14th century in Rumelia It stands as the second oldest combined sports event after the Olympics Following the conquest of Edirne by Murat Bey and his frontier lords uc beyi in 1361 a wrestling competition was inaugurated during the summer of the same year under the auspices of Murat Bey in honor of the forty brave raiders who played an essential role in the conquest This event went down in history as Kırkpınar Wrestling Subsequently this prestigious wrestling tournament became an annual tradition in Edirne taking place at the end of June and the beginning of July During the Kırkpınar Wrestling event competitors engage in matches held in a dedicated field over the course of three days The culmination of the tournament occurs on the final day where the top three placements in each weight class literally referred to as a neck boyun are determined The most coveted title bestowed upon the victor is that of bas pehlivan master wrestler During the Kırkpınar Festival wrestling competitions and various other activities take place While wrestling events were also part of fairs organized in the Ottoman era it was only at Kırkpınar that the wrestler who earned the title bas master or literally head was recognized as bas pehlivan until the following year s tournament From the moment I first heard about the tournament I sensed the potential to capture compelling shots a prospect that greatly excited me As always my level of interest in the subject directly influences the quality of my photographs Everywhere I looked there was an opportunity for creativity and my aim was to convey the dynamic atmosphere the intensity of emotions and the spirit of competition through my images Until the final matches I had the privilege of getting reasonably close to the participants I followed the competitions kneeling in the grass fully immersed in the action I moved swiftly alongside the wrestlers crouching and darting around to find the perfect angles By the end of each day I realized I was as slick with oil as the wrestlers themselves a detail that now brings a smile to my face whenever I reminisce about Kırkpınar

Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling is the world s oldest wrestling festival with its origins tracing back to the 14th century in Rumelia It stands as the second oldest combined sports event after the Olympics Following the conquest of Edirne by Murat Bey and his frontier lords uc beyi in 1361 a wrestling competition was inaugurated during the summer of the same year under the auspices of Murat Bey in honor of the forty brave raiders who played an essential role in the conquest This event went down in history as Kırkpınar Wrestling Subsequently this prestigious wrestling tournament became an annual tradition in Edirne taking place at the end of June and the beginning of July During the Kırkpınar Wrestling event competitors engage in matches held in a dedicated field over the course of three days The culmination of the tournament occurs on the final day where the top three placements in each weight class literally referred to as a neck boyun are determined The most coveted title bestowed upon the victor is that of bas pehlivan master wrestler During the Kırkpınar Festival wrestling competitions and various other activities take place While wrestling events were also part of fairs organized in the Ottoman era it was only at Kırkpınar that the wrestler who earned the title bas master or literally head was recognized as bas pehlivan until the following year s tournament From the moment I first heard about the tournament I sensed the potential to capture compelling shots a prospect that greatly excited me As always my level of interest in the subject directly influences the quality of my photographs Everywhere I looked there was an opportunity for creativity and my aim was to convey the dynamic atmosphere the intensity of emotions and the spirit of competition through my images Until the final matches I had the privilege of getting reasonably close to the participants I followed the competitions kneeling in the grass fully immersed in the action I moved swiftly alongside the wrestlers crouching and darting around to find the perfect angles By the end of each day I realized I was as slick with oil as the wrestlers themselves a detail that now brings a smile to my face whenever I reminisce about Kırkpınar

Anadolu Ajansının deneyimli foto muhabiri Elif Öztürk ün gözünden Kırkpınar photobook u AA Kitap tan yayımlandı World Press Photo da ödüle layık görülen Kırkpınar serisi pehlivanların üç gün süren er meydanındaki hırslı mücadelesi ve müsabakalar öncesindeki hazırlıklarını anlatıyor Siyah beyaz estetik fotoğraflardan oluşan Kırkpınar kitabını tüm seçkin kitapçılardan temin edebilirsiniz