She was born in Turkey, in 1971. She studied photography and videography master’s degree and a healthcare management master’s degree. She is named Excellent Honor Artist Photographer (FIAP EFIAP) by FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique). First, she started photography with newborn photos in hospitals. She has women entrepreneurship, communication, fast reading, sign language certificates. She has taken over 300 awards both local and international photography competitions. Her works are used in magazines, official brochures, and newspapers in Turkey. She is married, has a child, and live in Cappadocia now. She gives free seminars, workshops, and classes about photography in Nevsehir.

Short Story of Her Life

I’m Derya Yazar. The interesting part of my story is out of the box. I graduated from high school then married my husband and we have a child. Until my son going to university, everything was ordinary. After my son leaves the house for his education and unstable work hours of my husband, I realized that I can’t be here for only consuming. These years, I had a serious disease about my brain and as a consequence, the left of my body was paralyzed. During this time, photography helps me to hold on to life against the side effects of my disease and my unordinary situation. Photography as my hobby which I started with the help of my friends and family transformed into my passion. I rock the disease and do my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in photography. I could complete my education in really hard conditions. I tried many things until I found my passion but any of them didn’t make me as happy as photography. I went to many countries and could observe people’s social life.  The women who live in Cappadocia can express themselves to the whole world, this is beyond the imagination. Decide, work hard, and never give up. That’s my story.
Sincerely, Derya Yazar.

Instagram: deryayazar_art_photographer
Youtube: Derya Yazar
Facebook: Derya Yazar Master Of Fine Arts
www.deryayazar.com

Name: Red Woman, Place: Italy, Date: 31.01.2016,
Award: Brooklyn 2017 United States2017/415,
Description: Mask festival in Italy, San Marko Square.

Name: Ganvie and Child, Place: Africa, Bennin, Date: 14.09.2017
Award: BENIN 1st INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST, ANAPH AB SPECIAL AWARD, Description: Unhappiness, hard conditions

Name: Varanasi Sunrise, Place: India, Varanasi, Date: 17.02.2018
Award: 2018 Huangbai Mountain International Photography Exhibition,
Description: Holy river Varanis and child play with a snake

Name: Iranian Street, Place: Iran, Erdebil, Date: 12.10.2016,
Award: KORYKOS 2018, IAAP RIBBON,
Description: People from Caferi Sect memorized holy dead.

Name: Sunrise, Place: Vietnam, Date: 13.07.2016,
Award: Moldova Photo Awards Ukraine,
Description: Workers drill salt from lake, this photo is reversed. Turn 180 degrees to see the real image.

Name: Washing Women, Place: Nepal, Pokhara, Date: 17.04.2015,
Award: Russian Photo Awards Ukraine,
Description: Lake is the only cleaning sources of poor people of Nepal

Name: White Hand, Place: Africa, Benin, Date: 13.09.2017,
Award: MOF 2018 7th INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, IAAP GOLD MEDAL,
Description: Fear and anxiety in center of a slave, a contrast of black and white

Name: Three Trees, Place: Turkey, Kayseri, Date: 27.01.2018,
Award: 6th GREEK PHOTOGRAPHIC CIRCUIT 2018 SANTORIN,
Description: Snow and white. Naked three trees.

Questions

1. What is art for you?
   Art is finding beauty in substance and discovering it. Being honest and sincere. Beating all kinds of negative feelings, purifying, and developing.

3. What do you feel when you take a photo?
   Photography is like breathing for me. It’s like feeling that I’m alive. Documenting life which flows constantly. It’s like summarizing a whole film with a photo. I try to express my life which I added my feelings and my soul with photos.
4. What was the photo you had most trouble taking? Why?
   Nepal was the first country that I went to as a photographer. My duty was taking hospital and stuff photos. We don’t speak the same language, so I tried to explain my stomach pain with sign language in 3 different hospitals and took photos. The healthcare conditions and life were initial and very hard. I take photos everywhere like an operating room and anyone didn’t ask me any permission. People in Nepal are used for exploitation. Anyone doesn’t say anything when I want to take their photos. I cried a lot. I was really upset. It’s unfair. They are slaves in their land. It affected me too much.

Name: Refugee Camp, Place: Turkey, Urfa, Date: 15.12.2015,
Award: BALKAN DREAM 2017 Serbia 2017/162, FSS GOLD MEDAL,
Description: Hard conditions in Syria refugee camp in Turkey

5. What country did you have the most difficulty in taking pictures?
   Taking a photo in Iran is very difficult, especially as a woman. You might always face a ban or inhibition. You are always watched by revolutionary guards in Iran. They take your camera and delete photos that they don’t want to be shared. On the first day in Iran, I took a photo of an empty mosque and they deleted it. I even was interrogated by police about the photos I took.
6. What are your suggestions for beginners?
   First, they should learn using light. Examine many photos, edit them before taking them.

Name: Havana Street, Place: Cuba, La Habana, Date: 30.04.2017
Award: 5th OLYMPIC CIRCUIT 2017 ZEUS Greece, Description: Poverty and Cuba.

7. What are your recommendations to those who are interested in photography?
   Photography is consisting of eye on the one hand and idea on the other hand. They need to follow both light and shadow to discover the three dimensions of photography.  They can try to take a photo like professional photos which they like. They should answer this question “How would I take this photo If I took”. Then, they will find their style.
8. Where do you see yourself in the world of photography?
   Although I have received hundreds of awards, I’m still a photographer who is trying to learn and develop with the love of photography.

Name: Baloon, Place: Turkey, Nevsehir, Date: 29.10.2015, Award: 1st International Contest Light and Shadow Montenegro,
Description: Traditional air balloon in blue hours.

8. What is your expectation in the future?
   I spend both my financial and moral energy on photography and it was really hard to learn to take a photo for me. I completed my Master’s degree when I was 46.  I want to share my experiences with young people who want to improve their selves in photography. I want to find a photography department in my city because I live in Cappadocia, the best natural photo plateau in the world. Maybe, this reportage can support my expectations.

10. Is there anything you would like to recommend to young people?
    Youth is our future.  It doesn’t matter what is their job, photography enhances the importance of the job. They should learn how to take a photo.  They can transfer presents to the future in this way.
11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a female photographer?
    Being a woman and a mother is an advantage. I made a difference thanks to my knowledge and experiences.  It supports communication. I could take everyone’s photo without prejudice. Photography is a disadvantage in places where photography is forbidden or false depending on places’ beliefs.

Name: Vietnam Four Fisherman, Place: Vietnam, Date: 10.07.2016
Award: 1st MAHFUZ ULLAH MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST 2017 Bangladesh,
Description: Visual show of fisherman

Doğukan Sever