Prologue

Call me Ci Demi. I'm a documentarian photographer.

For nearly a decade, I’ve been photographing Istanbul with the intent of studying its psychogeography. My curiosity about the city remains endless, as anything can change at any given moment here. The urban landscape is never the same; it's like songs playing in shuffle: sometimes there's harmony, and other times you just want to skip to the next possibility.

I spent the last six years oscillating between the idea of leaving this city forever or staying… forever. This seemingly endless tide resulted in a story: Unutursan Darılmam (No Offence If You Forget, 2018 - 2024). At one point, I even went to New Zealand, only to return somewhat disappointed upon realising I wasn’t capable of leaving Istanbul behind. So, I made a difficult decision: I may not always be around, but I will live here for as long as I am allowed.

This Peculiar Day takes place in the present timeline where I have decided to stay. Instead of a complete story, you will witness a narrative unfold through photographs and paragraphs. This is a story about staying; I don't know how it will end, but I must document every moment of it. I started this visual newsletter to share updates, new photographs, musings, and thoughts about photography itself. You're more than welcome to join in.

You can expect entries from the newsletter at most once a week. However, do check the page from time to time, as I will publish some posts exclusively on the blog. In time, this place will become an organism; a definitive record of lived personal experiences captured in many, many photographs.

Follow my stories elsewhere: Website, Instagram, and Mastodon.