Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Sukru Mehmet Omur from Turkey
We have decided to launch a new intimate style of interview into TheAppWhisperer – the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website. We feel it is important that our community feel close to each other, as it is this support that helps us to nurture one another, gain confidence and continue to grow.
This is our third interview, our two previous interviews with myself and Sarah Bichachi, can be found here. Today, we are publishing our next interview, with Sukru Mehmet Omur from Istanbul in Turkey. Trained as a Doctor, Omur provides a cure for all that ails you with his cultural flair of mobile photography and art. This is an interview that shifts and squalls, a great adventure with forensic tenderness. A complete delight, enjoy!
What was your childhood or earliest ambition?
I remember from my childhood, that I wanted to become a pilot or a doctor, I was 9 years old. In the end I became a doctor.
First Recognition?
I was very succesful in sports and I started getting awards for this when I was 12 years old.
First job?
During my medical school years I used to be guide for french travelers in Cappadocia, central Anatolia. This wonderland gave me the taste of photography and travelling. This region is where I started taking photographs and learned how it was to travel and discover different places and meet different people.
Private or state school?
Both. Private for Lycee and then State schools. I was in a private French school and went to state school and university.
University or Work?
University for a long period. First medical education takes a long time and then I worked as a teacher.
Who was or still is your mentor?
A very close friend of mine was my mentor. Brillant, intelligent and a gentile man. Now I see him rarely.
How physically fit are you?
Not bad, I have recently gained some weight that I need to lose.
Ambition or talent: What matters more to success?
I think that Ambition is more important than talent for the success in life.
How politically committed are you?
I am interested to all the political issues, and I think that our world is not so healthy.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
I have no other ambition I am satisfied with all I have and that makes me happy.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Collections. I like to collect things which are mostly useless. I think this is a disease, but a good one.
In what place are you happiest?
A triangle between Paris-Istanbul- and some other place that could change in a northern country, makes me happy.
What ambitions do you still have?
I would love to draw and paint, be completely immersed into arts.
What drives you on?
I am devoted to mobile photography and art. TuMobArt, a Turkish mobile artists community drives me lot.
What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
To live a healthy and happy life, enjoy life and work on mobile artistry.
What do you find most irritating in other people?
Liars and superficial people, I don’t want to be with any of them.
If your 20 year old self could see you now, what would he think?
He would tell me “Bravo! You succeeded”.
Which object that you’ve lost do you wish you still had?
I don’t have so much interest to objects. I lose many things and I forget quickly. Maybe that’s why I collect. I collect to lose:))
What is the greatest challenge of our time?
Environmental problems, pollutions, immigration problems and world politics.
Do you believe in an afterlife?
I am agnostic.
If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score?
9/10 I am happy.
Thank you for this amazing interview Joanne carter.
Contact Details for Sukru Mehmet Omur
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photographer, photography journalist, editor and curator and the founder and editorial director of TheAppWhisperer.com, an independent international photography publication established in 2009.Her journalism, criticism and commentary have appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, BBC, Vogue Italia, LensCulture, Popular Photography, Android Magazine, NikonPro, DPReview, Which Digital Camera and Which Camera. She has lectured internationally on photography and mobile art, served as a juror for international photography awards, and exhibited her own photographic work across the UK, Europe, South Korea and the United States.Alongside her editorial work, Joanne's photographic and postgraduate research explores death, grief, memory, representation and social inequality through contemporary photography, participatory practice and visual research methods, with the longer-term aim of developing this work through doctoral research.Through TheAppWhisperer, she continues to publish independent photography journalism spanning contemporary photographic practice, mobile imaging, photographic apps, computational photography and emerging imaging technologies.Joanne is available for editorial commissions, photography projects, judging, curatorial work, speaking engagements, consultancy and selected collaborations.
