ISTANBUL (Public Radio of Armenia) — Tosbaga Street in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, Turkey, has formally been named after famous Istanbul Armenian photographer Ara Güler.
Güler photographed the sign of the street named after him and posted it on his Twitter account.
Güler has lived at this street for many years, and his photo studio is also located there.
Güler, who was recognized as “Photographer of the Century” and is also known as the “Eye of Istanbul,” was born in the city in 1928. He began his journalistic career in 1950, he has received many Turkish and international awards and titles, and he has photographed numerous world-renowned personalities.
He studied at Getronagan Armenian High School. His father owned a pharmacy, but had many friends that belonged to the world of art. Ara Güler came into contact with these people and they inspired him to opt for a career in films/cinema. He worked in film studios and joined courses of drama under Muhsin Ertugrul. Later, he leaned towards journalism and abandoned cinema. In 1950, he joined Yeni Istanbul, a Turkish newspaper, as a photojournalist. During the same time, he studied economics from University of Istanbul. Then he started working for Hürriyet.
In 1958 when Time-Life, the American publication, opened its bureau in Turkey, Güler became its initial correspondent. Soon enough he started to get commissioned by other international magazines, such as Stern, Paris Match and Sunday Times, London. In 1961, he was hired by Hayat magazine as the chief photographer.