An Elegy For An Erased Heritage

• Prize
  Silver in Architecture/Historic
• Photographer
  Esra Belgin
• Photo Date
  2015

This is the story of a building that once held a soul—now lost. I took these photos a decade ago, when it was already vanishing. In the early 20th century, "Narmanlı Han" echoed Istanbul’s artistic spirit. Poets, painters, wanderers found refuge within its stone walls. Today, that fragile beauty is gone. In its place stands a polished replica—restored for tourism, rebranded for commerce. This photo story is not just about a building—it is a lament for a cultural inheritance overwritten by profit. It is my farewell—to the "Narmanlı Han" that was, and the Istanbul that quietly let it go.

With more than three decades of experience, Esra Belgin works primarily in documentary photography, street photography, and photojournalism. Her approach is rooted in observation and authenticity, concentrating on candid moments that reflect social realities and everyday life. Her photographs have been recognized with several awards in national and international competitions.