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I Had Spent 12 Years Shooting This Window Until Owners Demolished The Building – I Caught Its Final Moment

I live in Istanbul for 24 years. I’m a lawyer and a photographer. This was the window I used to see every day against my room, so only I was able to see it from this angle. Like I said, for 12 years, I saw it every day, we saw so many faces of each other.

During that time, I posted some of it’s pictures to the internet and in a way, it caught people’s attention. Publishers used two of them on book covers and one is showcased in an exhibition. One day, owners of the building decided to dismantle it, in order to build a new one. While the building was being dismantled, I managed to take a final picture.

More info: Instagram

I Had Spent 12 Years Shooting This Window Until Owners Demolished The Building - I Caught Its Final Moment

384Kviews

My name is Alper Yesiltas, lawyer & photographer living in Istanbul, imagining scenes and capturing memories for about 19 years. During that time, some of my photos are edited worldwide in books, magazines, exhibitions, web sites and were awarded in several photo contests.

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What do you think ?

POST

Alia G. 6 years ago

Wow... It’s interesting how people can get attached to inanimate objects they’ve never seen. Here I am getting emotional about a window. A really well done series!

96points

Zori the degu 6 years ago

Why does this make me so sad? :(

45points

Ehren Thomsen 6 years ago

The last image really made me weep.

30points

Load More Replies...

Erisa Desu 6 years ago

some of those building were left behind when the owners were removed and exiled from Turkey. Authorities didn't want to take over those properties in case the exiled asked for compensation. So they left them to decay. You will a lot of houses like that all over Turkey....or at least that's what the guide told us.

3points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

its cool bro

0points

Bored Phoenix 6 years ago

The last image... EXPLODES in your face!

31points

Renard Bansale 6 years ago

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

0points

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Hari Onago 6 years ago

When I read the title I thought: "12 years shooting a window, are you nuts?" However after looking at your pictures I retract my previous comment. I can see now how it is just not a window but much more than that. Beautiful pictures and great storytelling through these photographs, they moved me.

18points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

I was thinking...stalker...

0points

Load More Replies...

Jay Broderick 6 years ago

It's a window...stop crying!!!! bye bye little window....it's a freaking window!!! sniff....

11points

Ehren Thomsen 6 years ago

Jay, don't get upset by all the downvotes. I heard you sobbing. Here, here, you're not alone *hugs Jay*

2points

Load More Replies...

Plasti Caca 6 years ago

You should have taken the window and make it a picture frame for one of your window photos. It would get a second life. Maybe it's still out there though. Sad.

10points

AngelofThursdays 6 years ago

That was actually beautiful... it had its own life and experiences then died, and now I am emotionally compromised because of a window.

7points

GalaxyInAJar 6 years ago

Beautiful, made me smile, glad you got that last one

6points

Erisa Desu 6 years ago

there are so many abandoned buildings in Istanbul. They should have renovated instead demolition it. No one can claim those houses either way.Those who left can't return.

5points

Rebekah 6 years ago

Simply stunning. And sad. It's just a damn window and I'm having all the feels. VERY well done.

5points

Mariam Hovhannessian 6 years ago

It's so emotional.

5points

Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago

There's something about curtains in the breeze. Comfortable melancholy, if there is such a thing.

4points

Lachlan Steininger 6 years ago

Why am I nearly tearing up?!

3points

Oscar 6 years ago

So cool and sad at the same time.

3points

Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago

Beautiful, very touching.

3points

Skylar Rowe 6 years ago

Wow...

3points

Risuki Tikiyaki 6 years ago

I feeling alone and forgotten after death

2points

Sami 6 years ago

What a neat window it was! Some awesome photos

2points

Belle Clark 6 years ago

Wow a window does wonders.

2points

Jennifer Foster 6 years ago

Beautiful pictures! This is so sad... :( :(

2points

Oii 6 years ago

Poor window

2points

Zoltan Honvari 6 years ago

This is just brilliant.

2points

La Roldana 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

1point

Jean-luc Picard 6 years ago

It's like looking into a sad and lonely soul who finally gives everything up. Quite melancholic in it's own sad way. Deep.

1point

Shruti Naik 6 years ago

This is so perfectly wonderful! And that last pic looked straight out of a movie with destruction and chaos all around it.

1point

Olivia Milford 6 years ago

Hahaha at first I thought that the last picture was a advertisement for clash of clans or something like that

1point

Nadine Ducca 6 years ago

Oh, no! WINDOW! :-O Beautiful photos!

1point

Carol Williams 6 years ago

Goodbye...

0points

Ivan Gonzalez 6 years ago

Amazing...its like the window held on for as long as it could for the final picture. Great series with a powerdul ending.

0points

TRINITY AXIS 6 years ago

12 years, same curtain. Really? :D

0points

Cecilia Bálint 6 years ago

you can spot on the first two pictures that there was a different curtain as well. BTW some curtains are lasting and will stay the same even for a lifetime – so what?

0points

Load More Replies...

Josephine Scott 6 years ago

WOW

0points

Kirsten Preston 6 years ago

Fab captures!

0points

Aya Othman 6 years ago

i don't know why i feel like that , but in somehow it touched me so , u know , building have soul too , amazing story

0points

adis 6 years ago

Bored Panda is feauturing now-days this kind of creations? I dont see what is so special about this!

0points

Carl Brennan 6 years ago

He shlould have asked to keep the window frame when the were demolishing it.

0points

Catori 6 years ago

Somehow that last image saddened me lol I liked that window too and would have done exactly the same thing! Beautiful photos nice one

0points

tsuki nercua 6 years ago

In just a few slides, this window managed to get in to my heart and it made me feel like this window and I have been been together for years and seeing the window in its final moments made sob.

0points

tsuki nercua 6 years ago

why does this make me cry?

0points

Etienne Pisano 6 years ago

"Rear Window"....... :-)

0points

Angie Hamilton 6 years ago

Heartbroken

0points

Carolyn Boin 6 years ago

This could be the next Pixar short movie.

0points

Mark Erwin 6 years ago

It seems that the last image happened so fast I am kind of blindsided. :(

0points

Johanna Zamora 6 years ago

Excellent eye, sir.

0points

Dapur Cep Bobi 6 years ago

my window!!!

0points

Chelle 6 years ago

Wow...

0points

Ellen Light 6 years ago

What's going on in photo #4?

0points

Nawaz Khan 6 years ago

the last one made me sad :(

0points

spirit wolf 6 years ago

But in these pictures it still lives. Unlike one too many unfortunate windows.

0points

Naomi 6 years ago

Incredible !!

0points

Naomi 6 years ago

This is so incredible !

0points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

YOU'RE COOL ALPER YESILTAS!

0points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

KEREN BANGET!!!

0points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

The one with the shadow? Is it Peter Parker?

0points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

The one with the shadow...is it Peter Parker taking photos?

0points

Kristel 6 years ago

What's up with the shadow in the 4th picture though?

0points

Renard Bansale 6 years ago

Just wait. An indie band or ambient electronic artist somewhere will use one of these photos for their next album cover.

-1point

John Smith 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

POST

Alia G. 6 years ago

Wow... It’s interesting how people can get attached to inanimate objects they’ve never seen. Here I am getting emotional about a window. A really well done series!

96points

Zori the degu 6 years ago

Why does this make me so sad? :(

45points

Ehren Thomsen 6 years ago

The last image really made me weep.

30points

Load More Replies...

Erisa Desu 6 years ago

3points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

its cool bro

0points

Bored Phoenix 6 years ago

The last image... EXPLODES in your face!

31points

Renard Bansale 6 years ago

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

0points

Load More Replies...

Hari Onago 6 years ago

18points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

I was thinking...stalker...

0points

Load More Replies...

Jay Broderick 6 years ago

It's a window...stop crying!!!! bye bye little window....it's a freaking window!!! sniff....

11points

Ehren Thomsen 6 years ago

Jay, don't get upset by all the downvotes. I heard you sobbing. Here, here, you're not alone *hugs Jay*

2points

Load More Replies...

Plasti Caca 6 years ago

You should have taken the window and make it a picture frame for one of your window photos. It would get a second life. Maybe it's still out there though. Sad.

10points

AngelofThursdays 6 years ago

That was actually beautiful... it had its own life and experiences then died, and now I am emotionally compromised because of a window.

7points

GalaxyInAJar 6 years ago

Beautiful, made me smile, glad you got that last one

6points

Erisa Desu 6 years ago

there are so many abandoned buildings in Istanbul. They should have renovated instead demolition it. No one can claim those houses either way.Those who left can't return.

5points

Rebekah 6 years ago

Simply stunning. And sad. It's just a damn window and I'm having all the feels. VERY well done.

5points

Mariam Hovhannessian 6 years ago

It's so emotional.

5points

Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago

There's something about curtains in the breeze. Comfortable melancholy, if there is such a thing.

4points

Lachlan Steininger 6 years ago

Why am I nearly tearing up?!

3points

Oscar 6 years ago

So cool and sad at the same time.

3points

Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago

Beautiful, very touching.

3points

Skylar Rowe 6 years ago

Wow...

3points

Risuki Tikiyaki 6 years ago

I feeling alone and forgotten after death

2points

Sami 6 years ago

What a neat window it was! Some awesome photos

2points

Belle Clark 6 years ago

Wow a window does wonders.

2points

Jennifer Foster 6 years ago

Beautiful pictures! This is so sad... :( :(

2points

Oii 6 years ago

Poor window

2points

Zoltan Honvari 6 years ago

This is just brilliant.

2points

La Roldana 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

1point

Jean-luc Picard 6 years ago

It's like looking into a sad and lonely soul who finally gives everything up. Quite melancholic in it's own sad way. Deep.

1point

Shruti Naik 6 years ago

This is so perfectly wonderful! And that last pic looked straight out of a movie with destruction and chaos all around it.

1point

Olivia Milford 6 years ago

Hahaha at first I thought that the last picture was a advertisement for clash of clans or something like that

1point

Nadine Ducca 6 years ago

Oh, no! WINDOW! :-O Beautiful photos!

1point

Carol Williams 6 years ago

Goodbye...

0points

Ivan Gonzalez 6 years ago

Amazing...its like the window held on for as long as it could for the final picture. Great series with a powerdul ending.

0points

TRINITY AXIS 6 years ago

12 years, same curtain. Really? :D

0points

Cecilia Bálint 6 years ago

you can spot on the first two pictures that there was a different curtain as well. BTW some curtains are lasting and will stay the same even for a lifetime – so what?

0points

Load More Replies...

Josephine Scott 6 years ago

WOW

0points

Kirsten Preston 6 years ago

Fab captures!

0points

Aya Othman 6 years ago

i don't know why i feel like that , but in somehow it touched me so , u know , building have soul too , amazing story

0points

adis 6 years ago

Bored Panda is feauturing now-days this kind of creations? I dont see what is so special about this!

0points

Carl Brennan 6 years ago

He shlould have asked to keep the window frame when the were demolishing it.

0points

Catori 6 years ago

Somehow that last image saddened me lol I liked that window too and would have done exactly the same thing! Beautiful photos nice one

0points

tsuki nercua 6 years ago

In just a few slides, this window managed to get in to my heart and it made me feel like this window and I have been been together for years and seeing the window in its final moments made sob.

0points

tsuki nercua 6 years ago

why does this make me cry?

0points

Etienne Pisano 6 years ago

"Rear Window"....... :-)

0points

Angie Hamilton 6 years ago

Heartbroken

0points

Carolyn Boin 6 years ago

This could be the next Pixar short movie.

0points

Mark Erwin 6 years ago

It seems that the last image happened so fast I am kind of blindsided. :(

0points

Johanna Zamora 6 years ago

Excellent eye, sir.

0points

Dapur Cep Bobi 6 years ago

my window!!!

0points

Chelle 6 years ago

Wow...

0points

Ellen Light 6 years ago

What's going on in photo #4?

0points

Nawaz Khan 6 years ago

the last one made me sad :(

0points

spirit wolf 6 years ago

But in these pictures it still lives. Unlike one too many unfortunate windows.

0points

Naomi 6 years ago

Incredible !!

0points

Naomi 6 years ago

This is so incredible !

0points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

YOU'RE COOL ALPER YESILTAS!

0points

Reza Kemal 6 years ago

KEREN BANGET!!!

0points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

The one with the shadow? Is it Peter Parker?

0points

Chris Pitch 6 years ago

The one with the shadow...is it Peter Parker taking photos?

0points

Kristel 6 years ago

What's up with the shadow in the 4th picture though?

0points

Renard Bansale 6 years ago

Just wait. An indie band or ambient electronic artist somewhere will use one of these photos for their next album cover.

-1point

John Smith 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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