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Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Filiz Leloğlu Oskay (pictured), a public servant who retired from the Education Ministry, and Nurşen Öngün Biçer, a retired bank officer, have been chasing butterflies by wandering on top of mountains and hills in the eastern province of Erzurum.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
“Among 400 different butterfly species, I have taken pictures of a hundred. The Apollo and Balkan fritillary species were the ones that have thrilled me the most. Among hundreds of photos, you notice that one butterfly even smiled at you. And that single shot makes your day. That’s why I became a photographer of butterflies,” said Oskay.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Oskay also said hydroelectric power plant construction, agricultural spraying and overgrazing were destroying the butterflies’ living spaces, and called on the Environment Ministry to form protection zones.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Capturing dazzling moments of nature, people should not leave any traces but their footsteps, said the retiree-turned-nature photographer.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Oskay said the most exciting moment for her was when she had the chance to photograph the endangered and rare Balkan fritillary.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
“I have a principle in life. Do not take anything from nature other than taking its photo. Do not leave anything in nature other than your footsteps. Please do not damage nature,” Biçer said. Click through to see butterfly pictures by Oskay and Biçer.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Biçer said after this “amusing occupation,” her social life became livelier, as she met new friends and saw new places while in search for these fragile creatures.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
After retiring from their jobs in the metropolitan city of Istanbul, the two nature-loving women arrived in Erzurum, a northeastern province known for its wide range of butterflies, and took pictures in the Palandöken and Kargapazarı Valleys along with the Dumlu, Tortum, Uzundere zones with the accompaniment of a professional photographer from Erzurum, Öztürk Akkök.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
“Sometimes you track a butterfly then it suddenly slips through your fingers. Then your friend seizes the moment and captures that shot. Sometimes vice versa. I have a large garden where I’ve planted different flowers to attract butterflies. Now, sometimes I notice them while I am cooking in the kitchen, then I leap up to catch that shot” said Biçer.
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two women who lived in Istanbul have spent their retirement years taking pictures of butterflies, chasing the beautiful creatures on hills and mountains in eastern Turkey. DHA Photos
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
Two Turkish women photograph butterflies as retirement hobby
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