When Old Foes Meet

Overview

One of the most beautiful things about photography is its ability to capture the emotion present in magical meetings and moments time, and to allow us, the audience, to share in those experiences in an intimate way despite being neither personally involved nor present at that moment. A series of such powerful images were captured by Turkish-born Australian photographer/photojournalist Vedat Acikalin on the 75th Anniversary of the battle at Gallipoli in World War 1.

We are all aware to some degree of the moving story of the brave ANZACS and Turkish soldiers fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, but these photographs convey a more personal story of the men who fought there and the incomprehensible bond that they formed, no matter which side they were on all those years ago, through their shared experiences of war. The images tell the story of these men meeting, remembering and mourning, and most interestingly finding solace and friendship in yesterday’s enemies. Vedat grew up in Turkey and later moved to Australia and the duality of perspective this has afforded him is perfectly conveyed in the images he has produced. This is loving stuff.