A thing is or is not. It exists or it is completely invented. It is part of reality or it belongs to an imaginary world, that of fantasy or dreams. Yet Can Dağarslanı‘s photographs make us doubt that this is the case. 

Can Dağarslanı is an architect, a graduate of the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts in Istanbul, but over time he has discovered himself to be an exceptionally talented photographer. His relationship with photography is closely linked to architecture, especially the organisation and perception of space. 

Contrary to what we might think, Can does not photograph urban landscapes or buildings, but uses the concepts he acquired as an architect to create perfect compositions. Every element we find in his shots is perfectly balanced: the subject is at the centre of the scene, big enough to capture the viewer’s attention, but not completely detracting from the surroundings and the background. 

This balance that we find in the composition is not found in the subjects. It is as if Can Dağarslanı wants to shake up reality and each time he manages to add an element that turns the shots into photographs that border on the surreal, but not absurd. 

Often this effect is achieved through the use of colour, and the shot of a girl lying on the grass in the middle of a forest is a perfect example of this: many would have chosen neutral colours for her clothes, others would perhaps have opted for nudity, but Can Dağarslanı has chosen completely red clothes. It’s not fantasy, it’s a different reality from what we expect, from what we are used to living. 

Below you can find a selection of Can Dağarslanı’s shots, but to find out more visit his website and to make sure you don’t miss his upcoming work follow him on Instagram.