Ever since I started taking photos, I've been drawn towards telling stories of people and places through my photographs. This is a story of tradition within modernity, of loneliness in cities filled with people, of questions and anxieties, and of struggles and survival. It is also a story of hope amidst despair, of coexistence with conflict, of dreams despite reality, and of progression with preservation.

Taken on a foggy morning in Sharjah, UAE, in 2021, this photo holds a special place in my heart. I've also sat across the sea watching the waves crash into the bank countless times in my life, and somehow every time I did, the sound of water made it easier for me to listen to myself and feel strong and peaceful. This photo is symbolic of my own journey in life, of my own struggles, successes, dejections, conflicts, dreams, desires, and hope. But this is neither this woman's story nor mine. With you in the photo, it would be your story. Despite different circumstances, we are all connected through similar emotions in our own lives. This is the story of us.

Edition: 1/1 Size: 3000*2000

About F. Dilek Uyar: Dilek is a highly accomplished travel and documentary photographer from Ankara, Turkey. Dilek is also a lawyer and a skilled sky diver. She took up photography as an escape from the courthouse and life, after she quit sky diving. That spark turned into a fire which led her to be named National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year in 2017. Fighting through challenges that are typical to what women face in male dominated spheres, she has not only made many proud with her accomplishments but has also inspired a whole new generation of female photographers. Dilek, a TEDx speaker, is also a contributing photographer of National Geographic YS and National Geographic Turkey. She teaches photography at Ankara Bilim University in Ankara, Turkey. She is also a jurist for some of the most prestigious photography awards in the world, such as those given by National Geographic. In 2020, she was named IPA Photographer of the Year (Deeper Perspective). In 2021, she was named Best Reportage Photographer of the Year at the 6th 35 Awards. She was also named Sony World Photography Award and was the third-place winner at the HIPA Humanity Awards (Story Telling). As a female photographer, lawyer, and mother from Turkey, she is a big champion of women’s rights and issues and advocates for saying yes to change. Her goal is to increase social awareness and recognition with her stories and to inspire young women in her country and all over the world.

License: Primary NFT holder is free to use in display privately and in groups, including virtual galleries, documentaries, and essays by the holder of the NFT, as long as the creator is credited. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works. Copyright remains with the creator.