The first COVID-19 patient in Turkey was diagnosed on March 11. On March 16, along with other public places, places of worship were closed to contain the spread of the virus. Turkiye has had its share of dark times but this was unprecedented. Not being able to practice faith during the initial period of COVID was a shock to the community. Finally, when the conditions improved and the number of patients gradually decreased, mosques opened to worship within the framework of social distancing and hygiene rules. Municipal teams were regularly disinfecting public areas to provide a safe environment for worshippers.

I took this photo before the Friday prayer on 28th May 2020. There was an emptiness in there which is hard to describe and the scene had a profound impact on me in what it symbolized. The lamps almost felt like the solar system, the emptiness screaming of the loneliness that humanity faced during those days and the person sanitizing the area representing all the heroes who put their duty in front of their own safety to save the world.

This photo is an ode to the loved ones lost, sacrifices made, our resiliency and the selfishness with which frontline workers defended the rest of humanity.

Awards & Recognition:

• With this photo, I was selected as the best Reportage Photographer in 35 Photo Awards in 2020.
• This photo was also the winner of IPA (International Photography Awards) in 2020.
• Published in the photobook "The Year Time Stopped", by Harper & Collins (2022)

Location: Kocatepe mosque, Ankara Date: 28th May 2020

Edition: 1/1 Size: 4500*3000

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