““What matters is not what you look at, but what you see.” — Henry David Thoreau”
Hello,
I am Murat Topay.
"Some moments are merely seen, while others remain within us."
Born in Istanbul in 1968, Murat Topay discovered photography at a turning point in his life—as he stepped away from his professional career. This discovery transformed his perspective on the world, enabling him to notice intricate details and laying the foundation for a powerful passion through which he could express himself.
He began his photographic training at the Narlıdere Municipality Atatürk Cultural Center under the guidance of Bahadır Karabıyık. During this period, he realized that photography is not just about recording what is visible, but about imbuing an image with one’s own personal interpretation. As he honed his skills in shooting and digital image processing, he also strengthened his expertise with an academic background, graduating from the Photography and Videography program at Anadolu University’s Open Education Faculty, and subsequently earning a Ministry of National Education (MEB)-certified photography instructor qualification.
Over time, this accumulated knowledge evolved into an opportunity to teach others. Embarking on a career as an instructor, Murat Topay has provided professional photography training—including organizing practical field trips—at institutions such as the Güzelbahçe Municipality, various public education centers, and the Hamza Rüstem Photography Museum in Karşıyaka. Throughout this journey, he has shared his enthusiasm with countless photography enthusiasts, each bringing their own unique perspective. Having participated in national projects for esteemed organizations like the Turkish Photography Art Federation (TFSF)—and with his work reaching collectors on global platforms such as Saatchi Art, Shutterstock, and Adobe Stock—he continues to grow in his conviction that photography possesses a profound power to bring people together. In his own artistic practice, Murat Topay focuses on long-exposure landscape photography and artistic macro photography—a genre that brings the hidden details of nature to light. He defines a "good" photograph as follows:
"For me, a good photograph is not merely an image that is technically flawless. It is the convergence of light, composition, the perfect moment, and the photographer’s unique perspective—all coming together to evoke an emotion or a thought in the viewer. I look for the power of a photograph not just in what it shows, but in how it tells its story."
Currently based in İzmir, he continues to create and teach photography, while rediscovering the world through diverse perspectives—all with the same enthusiasm he felt on day one.
Murat Topay