Photography is magic … I am always amazed by a beautiful picture, the power it has to ‘travel’ your mind in a different city, country, planet in the spur of the moment. You can feel so much and in a way, by getting to see someone’s photographs, you can understand a lot of things about his / her personality. Julie Balsiger, or “Jules,” as her friends know her, was called to study and appreciate life when she was young. Jules developed a fascination with light and water at an early age. This curiosity led to an easy yet profound appreciation for nature’s simple, often unrecognized, beauty. Jules ended up in Turkey and she spends lots of her time in Istanbul. ‘City Box’ Athens – Istanbul is welcoming her in the Meet the Locals column.
With photography as her ultimate medium, Jules has travelled across the globe with the intention of capturing the essence of beauty throughout our planet and sharing it with others. Jules’ passion for our world has engendered a love of learning—from languages to cuisine, she endeavors to appreciate the experience of travel in addition to the overpowering natural beauty of the places she has known. Her travels have also inspired a need to give back through humanitarian work and by offering her services to various non-profits. Jules’ friends often comment on her honest approach to life, including her art and photography. She actively surrounds herself with love, kindness, and goodwill. She returns this gift by creating images that bring us closer to her subjects, effortlessly communicating the sincerity, respect, and beauty of the moment. Jules works in both digital and traditional photographic media.
CL: Jules, you are a photographer, who is now based in Turkey. Why Turkey – I would ask – and especially, why Istanbul?
JB: The first time I walked around Istanbul, I instantly thought “I could live here”. I love the energy, the history, the mix of cultures and the light. I came to Istanbul to do a documentary nearly 7 years ago, however, after finishing early, I decided on a mini-holiday in Cappadocia…and I’m still here! Istanbul has everything to offer but to be honest, my world is now in Goreme. I love the easy, quiet life and the amazing walking trails just outside my door. Here I’m able to connect with others from around the world but also immerse myself in the small village and learn the ways of the locals. Turkey is such an amazing country – each region looks differently, feels differently, tastes differently. I love that I can hop on a bus or flight and in just a few hours be in a completely different world, within the same country.
CL: For you -as an artist- what is so powerful about photography? Is it the combination of colours and feelings on a photo or something more than that?
JB: I’ve always been passionate about light, wind, water…and for years I looked for a way to express that passion, that feeling that welled up inside me when I watched light dancing on a leaf. I’ve tried just about every medium but photography was the most successful for me to communicate what I was feeling – through the camera apparatus – onto the image.
CL: Humanitarian work around the world and non profits: What are the top three things you learnt from this experience? Has this work changed your life and in what ways?
JB: I truly believe that we get back the energy we give out. When I’m working with non-profits, especially concerning animals – I feel this humbleness and honor to help even one animal have a better life. Working with those people and animals who need a helping hand, a loving touch, etc just makes you appreciate what life offers to everyone and how powerful even the smallest gesture can be. I can always make time for a stray dog – if I can’t find him a home I can at the very least give him a good meal, a gentle caress and just let him know that at that very moment, he’s not alone. I think the feeling of being alone is the worst suffering. I sometimes get teased by my friends that I want to save the world… If I could, I would but I also understand that helping just one person or animal does make a difference to them.
CL: Beauty of the moment…it seems that we humans have kind of lost this beauty of the moment… Why is that so? Can photography heal this?
JB: I think that people see what they want to see… but sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day struggle and routine that we forget to see the beauty around us. I try – through my photos – to show the world as I see it. With the many photography-based sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, etc – we are surrounded by amazing photography. I love being surprised by my friends’ holiday photos and seeing the world through their eyes.
CL: You organize photographic trips in Cappadocia. Where did this idea come from and would you like to give some advice to our readers, who would like to participate in one of these tours?
JB: The first few years I lived here, I wandered down every trail, explored every cave and sat on just about every plateau drinking cowboy coffee over an open fire. I see a completely different Cappadocia than what is told in the guidebooks. I would constantly meet travellers on the trails and in cafes and want to share my treasures with them (I’ve always had a need to share knowledge!). After some time these treasure walks turned into Photo Safaris. Combining a full day of exploring off-the-beaten-path areas in the best light photographically-speaking and visiting the small villages where I do my documentaries on local village life. It’s a great way to see something completely different and take some great photos along the way! I adapt the day to all levels and styles of photography.
For more information about Jules, you can contact her: email: info@juliebalsiger.com, website: http://www.juliebalsiger.com Latest photo projects*: www.facebook.com/juliebalsigerphotography
*Current projects: Yoga in Cappadocia, and 365 Day Photo Project
Photos by Jules Balsiger / All Rights Reserved
This post originally appeared on ‘City Box’ Athens – Istanbul, a blog run by Chara Loka. Go check out her site for more interesting reads!
Thanks for featuring this article!