Notes from the East

In the remote villages of Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia region, love sometimes takes the form of secret elopement — a quiet but bold act that challenges tradition. This photography project focuses on the stories of young women who voluntarily elope with the men they love, often in defiance of their families. It also includes the experiences of a few men whose stories felt equally vital to tell. These elopements are driven by more than just love. In many cases, families strongly oppose the relationship, or the groom cannot afford the high costs of a traditional wedding. In this context, elopement becomes both an emotional and practical decision — one shaped by social pressure and economic hardship. A young woman’s choice to elope is, on one hand, an act of love and personal agency; on the other, it is a silent rebellion against the unwritten codes of the culture in which she was raised. Told through a post-documentary lens, the project blends documentary photography, staged reenactments, and written testimonies to reflect on love, resistance, and memory within a transforming cultural landscape. The work began with a handwritten diary kept by a village headman. Among its simple, factual entries — about births, deaths, weddings, and visitors — are brief but telling notes on elopements. These sparse lines became the starting point for a deeper visual and narrative exploration.