Sirkhane Darkroom (2017-2024)

Sirkhane Darkroom was a mobile photography program for vulnerable and underprivileged children residing in the South East of Turkey, a few kilometers away from the Syrian border. It was initiated by Emel Ernalbant in 2017 and later continued by Syrian photographer Serbest Salih, and was halted in 2024.

In DARKROOM, children who normally have little or no access to cultural opportunities, get to shoot, develop and print their photography which is mainly about their daily lives and a sense of survival in difficult circumstances.

Photography as a pedagogical method enables children to first of all know themselves better. It is an effective method of teaching children coming from difficult circumstances, new ways of thinking, creativity, and being playful while expanding their perspective of their life and their surroundings.

Black-and-white photo of a young girl with glasses, smiling, wearing a dark shirt, with hair pulled back and a headband or scrunchie.

Black-and-white portrait of a young person with short, slicked-back hair and light-colored eyes, wearing a light-colored shirt.

Black and white portrait of young girl with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a sleeveless top with embellishments.

A smiling young woman with dark hair pulled back, wearing a dark top, in black and white.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young man with short hair, wearing a striped shirt.

A black and white portrait of a young boy with short dark hair, light-colored eyes, and a slight smile, wearing a light-colored shirt.

Black and white photograph of a young girl with shoulder-length hair, smiling and looking up at the camera. She is wearing a light-colored top.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with long, wavy hair styled in pigtails, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with shoulder-length hair, smiling and looking at the camera.

Black and white portrait of a young woman with long, wavy hair, smiling gently and looking at the camera.

A young man with light skin and freckles, smiling, wearing a checkered shirt, in a black and white photograph.

Black and white close-up portrait of a young girl with light-colored eyes and long hair, smiling gently, with her head tilted slightly back.

Black and white portrait of a smiling young boy in a collared shirt.

Black and white portrait of a young person with short, tousled hair, wearing a pearl necklace and a shirt with visible text, smiling gently.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with braided hair, wearing a plaid shirt with a bow-shaped hair accessory.

Black and white portrait photo of a young boy with glasses smiling, wearing a sports jersey with a crest on the chest.

A black and white photo of a smiling young girl with curly hair, looking through a window with some dirt or scratches on it.

Black and white photograph of a young girl with curly hair, smiling, wearing a striped t-shirt with a decorative heart pattern.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with short dark hair, smiling softly, wearing a T-shirt with text and graphics, with a torn piece of paper missing from the top right corner of the photo.

A black and white photograph of a young woman with short, layered hair, smiling at the camera, wearing a striped shirt.

Black and white portrait of a young boy with short, styled hair, smiling slightly, wearing a T-shirt.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with large eyes and a bright smile, wearing a headband and a sparkly top.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with light skin, smiling gently, wearing a t-shirt, with her hair pulled back and some loose strands framing her face.

Black-and-white close-up portrait of a young woman with dark, curly hair styled in a braid, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

A black-and-white portrait of a young woman with short, styled hair, smiling slightly, wearing a striped shirt.

A black and white photo of a young boy with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a striped shirt.

A young boy smiling, wearing a sports jersey with striped design, black and white photo.

Learn more

Text on a yellow background that says, "We gasp for more than just air" with "We" in pink and the rest in blue.

WE GASP FOR MORE THAN JUST AİR

this photo book collaboration with artist Victoria Villasana ( https://victoriavillasana.com/)

Learn more

I saw the air fly

I Saw The Air Fly is an exhibition of photographs taken by children and young people who’re seeking asylum from war torn countries. Supported by Sirkhane Darkroom in Turkey, those involved have used photography to capture their lives and surroundings, documenting their experiences and helping to express themselves.

Learn more

Life Through My Eyes

UNHCR Türkiye,Art Anywhere and Sirkhane DARKROOM held an exhibition of photos taken by refugee & host community children in Mardin.

Learn more

Poster for an art exhibition titled 'Bir de Buradan Bak' (Look at it from this side), with dates 30.10.20 to 03.01.21, featuring a black and white photo of a man and a woman playing with a dog. The artworks are located at Kültür Kalyon in Şişli, Istanbul, and organized by Sirkhane Darkroom with social media handles listed.

TAKE A LOOK FROM HERE

Our memories of a childhood toy, a song we might have heard at a young age, a brief moment when we saw our reflection in the mirror, fragments of moments we can vaguely remember are pretty much equalised on paper in terms of meaning. Yet, they acquire different meanings for each and every one of us. Surrounded by crowds but unique nonetheless.

Attention attention! Mark your calendar 3rd of September - the 8th of September. We invite you to witness the SAHAR exhibition by children of @sirkhanedarkroom . Also accompanying with SAHAR short documentary. With the support and collaboration of tw

Menar(13)’Photography helps you capture anything you feel is important to remember. One photograph is powerful enough to not only remind you of an event or detail, but can bring you right back to the feelings, sounds, and even smells

Önder (9): When we close our eyes a little, we only see a small portion of the view. So I wanted to show the details of the poles in the village with my camera.

Önder (9): Gözümüzü hafifçe kıstığımızda, manzaranı

“While taking pictures, I tried to capture human beings through the eyes of other living things.”

“Fotoğraf çekerken, insanları diğer canlıların gözünden yakalamaya çalıştım.”

Abdullah,13

#sirkhane

Emir (12): Köyde arkadaşlarımla ders çalışırken.
Emir (12): While studying with my friends in the village.

#sirkhanedarkroom #unhcrtürkiye

Tuba (10): My mother said we have never taken a photo together. By taking a selfie, it was the first time we had a photo- graph, on paper, with my mother.
Tuba (10): Annem birlikte hiç fotoğrafımız yok dedi. Özçekim yaparak annemle

Elif (10): Daha farklı bir şekilde özçekim yapmak istiyordum. Bana ait bir şey olsun dedim.
Elif (10): I wanted to take a selfie in a different way. I wanted it to be something that belongs to me.

#sirkhanedarkroom #unhcrtürkiye

Necla (8): Kardeşim ve bulutlar.
Necla (8): My sister and clouds.

#sirkhanedarkroom

Bu yıl UNHCR Türkiye,Her Yerde Sanat Derneği ve Sirkhane DARKROOM Dünya Mülteciler Günü için Mardin’deki mülteci ve ev sahibi topluluk çocukların çektiği fotoğraflardan oluşan bir sergi dü

Our old buildings,my mom and our cat

📸 Rümeyse 13 years old

#sirkhanedarkroom

📸 Meltem, 17 years old, my grandmother is the Simba of our village 🐆

I called my mother and told her to look from the window and I captured her

Jelila 7 years old•

#sirkhanedarkroom

Photography is a powerful form of communication. It connects us to each other beyond language,social and cultural differences and it's a magical language that everyone can understand, which makes it the perfect way to introduce children to photograp

Photography and Human explores the fascinating relationship between photography and its subjects, from the first photograph to the role of art in society.

📸 Ibrahim 13 years old.

#sirkhanedarkroom

At
Sirkhane
Darkroom,

Children are naturally curious and imaginative, and photography provides them with a unique medium to express their thoughts and emotions visually. Through the lens of a camera, children can capture the world around them, transforming everyday scenes into compelling stories. This process not only helps them develop a visual idea but also encourages them to think critically about what they see and how they want to present it. By narrating a story through their photographs, children learn to communicate their perspectives and experiences, preserving the originality of their vision.

The integration of storytelling with photography serves as a powerful educational tool. It allows children to explore their creativity while also enhancing their ability to articulate their ideas. This combination fosters a deeper understanding of narrative structure and visual composition, skills that are valuable in both academic and personal contexts. Moreover, the act of storytelling through photography can be particularly beneficial for children who have faced significant challenges, such as violence, poverty, and war. It provides them with a safe space to express their feelings and experiences, offering a form of therapy that can aid in their emotional healing and resilience.