Tolga İldun is a freelance professional photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Istanbul, Turkiye where his work reflects his interest in themes of identity, history, archaeology, politics and the environment.
İldun has been preparing photo reportages for the Atlas Magazine, Archaeology Magazine, Magma Magazine and THY Skylife magazines. He also produces photographs and photo reportages for news agencies such as Laif, Zuma Press, Depo Photos and Shutterstock Editorial. His photographs are also used in many national and international journals and newspapers. He received press awards from the Photojournalists Association of Turkey in 2020,2021 and 2023. Photo-documentary project of the Great Terminal of Istanbul, which he documented between 2017-2020, was exhibited at Foto Istanbul Festival in 2022. At the same time, his video interviews published for the New York Times in Hatay region about the Turkey earthquake that took place on February 6, 2023.
Currently, İldun outside of freelance photojournalism continues to document life on long and short term photography projects focusing on cultural and environmental issues.
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Awards & Honors
2023, Turkey Photojournalists Association, Photo Reportage Series 3th Prize.
2023, Turkey Photojournalists Association, Zero Waste Special Award.
2022, China Daily & ANN, ‘Changing Asia - New Normal’ photography exhibition.
2022, FOTOISTANBUL “24 Hours Istanbul” theme winner series category.
2022, Germany, Hamburg Portfolio Review, 100 selected emerging photographers.
2021, Turkey Photojournalists Association, Spor Toto Sports Photo of the Year 1st Prize.
2021, Fotogen Photography Association, Sami Guner Cup Award.
2020, Turkey Photojournalists Association, Environment and Nature Photo 2nd Prize.
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Exhibitions
2023, Inter-Balkan Exhibition "Paths of Art" - Sofia, Bucharest, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Tirana, Pristina, Skopje and Istanbul - group exhibition.
2019, Russia, Nizhny Novgorod National Photography Museum, "Touching the Time" - group exhibition with Gültekin Çizgen, Yusuf Darıyerli, Sevil Alkan, Alphan Yılmazmaden, Ali Borovalı, Serkant Hekimci, Murat Ünal.
2017, Turkiye, Istanbul, Galata Photography House "Memorial Exhibition" - group exhibition.
