Bio

F. Dilek Yurdakul was born in Çanakkale. After completing her primary and secondary education in this city, she entered Gazi University, Faculty of Law, in Ankara, Turkey. When she graduated, she started her master's degree in Labor and Social Security Law at the same university. She is still a lawyer in a company in Ankara. She also teaches photography classes at some universities in Ankara. For six years, she has been spending most of her time on photography. She likes taking travel, street, and documentary photos. She likes telling stories of people she meets during her travels as well as cities with her photos. For four years, she has been working on social responsibility projects and trying to photograph socially important issues. ​ As a woman photographer, lawyer, and mother from Turkey, she made many speeches at Universities, Photograph Associations. As a TEDx Speaker, she touched on the significance of being a woman and saying yes to change. She also takes part in social awareness projects. ​ Her biggest aim is to increase social awareness and recognition of her stories and continue inspiring young women in her country. She joined many international and national exhibitions and won over 200 awards and also take part as a judge in many international photo contests like National Geographic UK and 35 Awards. She is still a contributor photographer for National Geographic YS and National Geographic Turkey. ​ *Here are some of the important achievements I have achieved so far: 2017 Sony World Photography Awards, Commended Photographer and 2nd place in National Category 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year, People Category Winner 2018 Travel Photographer Socithey, Black And White Category Winner 2018 IPA Event Photographer of the Year 2018 IPA 1st place Traditions and Culture 2019 SIPA 3rd place in Journeys and Travel 2020 MIFA Sub Category Winner 2020 MIFA 2nd Place in Advertising Category 2020 Sony Word Photography Awards National Category Winner 2020 35 Awards Best Covid Photo 2020 35 Awards Best Covid Photographer 2020 RISE International Documentary Photographer Of The Year 2020 Finalist in Street Photography International 2020 IPA Deeper Perspective Photographer Of the Year 2020 IPA 1st Place in Deeper Perspective 2020 IPA 1st Place Winner in Editorial/Press Other 2020 IPA 2nd Place Winner in Editorial /Press General News 2020_2021 TAPSA Winner 2020 IPA DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR Winner 2021 SWPA Alfa Female Woman Award Nominee 2021 Sony Word Photography Awards Open Competition Street Category Winner 2021 HIPA Portfolio Story Telling 3rd Place Winner 2022 New York Photography Awards Category Winner 2023 20TH Annual SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE Photo Contest Finalist 2023 Felix Schoeller Photo Award Finalist Exhibitions & Festivals ​ 2018- "Clean Water Here" Global Photography Exhibition with UNESCO and UN / Paris-FRANCE ​ 2018 - Travel Photographer Society Exhibition / South Australia and Kuala Lumpur-MALAYSIA 2018 - Best Of Show Exhibition / New York-USA, Bangkok-THAILAND, Los Angeles-USA ​ 2019 - Woman Street Photographers Exhibition / New York-USA ​ 2019- 2020 Annual PX3 & State of the World Exhibition / Paris-FRANCE ​ 2020 - Treviso Photographic Festival / ITALY ​ 2020 - Best Of Show Exhibition / Castilla y Leon-SPAIN ​ ​2021 - Xposure Photography Festival / UAE ​ 2021- Mediterranean House Of Photography Julia Margaret Cameron Exhibition / SPAIN ​ 2021- Exhibition At The Royal Photographic Society / UK ​ 2021 - International Exhibition Of 5 In Shirin Art Gallery As A Special Guest Artist / Tehran-IRAN ​ 2021 - The State Of World Exhibition / Paris-FRANCE ​ 2021 - SWPA Exhibition At Galerie JOSEPH / Paris-FRANCE ​ 2021 - SWPA Exhibition Willy-Brandt-Haus / Berlin-GERMANY ​ 2021 - Fotofestival Lenzburg / Lenzburg-SWITZERLAND ​ 2021 - WOMEN STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS Exhibition At The National Museum Of Anthropology / Villahermosa Tabasco-MEXICO ​ 2022 - The ‘Changing Asia - New Normal’ photography Exhibition / BANGKOK, HONG KONG, and CHINA ​ Jury Memberships ​ 2019- Jury Member of the National Photography Contest of Ministry of Family and Social Services / TURKEY ​ 2021- Jury Member of National Geographic UK Travel Photo Competition 2021- Jury Member of TDM Magazine International Photography Contest (with Vineet VOHRA) ​ 2021- Jury Member of KAAF International Photography Contest (with Gulnara SAMOILOVA) ​ 2021- Jury Member of National Geographic Turkey Photography Contest ​ 2021- Jury Member of International Romania Now Photography Contest ​ 2021- Jury Member of Hacı Bayram Veli University National Photography Contest ​ 2022- Jury Member Of Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) ​ 2022- Jury Member of Borcka Municipality National Photography Contest ​ 2022- Jury Member Of Karabük University National Photography Contest ​ 2022- Jury Member of Cankay