I often say that I think we treat animals the same way we treat each other as humans. This can be seen constantly and everywhere in Istanbul. People help animals just as they help each other. All kinds of animals are respected and valued. And it is this trust of the animals towards humans that is visible in the photos.

In the photos, all the animals are street animals, except chickens and roosters (and chicks) which are domestic animals because of food, i.e. eggs. But they, too, are allowed to live freely, because Istanbulites think that an animal can never be chained. An animal must always be free.

I hope you enjoy these encounters!