French anthropologist reunites with boy he photographed 44 years ago in Türkiye
The two examine the original black-and-white photograph of children playing in the snow, Erzurum, Türkiye, December 11, 2024. (Türkiye Daily)
Victor d’Allant, a French anthropologist, has reunited with one of the children he photographed 44 years ago during his visit to Erzurum, Türkiye.
The pair met at the exact location where the original photo was taken, rekindling memories of a snowy day captured decades ago.
Victor d’Allant’s search for children to photograph in Türkiye’s Erzurum
The anthropologist traveled to Erzurum in December 1980, taking the Eastern Express (Dogu Ekspresi) train from Istanbul. During his visit, he explored a neighborhood where children were playing in the snow.
Drawn to their joyful energy, the French anthropologist photographed them, capturing moments of their games and laughter.
He later returned to Paris and shared the photos with his friends, who admired the images.
In 2023, d’Allant decided to find the children in his photographs. Carrying the old black-and-white pictures, he walked the streets of Erzurum, asking residents if they recognized anyone.
After thorough efforts, he identified one of the children, Ahmet Ozmen, now a 51-year-old religious auditor at the Erzurum Muftulugu.
Emotional reunion of French anthropologist at original photo location
Victor d’Allant and Ahmet Ozmen met at the same spot where the photo had been taken. Ozmen described his excitement and gratitude upon learning about d’Allant’s efforts.
“Forty-four years ago, my friends and I had no idea we were being photographed while playing in the snow,” Ozmen said. “When my friends told me about Victor’s search, I couldn’t believe it. Realizing that I was one of the children in the photo brought a wave of emotions. Meeting him and seeing his dedication after so many years deeply moved me.”
Anthropologist d’Allant reflected on the moment he took the photo. “I came to Erzurum on the Eastern Express. I loved photography and wanted to capture the children’s joy as they played in the snow. I barely spoke Turkish back then, but I felt happy watching them have so much fun. Meeting Ahmet after all this time made me feel that connection again.”
The two recreated the original photo, with French anthropologist d’Allant once again capturing the moment with his camera.
