Biography
Between 1977 and 1981, she participated in the photography activities of the Izmir Turkish-American Cultural Association. During this period, influenced by her university education, she took nature photographs and black-and-white photographs with an environmentalist approach focused on nature conservation. In 1982, she graduated from the Department of Botany at Ege University Faculty of Science. Between 1982 and 1986, she worked as a photography instructor at the American Girls' College and Ege University School of Journalism and Communication; between 1986 and 1994 at Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Fine Arts; between 1995 and 2005 at Atatürk University Faculty of Fine Arts; and since 2006, she has continued to work at Akdeniz University Faculty of Fine Arts. She contributed to the institutionalization of photography in Turkey by undertaking administrative roles at the universities where she taught. In 1986, she received a "Proficiency in Art" diploma in Photography. She began taking still-life photographs from the years she started teaching. In 1986, her photograph titled "Red Umbrella" was selected as the "most successful photograph" in the still-life category of the national competition organized by İFSAK (Istanbul Photography and Cinema Association). Later, she focused on photographing people in their natural settings, reflecting the era and social environment in which she lived. One of these photographs, "Street Vendor," won the "Gold Medal" award at the 1991 İFSAK International Photography Competition. Nafia ÖZDEMİR, an artist and academic with other awards, has realized numerous photography projects, slide shows, and solo exhibitions; she has served as a photography consultant and jury member; participated in group exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, and open forums; presented papers; moderated panels; and served on selection committees. Her photographs and writings on photographic art and theory have been published in many newspapers and magazines.
