Sabiha Çimen

A self-taught Turkish photographer known for her portraiture and still-life images rooted in Islamic culture. She mostly works on developing self-reflective long-term projects close to home in Istanbul.

WATCH Sabiha Çimen’S FILM

© Sabiha Çimen / Magnum Photos

Selected Photos

Two veiled subjects in the middle of many sculptures.

(1/7)

This is one of my neighbourhood streets close to my home in Istanbul. I like this spot—just going there, standing there, looking there.

Two veiled women upside down in a flipped house setting.

(2/7)

l photographed my subjects in a flipped funhouse. It reflects one of the girl's situations because she took off her veil, and her life was kind of upside-down. It's such a funny metaphor for her life story.

A person holds the face of a veiled woman laying in the grass.

(3/7)

I wanted to go spontaneously and play around and find things that come through me. Sometimes, meaningful images come from play.

A man suspended upside down shaves another man seated in a barber chair.

(4/7)

My favorite image. The outskirts of Istanbul. His nickname is Bat Barber. He's flipping himself upside-down and making his job like that. I always wanted to photograph him. It's a little absurd, but fits my ongoing project.

A seated man allows a person to stand on a dial scale.

(5/7)

Servet sits every day in this pedestrian mall in İstanbul. He earns his living with his scale. He seemed to have fallen in love with one of my subjects; he kissed her hand. He always seemed to me like a street bard from another time.

A duplicated veiled woman standing with an ice cream cone.

(6/7)

There's a heavy burden on Muslim women's shoulders; they always have to look very serious, not so colorful, not so smiley. This lifts up my subject's teenager soul and gives some contrast to who she's supposed to be in Islamic culture.

Two men and two veiled women sit separately in a tea shop with a Turkish flag in the background.

(7/7)

A tea spot where men always hang in Istanbul. It doesn't belong to women. If a woman goes there, that's not pleasant for men — they're disruptive. So, I wanted to make them uncomfortable and make us think about sharing space.

Sabiha’s Website

"A website is permanent and in-depth. I think it should fit my personality and really have some parallels to my mood. That's how it reflects my soul, my work, and represents me the best way."

Template Design Features

A video-forward design created in collaboration with Sabiha Çimen, with a versatile multi-column layout to exhibit varying work.

  • A client submission form on a website page with a neutral background.

    Client Invoicing

    Tools to manage your business - from vetting leads to receiving payment via invoices in one streamlined, customizable workflow.

  • A contemporary website page layout with two photographs of objects side by side.

    Fluid Engine

    Our groundbreaking drag-and-drop editor that provides total control of website layout and design.

  • A contemporary website page with six photographs in a grid arrangement.

    Built-In Image Editor

    Native tools for adjusting image intensity, cropping, or applying preset filters.

  • A contemporary website page with an orange image in a clover shape and a description next to it.

    Image Shapes

    A full range of shape presets and angle controls to aesthetically crop website imagery.

Apply for a Critique

An opportunity for an exclusive 20-minute session with Sabiha Çimen for a one-on-one virtual review of your photography portfolio.

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The head and torso of Sabiha Çimen, wearing a headscarf, against a neutral background.

The Magnum Collection

A set of six template designs inspired by six iconic photographers.

  • A basic website template with photographs of horses, a woman, and another woman.

    Arthur

    An airy design created in collaboration with Olivia Arthur, with abundant white space and an organic layout.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A basic website template with three photographs of books in a single row.

    Aue Sobol

    A versatile design created in collaboration with Jacob Aue Sobol, with bold typography and a prominent display for products.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A contemporary website template with a hero video of floral arrangements.

    Çimen

    A video-forward design created in collaboration with Sabiha Çimen, with a versatile multi-column layout to exhibit varying work.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A modern website template with a black background and centered image of a man in a striped shirt.

    Gilden

    A contemporary and powerful design created in collaboration with Bruce Gilden.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A basic website template with eight landscape photographs in a grid arrangement.

    Keo

    A brutalist design created in collaboration with William Keo, with a roomy grid layout and a multitude of pages to highlight your work.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A bold website template with a large headline and hero image of a woman's head.

    McCurry

    A well-structured design created in collaboration with Steve McCurry, with distinct elements throughout, and generous room for a multitude of projects.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN