Hi! My name is Özkan Özmen. I am a wildlife photographer from Turkey.
I still remember the goosebumps, when I was flipping through the pages of the book '' wildlife photographer of the year ''.
When I closed its last page, I instantly knew, this was exactly the passion, I had been searching for.
African savanna is, my one and only childhood dream.
I was lucky to camp and photograph wild animals, on the Earth's most amazing places like:
Masai Mara, Kruger and Etosha.
I don't know any other experience in life, that gives me this much excitement.
The name of this website comes from the adventures, I lived with my ''big lens'' in Africa. It is amazing how a telephoto lens is capable of dragging you to the other side of the world.
Big Lens Adventures is a website dedicated to wildlife photography.
Here I sell my prints, as well as handmade wildlife photography accessories, and a blog for sharing my experiences.
My wildlife images won awards, were published & exhibited in various national & international magazines and exhibitions.
And I still takepursue this dream with the same excitement of my very first day in the wild.
Awards/Exhibitions
2022
Water- awarded by 1x.com curators
2020
- Sunday times Newspaper ''Ready for the Mane course'' 12 January 2020
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-week-in-pictures-qb7qmt5h6
- The Telegraph UK ''The family of lion Cubs'' January 7 2020
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/07/pictures-day-7th-january-2020/
- The Great Wildlife Magazine Cover July-August 2020
The continent where reality and dream meets
http://www.thegreatwildlife.com/
- Zoological Society of London Wildlife Photo Competition
Urban City Life, Highly Commended: Baby Baboon
http://www.zsl.org/about-us/zsl-animal-photography-prize
- Izmir conservation and development of Bird Paradise Photo Safari Competition
- 2 x Honorable Mention and Exhibition
http://www.izmirkuscenneti.gov.tr/medya/haberler.html?haber_id=2758
2015
- National Geographic Turkey Magazine
50 best photos of the last 5 years Photo: Giant Kingfisher (August 2015)
2014
- [Africa Africa] Personal photo exhibition in Kuşadası İbramaki Art Gallery
http://www.milliyet.com.tr/kusadasi-nda-afrika-afrika-fotograf-aydin-yerelhaber-502698/
- Digital SLR Photography Magazine Turkey
Portfolio of the Month: Strobist in African savanna (December 2014 )
- Smithsonian Magazine
2x Photo of the day
http://smithsonianmag.tumblr.com/post/73719761042/smithsonian-magazine-photo-of-the-day
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/photo-of-the-day/2014-04-08/elephant-and-calf/
- Pocketwizard blog
Article: Özkan Özmen goes on a Portrait Safari
http://blog.pocketwizard.com/2014/01/whats-pussycat-ozkan-ozmen-goes-portrait-safari/
2013
- U.S.A National Wildlife Ptotography contest
Honorable mention Price Photo: Born to be Brutal
- Camerapixo Photography Magazine inspiring hotshots
Published Photo: Leopard of Masai Mara
http://issuu.com/camerapixo/docs/hotshots-camerapixo-01-online
- www.oneeyeland.com
Photo of the day: Photo: Watching documentary with the lion cub
http://oneeyeland.com/day_image.php?imgid=93778
- IG Metall - Respekt.tv Germany Calender
Exhibited photo: Respect the nature
2012
- Nature History Museum Mainz Germany
Exhibited Photo: Colours
2010
- Kuşadası Photo Marathon
Special price winner Photo: Wings of Kuşadası
http://www.dha.com.tr/kusadasi-fotomaratonu-sona-erdi_121223.html