Bingöl photographer preserves Kiğı history with century-old archive

In the Kiğı district of Bingöl, İbrahim Atilla Parkın is maintaining a family photography tradition that spans nearly a century. Although originally a mathematics teacher, Parkın returned to his family trade, which was established by his father in 1926, taking over the business in 1974.

Parkın manages an extensive archive containing more than 10,000 photographs. This collection, which includes images dating back to the 1940s, serves as a visual record of the district's social fabric, family structures, and historical lifestyle. The shop has become a nostalgic landmark, functioning much like a museum where residents and visitors can view portraits of deceased relatives and ancestors.

Parkın emphasizes his commitment to preserving the heritage of Kiğı, a district with a known history of approximately 700 years. He aims to use his archive to bridge the gap between past and present generations, allowing younger residents to connect with their family roots through the historical images displayed in his shop.