Hi, I’m Baran Bagcilar!

I’m a US-based photographer with a deep interest in Japan. In particular, I’m most curious about how time leaves its mark on places.

After visiting Japan 8 times between 2016-2024, I spent a year living in and traveling through the country. In addition to the usual destinations, I found myself drawn to places that felt frozen in time, like the quiet back streets of Kyoto and quaint seaside towns of Onomichi and Beppu. In these places, I developed an interest in photographing everyday moments and Showa-era businesses that have managed to endure change. I also became interested in exploring how the seasons can change how the same place feels, simply with the passage of time. 

Japan has been near and dear to my heart since my very first visit in 2016. Still, it is a place undergoing rapid change. I explore and take photos to observe, learn, and preserve. 

Beyond Japan, I love traveling and have been fortunate to explore widely. I’m a big fan of hiking and love dramatic landscapes like in Iceland or the Azores. I’m curious about science, technology, and space, and spend a lot of time thinking about personal growth and learning. I’m currently learning Japanese (shocker) and have an intermediate-level (N3) certification.

In another life, I was a tech employee trying to make the world a better place. You can read a bit about that work here and here. I used my first paycheck from that job to buy my first “serious” camera, a Nikon D3100 (in a bundle from Costco), and used it faithfully until I was caught in a flash-flood in the mountains of Kauai.

These days, I primarily shoot with my trusty Nikon Z6iii, which never leaves my side.