An AP photographer captures a masked protester undeterred by a deluge of pepper spray

ISTANBUL (AP) — Photographer Francisco Seco started working with The Associated Press as a freelancer in 2010 in Portugal. After a stop in Madrid, he was hired as full-time staffer in 2018 and moved to Brussels. He transferred to Turkey three years later. Here’s what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why shoot this photo

Following the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekren Imamouglu, protests started all around the country. After a few days covering clashes between police and protesters, the main opposition party, CHP, called for a big gathering outside city hall on Sunday. So, we were expecting more riots. On previous days, we saw people wearing different kinds of masks but on Sunday, this performer showed up dressed as a Dervish - a member of a Muslim religious order that takes a vow of poverty - wearing a “Cold War” era-type mask. An iconic symbol in this country wearing an unusual mask. As soon as he showed up and faced the security line of policemen, all photographers ran to shoot.

How I made this photo

At every protest I have covered, I have been using my good helmet, good gas mask, anti-pepper spray “spray” and two cameras with a 50mm and 35mm lenses. Today was the same. As soon as police started using pepper spray against the protesters, most of the photographers went to shoot from the opposite side from where I was shooting (including my teammate that night, freelancer Huseyin Aldemir), so I decided to stay in my position.

From this spot, I was able to see the whole silhouette of the Dervish protester surrounded by police officers using pepper spray - the stream actually looks like rain drops.

Why it works

I think it works because “the Dervish performer” shows calmness and peace in a violent situation. He provoked the police reaction from a very peaceful body language. He remained steady while policemen around him used pepper spray against him. Real Dervish are well know as spiritual prayers, and their real performance is praying to Allah to make the deepest connection through a whirling “dance.” So, this combination of peaceful and spiritual in a violent scenario makes this photo kind of different.

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