06.09.2025 01:23
24-year-old Alperen Yeni, who lives in Trabzon, continues his passion for airplanes, which began in his childhood, alongside photography and his university education. He photographs airplanes from the balcony of his home, which offers a bird's-eye view of the Trabzon Airport runway. His passion has also influenced his educational path, leading him to leave his computer engineering studies. Alperen Yeni is now pursuing his dream of becoming an air traffic controller.
24-year-old Alperen Yeni, who lives with his family in the Pelitli neighborhood of the Ortahisar district of Trabzon, continues his passion for aviation, which started with simulators in his childhood, through photography and university education.
TAKING PHOTOS OF AIRPLANES FROM THE BALCONY AND FOLLOWING RADAR APPLICATIONS
Yeni, whose family works at the airport, started watching airplanes and memorizing their serial numbers from the age of 7. At the age of 9, he began taking photos with the camera his family bought for him, capturing airplanes landing and taking off from the runway of Trabzon Airport from the balcony of their home, which overlooks the runway. In a short time, he turned airplane photography into a hobby and created his own archive with the images he captured.
HIS PASSION ALSO SHAPED HIS EDUCATIONAL LIFE
Alperen Yeni, whose passion also shaped his educational life, left the computer engineering department and won a place in the air traffic control program.
"THIS HOBBY IS LIKE A VIRUS"
Alperen Yeni expressed that he started taking photos of airplanes at the airport from the balcony of his home with great curiosity as a child, saying, "My interest in airplanes started with simulators when I was 7 years old. I had family members who worked at the airport. Because of them, airplanes have always been a part of my life. I started watching airplanes and memorizing their serial numbers. Over time, it became a hobby. I thought I could only be a pilot, but once I entered the industry, I learned that there are other professions related to aviation. I first picked up a camera at the age of 9. In 2014, I created an account on social media and started sharing my photos. I have been doing this for 11 years. I started taking photos from our balcony. Over time, I improved myself and upgraded my cameras. I try to take photos wherever I can, in every place suitable for shooting, and all over the world. This hobby is like a virus. I have developed myself in the industry thanks to this hobby," he said.
"PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED WHEN THEY SEE MY ARCHIVE"
Describing his enthusiasm and desire for airplanes, Yeni said, "On the day I plan to take airplane photos, I open radar applications. I follow the landings and takeoffs there. I usually take photos from our balcony. When I see an airplane that catches my attention, I also take photos around the airport. I prefer nearby areas to capture large airplanes. I want to have an archive and collect memories. I also take photos of rare airplanes that do not always land in Trabzon. People are curious about this. It's a very nice thing. I take photos in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. When I see airplanes passing over the runway, I excitedly grab my camera. It's a matter of desire and enthusiasm. The sound of airplanes, their landings and takeoffs, and capturing them as they pass by creates beautiful memories. I also take photos at airports abroad. People are surprised when they see my archive. They say, 'Have you lost your mind? Why are you taking photos of airplanes?'" he said.
"I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY INTERESTING MOMENTS"
Alperen Yeni stated that he has collected unforgettable memories, saying, "This mass that defies gravity fascinates me a lot. Taking off, flying in the sky, and looking down from above is very striking. I was very curious about how these airplanes fly. I would open magazines at the airport to learn about different types of airplanes. I wanted to learn aviation photography. I would examine the photos taken by people. I said, 'One day, I want to do this too.' There are emergency landings, airplanes that cannot land, and new additions to the fleet. I capture these, and the images I take are published on news channels. Seeing them makes me happy. I have experienced many memories and interesting moments. While capturing the takeoff of an airplane at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, I also photographed another airplane passing over the runway. The two airplanes were very close to each other. I was very excited at that moment and captured those moments. I still have that memory in my mind; I can never forget it," he expressed.
"BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR AIR TRAFFIC MAKES ME FEEL GOOD"
Yeni, who stated that he is also developing himself in other areas related to aviation, said, "I continue this hobby to show people that 'such an airplane has come to Trabzon' when the time comes. Being a pilot is also a very nice profession. You are in the sky and flying an airplane, but the appealing part of the air traffic control program for me is being responsible for the airport I am at. You are responsible for the traffic of landing and departing airplanes. This responsibility makes me feel better. I had chosen the computer engineering department at university, but due to this passion, I left that department and started studying air traffic control in Istanbul. Hopefully, I will graduate next year. My dream is to work as an air traffic controller at Trabzon Airport after I graduate. I love studying this field," he said.