About the Book
June…
A time when the sky feels bluer, the streets bolder, and hearts more visible.
Around the world, rainbow flags are raised—not only as symbols of identity, but as emblems of resistance, existence, and a collective voice.
Pride is not just a celebration.
It is the echo of silenced voices,
the rewriting of stories once erased.
Each year, at the end of June, LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies gather to mark the anniversary of a spark that ignited in the summer of 1969—when a police raid at New York’s Stonewall Inn was met with resistance.
That night, those pushed to the margins stood up.
They locked the doors on oppression and opened a window to history.
What began as four days of protest became a beacon for generations to come.
And that light—it never went out.
It continues to shine in every proud step, every defiant smile, every loving embrace on the streets of Pride.
My path passed through that light.
In the faces I encountered on the street; in those walking tall, holding hands, dancing freely,
in the courage of a young person with brightly dyed hair,
in the gentle smiles of parents standing beside their children—
I witnessed the same truth, again and again:
The place where resistance meets love.
With my eye trained by documentary street photography,
I feel honored to have witnessed these moments.
Each frame in this book is more than just an aesthetic capture—
it is a feeling, a moment, a statement.
This book is not merely a visual archive; it is a tribute, a thank-you, and a celebration.
This journey didn’t begin with them, and it won’t end with them.
Because love transcends time, space, and fear.
And when all else fades,
it is love that remains—pure, unfiltered, and full of color.
I dedicate this book to all those who, knowingly or not, stood before my lens and allowed me to capture their light.
To the guests who smile at us from these pages—
Thank you for making the world bolder, kinder, and more beautiful.
With love.
🌈
A time when the sky feels bluer, the streets bolder, and hearts more visible.
Around the world, rainbow flags are raised—not only as symbols of identity, but as emblems of resistance, existence, and a collective voice.
Pride is not just a celebration.
It is the echo of silenced voices,
the rewriting of stories once erased.
Each year, at the end of June, LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies gather to mark the anniversary of a spark that ignited in the summer of 1969—when a police raid at New York’s Stonewall Inn was met with resistance.
That night, those pushed to the margins stood up.
They locked the doors on oppression and opened a window to history.
What began as four days of protest became a beacon for generations to come.
And that light—it never went out.
It continues to shine in every proud step, every defiant smile, every loving embrace on the streets of Pride.
My path passed through that light.
In the faces I encountered on the street; in those walking tall, holding hands, dancing freely,
in the courage of a young person with brightly dyed hair,
in the gentle smiles of parents standing beside their children—
I witnessed the same truth, again and again:
The place where resistance meets love.
With my eye trained by documentary street photography,
I feel honored to have witnessed these moments.
Each frame in this book is more than just an aesthetic capture—
it is a feeling, a moment, a statement.
This book is not merely a visual archive; it is a tribute, a thank-you, and a celebration.
This journey didn’t begin with them, and it won’t end with them.
Because love transcends time, space, and fear.
And when all else fades,
it is love that remains—pure, unfiltered, and full of color.
I dedicate this book to all those who, knowingly or not, stood before my lens and allowed me to capture their light.
To the guests who smile at us from these pages—
Thank you for making the world bolder, kinder, and more beautiful.
With love.
🌈
Author website
Features & Details
- Primary Category: Arts & Photography Books
-
Project Option: Standard Landscape, 10×8 in, 25×20 cm
# of Pages: 100 -
Isbn
- Hardcover, ImageWrap: 9798349980404
- Publish Date: Apr 09, 2025
- Language English
- Keywords lgbtq, London, pride
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About the Creator
Habip Kocak
Oxford, UK
Born in Turkey and based in Oxford. Member of Oxford Photographic Society and IFSAK. Interest areas are Documentary and Candid Street Photography.