Back to Istanbul

Süleymaniyemoskee, Istanbul. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @90mm, ISO 2800, 1/60s, f/5.6

History repeats itself...

September 1978 - Istanbul - September 2022

Recently I was back in Turkey, I was back in Istanbul. Here in 1978

I photographed one of my first assignment travel reports. And of course the city has changed and grown enormously in those more than 4 decades, but what has remained is the authentic atmosphere. Especially in the old town and around the Galata Bridge.

Istanbul. The only city on earth that spans two continents, is the traffic link between east and west and watches over the Bosphorus, one of the most important straits in the world. For more than two thousand years, the city has been a bridge between Europe and Asia.

Istanbul is divided into three parts by the water, each of which forms a city in itself. On the Asian shore of the Bosphorus is Üsküdar, and on the European shore are the boroughs of Stamboul and Beyoglu, separated by the Golden Horn, an inlet that extends 8 kilometers inland from the mouth of the Bosphorus.

Beyoglu is located on the north bank and has traditionally been a commercial district that, like the Asian part, has grown into a true metropolis in recent years.

Sandwiched between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, the older European district of Stamboul forms the very heart of the city. This district in particular was the capital of the Byzantine, Eastern Roman and Ottoman empires for many centuries.

City skyline Panorama view over Beyoglu, the Golden Horn and in the distance Stamboul, the very heart of the city.

In the gallery a random selection of my most favorite Stamboul shots.

Stamboul cityscape The mosque Haghia Sophia (left) build in 6th century as a christian church, and Sultan Ahmet (or Blue mosque), build between 1609 en 1616, dominate the skyline of Stamboul.

Stamboul Sandwiched between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, Stamboul is a maze of narrow streets with many beautiful monumental buildings.	Süleymaniye Camii The Süleymaniye Mosque also dominates the cityscape of the old city. In the distance the Fatih Mosque.	Blue Mosque is also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque. This Ottoman historical building is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
Haghia Sophia The "Church of the Holy Wisdom" from the 6th century, became a mosque in the 15th century when the Ottomans conquered Istanbul from the Romans.	Inside the Haghia Sophia The Byzantine elements are still present in the impressive interior.	An Islamic place of worship 6:30 AM. Early meditation.

Bazaar district Domes and minarets of mosques rise from the compactly built bazaar district.

Galatabridge The 466 meter long iconic 2-storey Galata Bridge spans the mouth of the Golden Horn and connects the two European city districts. The bridge is a real magnet for the inhabitants of Istanbul and has traditionally been almost a city within a city.	Galatabridge video impression During rush hour, the five-lane highway can hardly handle the traffic and many thousands of pedestrians pass the bridge every day on the wide sidewalks. Ferries that maintain the connection with the banks of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn moor here.	Tea houses, restaurants, street vendors and shops under the roadway and around the bridge are doing good business.
The evening rush hour begins. A stream of pedestrians flows towards the bridge from the streets around the bridge. They have to catch the ferries or rush to the bus station on the other bank.
You can witness many fishermen sticking out their fishing rods ready to serve you with a fresh fish sandwich at the restaurants below. I had never seen them so closely and enjoyed my time seeing them live in action. Can you believe that the total fish caught at this bridge is around 64 tonnes in a year?	The bridge has been frequented by fishermen ever since the Golden Horn was cleaned up years ago. They now come here to try to catch local favourites like cinekop (bluefish) and palamut (mackarel).

Sunset in Istanbul The light of the setting sun still shines brightly on the Süleymaniye Mosque. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @62mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/320s.

Sunset is a majestic affair in Istanbul and can be seen from many angles. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @95mm, ISO 2000, f/5.3, 1/60s.

The hazy light of the dawning dusk sweeps across the builings, while the mosque's dome and minarets are still clearly visible against the evening sky. Nikon D5600 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @200mm, ISO 280, f/5.6, 1/250s.

Night falls on Istanbul in timelapse

As sunset turns to dusk Apple iPhone 11

Blue hour

The blue hour is the period of twilight when the sun is at a significant depth below the horizon. During this time, the sunlight takes on a mostly blue shade. The blue color occurs when the sun is far enough below the horizon so that the sunlight's blue wavelengths dominate due to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation caused by ozon. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @60mm, ISO 2000, f/7.1, 1/40s.

Full moon rise over Istanbul Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @26mm, ISO 1600, f/4, 1/30s.

Full moon rises next to Istanbul's Yeni Mosque. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @65mm, ISO 3600, f/5, 1/60s.

Enchanting... Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @200mm, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/50s.

Back to Istanbul

City skyline

Panorama view over Beyoglu, the Golden Horn and in the distance Stamboul, the very heart of the city.

Stamboul cityscape

The mosque Haghia Sophia (left) build in 6th century as a christian church, and Sultan Ahmet (or Blue mosque), build between 1609 en 1616, dominate the skyline of Stamboul.

Stamboul

Sandwiched between the Golden Horn and the Sea of ​​Marmara, Stamboul is a maze of narrow streets with many beautiful monumental buildings.

Süleymaniye Camii

The Süleymaniye Mosque also dominates the cityscape of the old city. In the distance the Fatih Mosque.

Blue Mosque

is also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque. This Ottoman historical building is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Haghia Sophia

The "Church of the Holy Wisdom" from the 6th century, became a mosque in the 15th century when the Ottomans conquered Istanbul from the Romans.

Inside the Haghia Sophia

The Byzantine elements are still present in the impressive interior.

An Islamic place of worship

6:30 AM. Early meditation.

Bazaar district

Domes and minarets of mosques rise from the compactly built bazaar district.

Galatabridge

The 466 meter long iconic 2-storey Galata Bridge spans the mouth of the Golden Horn and connects the two European city districts. The bridge is a real magnet for the inhabitants of Istanbul and has traditionally been almost a city within a city.

Galatabridge video impression

During rush hour, the five-lane highway can hardly handle the traffic and many thousands of pedestrians pass the bridge every day on the wide sidewalks. Ferries that maintain the connection with the banks of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn moor here.

Tea houses, restaurants, street vendors and shops under the roadway and around the bridge are doing good business.

The evening rush hour begins. A stream of pedestrians flows towards the bridge from the streets around the bridge. They have to catch the ferries or rush to the bus station on the other bank.

The bridge has been frequented by fishermen ever since the Golden Horn was cleaned up years ago. They now come here to try to catch local favourites like cinekop (bluefish) and palamut (mackarel).

Sunset in Istanbul

The light of the setting sun still shines brightly on the Süleymaniye Mosque. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @62mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/320s.

Sunset is a majestic affair in Istanbul and can be seen from many angles. Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @95mm, ISO 2000, f/5.3, 1/60s.

The hazy light of the dawning dusk sweeps across the builings, while the mosque's dome and minarets are still clearly visible against the evening sky. Nikon D5600 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @200mm, ISO 280, f/5.6, 1/250s.

Night falls on Istanbul in timelapse

As sunset turns to dusk

Apple iPhone 11

Blue hour

Full moon rise over Istanbul

Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @26mm, ISO 1600, f/4, 1/30s.

Full moon rises next to Istanbul's Yeni Mosque.

Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @65mm, ISO 3600, f/5, 1/60s.

Enchanting...

Nikon Z50 + Nikkor F DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 @200mm, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/50s.

Sandwiched between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, Stamboul is a maze of narrow streets with many beautiful monumental buildings.