Tag: photo tour of istanbul

Constantinople, not İstanbul

İstanbul’un ilk fotoğrafları. Yıl 1843

Constantinople, not İstanbul

Posted on October 23, 2013 by The Old Wolf

Photography in Istanbul became popular in 1850. However, in 1843 the French photographerJoseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey was the first person to photograph the city. Remarkably, his photographs were only discovered in the 1920s in a storeroom of his estate and then only became known eighty years later. Some of his work is seen below.

A panoramic view of Constantinople. One of the first pictures ever captured of the city. 1844.

A larger section of the above photo.

Beyazıt Camii (Beyazid II Mosque)

Sariyer Fisheries

Çengelköy

Haydarpaşa

Alay Köşkü (Procession Kiosk)

Various untitled photos

İstanbul is one of the most captivating cities in the world. I’ve spent many hours wandering its streets and bazaars and mosques and monuments; I’d love to be able to go back and spend a lot more time exploring it. Oh, the food, and the spices, and the lokum and the sahlep and the ayran and the…

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Constantinople, not İstanbul

October 25, 2013
Photo Gallery: Views of Istanbul

A ferry sets off from the Galata Bridge along the Bosphorus of Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Though not the capital, Istanbul is the cultural, economic, and financial heart of Turkey with a population of over 13 million people. Situated on the Bosphorus strait, this metropolis, a former capital of the Roman Empire, spans Europe and Asia, the only city in the world to cross two continents. The city is dominated by historical monuments from the Byzantine and Ottoman era, with modern nightclubs, up-market restaurants and boutique hotels helping the city become a tourist hotspot. Istanbul was awarded the status of European Capital of Culture in 2010.

more : http://www.windsorstar.com/travel/Photo+Gallery+Views+Istanbul/8277449/story.html

April 24, 2013
In Istanbul, a Spray of Style – Slide Show – NYTimes.com

For decades, the Istanbulers you’d find in the waterside Karakoy district were after one of four things: maritime equipment, electronic parts, fresh fish or prostitutes. But since the 2010 openings of two restaurants — Lokanta Maya and Bej, an impeccably decorated airy restaurant-bar known for its cocktails and brunch — the gray workaday docklands area has begun to attract a more stylish crowd with a more refined shopping list. A remarkable influx of young creative types, restaurateurs and hoteliers has followed, and now the odor of fish and salt air mingles with the scent of nouveau Turkish cuisine, and the sounds of boat horns and engines with jazzy and electro music from new cafes and design boutiques. Karakoy is finally seeing its ship come in.

— SETH SHERWOOD

Pictured: Karabatak coffee shop

Credit: Ayman Oghanna for The New York Times

via In Istanbul, a Spray of Style – Slide Show – NYTimes.com.

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February 8, 2013
Photo Essay: Tour of Istanbul (Includes first-hand account)

Istanbul – The third largest city in Europe spans the Asian and European continents at the famous Bosporus waterway and offers visitors many historic and modern destinations.

Istanbul has been in the news a lot lately since the disappearance and tragic demise of American tourist Sarai Sierra who was robbed and killed there. However, millions of tourists from all over the world visit Istanbul every year and find the streets safe and full of amazing architecture, historic castles, delicious food, museums, music, and exotic markets.

Istanbul was founded as Byzantium in the 7th Century B.C. Lying along the famous Silk Road, it connected Asia and European tradeways and saw the reign of four great empires: the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman. It was a center for the spread of Christianity since The Apostle Paul traveled through it on his way to Greece and Rome in the 1st Century A.D. The Ottoman turks conquered it in 1453, and it became a center of Islamic culture. Now it is an interesting mix of Christian churches and Islamic mosques. Saint Sophia (also known as Haggia Sophia or “Ayasofya” in Turkish) is the most famous example of this. Dedicated in the 4th Century as a church, it later became a mosque and is now a museum.

Directly opposite Saint Sophia, in a lovely garden courtyard near a park, lies the majestic Blue Mosque (“Sultanahmet”) which was build during the reign of Sultan Ahmed 1 in the 17th Century. It has six minarets and many colored tile designs and circular strings of lights inside its impressive domes. Visitors can respectfully enter.

Not far away is Topkapi Palce (“Topkapı Sarayı”) which was built by Sultan Mehmed II who conquered Istanbul in 1453 and set up the Ottoman reign which lasted until 1921. For over 400 years, sultans resided in Topkapi Palace. A huge complex set within majestically-gated castle walls, it holds many courtyards, gardens, and royal chambers. You can see collections of swords, armor, manuscripts, and clothing. The “Harem” section highlights an amazing collection of jewelry worn by sultanas. A cafe in the largest courtyard and garden area offers strong Turkish tea and coffee, and a nearby gift shop features duplicates of Hürrem Sultan’s famous ring, books, veils, and other treasures.

Besides walking through grand, historical places and taking photos of old stone walls, tourists can ride a ferry across the Bosporus, shop at the traditional Grand Bazaar, and walk along the main street at Taksim with its Victorian architecture, art galleries, book stores, clothing boutiques, cafes, pubs, and discos.

These are just the beginning of things to see and do in Istanbul.

more :

via Photo Essay: Tour of Istanbul (Includes first-hand account).

February 7, 2013
Guardian Camera Club: Richard Brittain’s portfolio

A review of Richard Brittain’s portfolio.

These images seem to play with shafts of light, starting with ‘Refreshments’ in Istanbul where a sales man sells drinks. His face is in the shadow as is the majority of the scene, but the light on the cups helps to draw us in. Swimmer is awash with beautiful grays and blues, the intricate and successful composition really places the viewer in the frame. ‘Dusk’ silhouettes birds and people against an evening sky, it’s pleasant but doesn’t really say too much. ‘Tour Guide’, again from Istanbul is expressive in terms of the subject and dynamic in it’s use of light. ‘Pigeon’ sees the subject in the shadows next to a shaft the light. It’s a poignant image but the lack of light on his face leaves us cold. ‘Bus’ severs the heads of tourists, but with the addition of the image of the mosque it works! A quirky set of images

via Guardian Camera Club: Richard Brittain’s portfolio | Art and design | guardian.co.uk.

more : https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/nov/26/photography1#/?picture=398627339&index=5

November 27, 2012
Lost City – Madrid? Paris? Istanbul?

My father travelled all over the world exhibiting and selling medical instruments. He always took pictures of the cities he visited, as I’ve mentioned before. When my father passed away, I was lumped with the arduous task of selecting the best of his slides. I’m embarrassed to admit that I ended up throwing away two shopping bags full and keeping about 500 slides, which I then had digitised.

As a child, I loved looking at my father’s slides, partly because we didn’t own a TV, but also because it was so intriguing to be transported to places that looked so different from our own home town, Johannesburg. My father knew exactly where each picture had been taken, so there was never any need to mark the slides, because he always gave (extensive!) running commentary. However, I recently found my eleven-year-old daughter staring at the digitised images on my computer, just as I had done as a child. “Look at those old cars and the funny clothes,” she said. “Where was this taken?”

I was stumped. In most cases, all I could muster was an educated guess. I could almost hear my father laughing out loud from on high: “127 cities on five continents, boy! Why weren’t you taking notes?”

So, without further ado, I’d like to share some of the photos with you, in the hope that you can help me identify the cities and, if possible, the exact location where the photo was taken. Hopefully, this will help lay my father’s laughing spirit to rest …

Photo 1 – The above photo may have been taken in Paris, but I have no idea where. The vendor is selling “Marrons chauds” and “Cacahuettes” from what looks like the front end of a miniature steam engine cut in halfby a giant chainsaw. The sign on the building in the background reads “Pasoir”, I think.

Photo 2 – This could be almost any city in Spain or Italy, or perhaps even somewhere in South America. Madrid? Rome? Buenos Aires? There’s an interesting cross hanging above the street, behind the “Globus” sign. Or is it on top of the church in the background?

Photo 3 – This looks like a movie still from a 1960s spy thriller! Who knows what that elderly agent is carrying in the deep pockets of his black coat … The clue here is in the background, shrouded in mist. Could it be Istanbul? Or perhaps further north, judging by the glistening street? Warsaw? Belgrade? And is that the actor Matt Damon (or perhaps his father) crossing the street on the left?

I look forward to hearing your wildest guesses and best assessments. Don’t be alarmed if you hear laughter ringing out. It’s only my father looking over your shoulder.

via Lost City – Madrid? Paris? Istanbul? KLM Blog.

March 17, 2012