Two friends chatting on a street in Istanbul.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 320 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Tag Archives: Turkey
A Visitor’s Perspective of the Hagia Sophia
Another tourist watches for a moment before taking her own photo with her phone, inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Non Muslims are restricted in where they can go now because it was turned back into a mosque again in 2020.
This was on the morning after I spent the day in bed recovering from food poisoning, so I didn’t take a whole lot of photos and had to go back to bed afterwards as I was so tired from the walk. This page has a number of photos showing what it’s like. Definitely try to avoid the busy times. It’s thronged with visitors.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 10000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/60s |
The Yeni Camii overlooks the mall
A long exposure photo of the Yeni Camii in Istanbul, with the entrance to a small shopping mall in the foreground. Steps lead down, under a busy road, and vendors have set up shops down there selling all sorts of goods.
The Yeni Camii is also known as the “New Mosque”, even though it was completed between 1660 and 1665. It was originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque.
I wonder if that’s a drone flying overhead, over the mosque? I certainly didn’t see it while I was taking this photo.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/3s |
The Great Suitcase Lineup
In a city of tourists, you can’t have enough suitcases, and that’s true of Istanbul. Tourists everywhere in the old city, and numerous places to buy clothes, goods, trinkets and souvenirs. You’ll be needing another suitcase to bring it all home with you!
I don’t share links very often, but here are a few you’ll appreciate if you edit in Adobe Lightroom (Classic or app):
- A video about the Learn section of adobe.com, a great resource to learn editing techniques.
- How James Popsys edits his photos, mainly using the global tools.
- Using masks to reveal the photo. The opposite of the video above.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
A Kitten’s dreams
One of the cats I spotted in Istanbul was this little one, a kitten, sitting on the wall near the graveyard where so many other cats were lounging. He seems young, and his face shows he has already been in trouble, I think, with small cuts on his nose. It’s a tough life for an outdoor cat.
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 132mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
The Night Cat
A cat we came across as we walked back to our hotel one night in Istanbul. I got the impression this cat was tough as nails. He looked back at me, but then continued to walk on, and disappeared behind a fence. Another cat came out to greet us while this one went off into the shadows.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 12800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/100s |
A man and his shop
One thing I noticed over and over again in Istanbul was men standing in front of, or in the doorway, of their shops. This gentleman was obviously enjoying the sunny afternoon.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/2000s |
Umbrellas in the sky
The Dimitrie Cantemir Müze Cafe in Istanbul is a colourful place to visit, but apparently you need to order something to take photos inside.
I popped my head in the door, saw two gentlemen watching me, one laughing, and took a few photos. Not a penny spent inside. The reviews on Google Maps are terrible. Nice umbrellas.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/60s |
The Doorway Guardian
A little orange or ginger kitten stood guard just inside the tourist entrance to the grounds of the Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul.
| Aperture | ƒ/1.7 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 6.3mm |
| ISO | 12 |
| Shutter speed | 1/570s |
Whiskers Among the Tombstones
This beautiful tortoiseshell cat was sitting near the main shopping area we were visiting on this lovely sunny day in Istanbul. She was just on the edge of the graveyard that went on for some distance up the hill, keeping an eye on everyone who passed by.
| Aperture | ƒ/3.5 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Feeding the Street Cat
This orange cat is living his best life. Being waited on hand and foot by the local human population of Istanbul. He was waiting for his dinner when we walked past.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/3200s |
Feline Wanderer on Cobblestone Paths
While wandering near the coloured houses in Istanbul, I came across a small cat staring off at something behind me. He seemed preoccupied, so I took one photo and walked on.
| Aperture | ƒ/5.6 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |