M A Andrew Black and White Photography Blog

Istanbul is an ancient city that contains some truly stunning architecture. Over the years, the influences of Christianity, Islam and the Ottoman empire have helped sculped the  city into a unique place. The pictures here show the Blue Mosque - so named because of the Izmir blue tiles used in the construction of its roof,  The Haghia Sophia - one time church, one time mosque and Haydarpasa train station. At this train station, which sits on the Asian side of the Bosporous, you can catch trains to  Baghdad.

Ayia Sophia Istanbul

Friday Prayers at the Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

It’s took a while but I have finally managed to get my limited editions on the website. Each one is limited to 50. I will sign and number them both on the print itself and on the matt. I decided that 18 inches by 12 inches or thereabouts was probably the best way to go. Each print is matted on white, acid-free board and then overmatted with 4-ply bevel-cut overmat. I am using 20 x 24 inch matts. To have a look at the gallery click on the link below. I have tried to include photographic images from Hong Kong, Rio De Janeiro, Istanbul, Morocco and more.

www.picturesforwalls.com/cgi-bin/limitededitions.cgi

One of the most significant building in Istanbul is the Haghia Sophia. (Sometimes referred to as the Ayia Sophia) This building has been both  church and a mosque through the years. As Istanbul changed Religion, so did the Haghia Sophia. Today, the building is a museum but it still manages to maintain its ethereal qualities.

In the melee beneath this famous building I ran into many sellers. This man was selling juice and was happy to pose for his picture in the baking mid day heat.

Later, I went down to sea front at Besiktas for something to eat. There on the Bosphorus stood this little boy. I thought this would make a great picture so I quickly and surreptitiously shot a number of images. This was the best one.

The Blue Mosque is one of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul. It gets its name from the blue Iznik tiles used in the construction of the roof. The Blue Mosque is sometimes referred to as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque and is one of only two Mosques in Turkey that have 6 minarets.

When I arrived here, I sat around in the main courtyard looking for a shot. The call to prayer had just begun and people were starting to go in. I was using a long telephoto lens at 300mm when I saw this scene. The lady didn’t look my way until the last second and it was then I took the picture. Within five minutes, the people disappeared and I was sat alone once again.

On November 23rd 2003, the British Consulate in Istanbul was bombed along with the HSBC bank. 27 people were killed. It was against this background that I arrived in Istanbul in the Summer of 2004. Even after this amount of time, the place seemed tense and nervy. I was staying at an American hotel that felt it necessary enough to check all vehicles undercarriages with a mirror for explosives as they approached the main entrance. Despite these small setbacks, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the city. It’s noisy, beautiful, chaotic, ancient, modern and dynamic all at the same time.

The Bosphorus is the main body of water that splits Istanbul in two. East is very much different to West. On the Eastern side, tourists are noticeably absent. Here along the coast is the great station of Haydarpasa. At this station, one can catch a train to all manner of exotic and forbidden locations. I was struck by the fact that Baghdad was only a train journey away.

On the boat journey back from Haydarpasa, you pass the great Topkapi Palace as it juts out into the Bosphorus. The great Ottoman Kings used this palace right up until liberation in 1923 by the legendary General Mustafa ‘Attaturk’ Kemal. Further round from the Topkapi and slighly up the hill is the Galata Tower. This tower is not far from the scene of the earlier bombings and has stood in some form for the last 600- 700 years. The skyline of the Golden Horn - the area that juts out into the Bosphorus - is dominated by this landmark.

The Dolmabahce Palace was another Ottoman indulgence. This time built along the shores of the Bosphorus. The last Ottoman King escaped along the waterside and fled from here to London in 1923.