Persongalleriet #583: Red Wall - Green Carpet - Blue Sky

Istanbul. March 11th, 2016.

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #582: More Istanbul Ramblings

March 10th, 2016.
On my own again yesterday, I rambled, after blogging etcetera for the better part of the morning. After a few minutes in "my" neighborhood, I took the tram west to Yusufpaşa to retrace some steps from last year. Couldn't really find the inspiration. Had two cups of çay in an alley and decided to go ride the ferries instead. Walked to Aksaray tram stop and found this:

Rode the tram to Eminönu to catch a ferry. When I got there I felt a hunger pang already, since I had such a late start to the day. I remembered seeing the fish sandwich seller from last year close to Karaköy and decided to walk across Galata bridge to try some! Saw my own shadow as I was walking down the stairs and waited a little while to get something interesting:

At least interesting to me!  :-)

The fish sandwich guy wasn't there today, but I found a simple little restaurant which made a damn good one! Shooting didn't stop just because I was having lunch:

Here's another shot from 50 meters away:

Beyoğlu is the part of central Istanbul where I have found the most graffiti. Here's a shot where I found a "Blue" theme:

Got on the Kadıköy ferry at Karaköy (finally getting the hang of which is which!!!) Walked around for a while getting som quick shots of the passengers. Sat down with the camera in my lap to enjoy the sea view. Looked down at my tiltscreen and found something to shoot a little bit closer than that:

Getting off at Kadıköy there were some police with uzi-like machine guns. Finger on the trigger and all, so I decided to go straight back with the ferry, now to Eminönu. I don't mind police with holstered pistols, but when carrying guns like this, it seems to me a shot could go off at any moment, by mistake or otherwise.

After resting my legs for a while I took the tour of the ferry. A small band was playing the most beautiful music you can imagine!

I talked to them after. Their name is Ateş Band and HERE is their facebook page. They didn't have any record to sell at the moment, but there are some mobile phone videos on there that will give you an idea, although the super talented girl singing and playing flute is not featured in any of them. I also always love a mandolin played so well as this! I shot a short video and will post it later, but I'll first need to convert it to a format youtube accepts.

Found some more geometry I liked on this ferry:

As I was getting off the ferry I saw the people waiting to get on behind closed doors. Then I saw the reflection.

As I was buying some simit for a simple dinner in my room, these two young women started chatting me up. Of course I asked to get a picture, with simit and all!

This was turning out to be a it of a geometry day and I found one more shot like that before calling it a day:

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #581: First Shot of the Day

Istanbul. 10th of March, 2016.
Turned left outside the hotel, walked 20 meters and shot this. Am I in streetie heaven or not?!?

Xbox.

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #580: Free Flowers for All!

March 9th.
Yesterday was my second day with Alphan Yilmazmaden on this trip. As always very nice and inspiring! Lots and lots of shooting, but also çay and conversations about photography and life. There is a lot to process from this day. And maybe to show later in this blog and in other places. But today I will focus on one event which we happened to witness. I guess it wasn't completely random, Alphan's knowledge of his people was a big part of why we were there.

When we first came the New Mosque, Yeni Camii, Alphan quickly noticed there was a funeral of some important person today. We took a long walk through the alleys and eventually came back. The funeral was just over and the guests were entering buses to go the graveyard. In the square outside the mosque, people had put up big flowered wreaths. Now that the funeral was over, these flowers were up for grabs.

As you might see from the pics, people were really happy to help themselves! Alphan tells me the Turkish saying translates to "Free vinegar is sweeter than honey".

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #579: Meeting Canan.....and Ara Güler!

Had so much fun shooting in the streets of Beşiktaş with deviant art photographer and illustrator Canan last year that it was obvious to me that I should ask if she would like to meet up again this year! And she did!  :-)

Just like last year, a day with Canan will turn into a cat day!

Walking through back streets, shooting at small scenes quickly, suddenly we had a little scare. A second after taking this next photo, my brain registered something. - Was that a gun that guy had? Sort of a Kalashnikov?
- Oh my god, did you take a picture? We will be arrested!
Canan was sure that they were police, but I thought in that case they were very civilian in their dress, maybe with the exception of the kevlar... Well, of course we had no trouble in the end.  :-)

Water Pipe Selfie.

Canan with friends.  :-)

Phone Trio.

Batwoman without her mask.

This was shot at, legendary photographer, Ara Güler's restaurant, where Canan had brought me to have lunch. The waitress told us that the owner was there and wouldn't mind seeing a visitor! I have been so shy many times in the past in situations like this, but this time I thought: Why not! I went in and saw Mr Güler sitting at a table with a woman. There was a laptop and some papers on the table. I gave my respects and asked if I could take a picture. He said yes!

Ara Güler at his restaurant. March 8th, 2016.

As I was leaving, they had a quick conversation and the woman asked if I could take a picture of them working with her phone. Of course I obliged, after Mr Güler tipped me off what position would give the best light. I consider that a 30 second workshop with one of the greatest photographers ever!  ;-)

Well, me and Canan got the food and started eating. After a little while the woman came and asked me my name. She needed it so she could give me a credit for when it was published in the book they were working on! That would be incedibly cool if it actually happens! Well it was cool that she even asked! I asked if she could email it to me and she got my email adress.

I must say I was a bit starstruck after this and still am. After all, not many days ago I was looking at Mr Güler's amazing pictures from old Istanbul at his great website!

The day was not over yet and I did some more shooting with Canan as my guide!

The Yawn.

Running Children.

Canan and Two Orange Drinks.

Flower Women.

Finished up the day by walking "with the light" in Istiklar Caddesi, walking back quickly and then with the light again. Me and Canan said our goodbyes until next time at Taxim metro station.

At the Simit Stand.

Photographer at Work.

Cola Turk.

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas