Walking Istanbul

[jahnpack]

Here are some photos from my book project Walking Istanbul.
http://www.antrepo.org/walking

Mostly shot with CV 12mm 5.6 and CV 35mm 1.4

Cheers

 

[Roger Hicks]

Nice pics, but I don't get any great feeling of Instanbul, as distinct from any other major city. All right, I've only ever spent a few days there, but most of them might have been taken in any on of a hundred places.

Or was this your point?

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[kbg32]

I have to say that I agree with Roger. These images could almost have been taken anywhere. I was there back in October and loved the city. These images seem to be more of the outskirts of Istanbul rather then the inner city or its distinct neighborhoods.

 

[kshapero]

Hey JahnPack how about get some the exotic sights in Istanbul which is a fascinating city.

 

[user237428934]

The caption of all the pics on the website is "A city without people". I like such empty places and I think you captured this very good.

 

[jahnpack]

Thank you for replies. The book will be an urban exploration of Istanbul. The photographs will be under some topics like demolished house traces, city and nature fusion, changing urban landscape and some uncommon places ( a city without 16 million people). It was intentional as you said that I live in Istanbul more than 26 years.

Photographs are from inner city for yet (except Samandira post) I'll post some photos from outskirts as I walk there.
Can

 

[Crane]

..not Constantinople, now.

..not Constantinople, now.

An excellent and thoughtful antidote to the typical 'cruise brochure' emulations I was expecting. Urban 'underbelly' shots like these have formal beauty, as well as offering social critique.

The shots I think have the most 'power' are those where you have managed to place the decay and dereliction in a deliberate formal relationship with recognisable signifiers of Istanbul. Juxtapositions such as these, if placed at points throughout your final sequence of images, will provide the required contextual thread for your narrative.

Of course, one would be careful of 'over-egging' the piece, but I would expect perhaps a third of the final sequence to have such set pieces as anchor points.

An approach with such juxtapositions could be to set up sumptuous, highly-saturated colour images of recognisable motifs within areas of the city, but to look for and include subversive elements of decay within the given frame. This might not fit with your apparent style, though, which I suppose one would say is more of a formalist approach.

Looking forward to seeing how this piece develops.

Regards,
Crane

 

[nksyoon]

This is an interesting perspective as compared to cliched travel photography or even the documentary/street style of Alex Webb's Istanbul.

Please keep us updated on your progress.

 

[peter_n]

Yes indeed I liked quite a few of these. You have a good eye and know how to use that 12mm! 🙂 Keep it going!

 

[35mmdelux]

The fotos are excellent and a great credit to CV lenses and your skill. However, as Roger indicated, they could have been taken anywhere here in Los Angeles. In fact, certain areas of L.A. are alot more gritty.

 

[Bnack]

I rather like them. I think the reason you're getting the response you are is because your images don't reflect our preconceived notion of what your images of Istanbul SHOULD be. While I'm sure your images don't encompass all of what is Istanbul, this doesn't mean this part of Istanbul is any less a part of its' identity.

 

[Spoks]

I recognise Galatasaray Otopark of the Istambul Galata (Galatae) district, famous for Turkey's best soccer club.

 

[peter_n]

I noticed that the sign appears to be painted in the club's shirt colors.

 

[Spoks]

This hot dog stand or kiosk is standing along side the Galata Bridge, stretching from the Galata district to The Golden Horn district which is the tourist trap part of Istanbul with the huge Suleiman Mosque etc.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I rather like them. I think the reason you're getting the response you are is because your images don't reflect our preconceived notion of what your images of Istanbul SHOULD be. While I'm sure your images don't encompass all of what is Istanbul, this doesn't mean this part of Istanbul is any less a part of its' identity.

Very true. But is there anything readily noticeable that marks the images as being Istanbul instead of LA or Paris or London or...?

Of course there are things that mark it for the aficionado of Istanbul or those who notice Turkish spelling in signs and graffiti. Is this enough? Not for me. I'd find it more interesting if it were (say) 10 cities, showing how little they differ in this contect.

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[jahnpack]

Thank you for your interest.
What you suggested can be an another project like a comparison of major cities in terms of their isolated places. Maybe a good one and we may all be collaborating to it from various cities.

I know these images don't show that they were shot obviously in Istanbul. I actually don't care about it. Let me remind you this part you have seen is a small content of the book. There will be series which will form the sections of it.

Another reason for my post in here is that they were shot with RD1 camera with two different lenses. I thought this could be useful for those who are about to buy a lens.

Thanks
Can

 

[Roger Hicks]

I know these images don't show that they were shot obviously in Istanbul. I actually don't care about it. Let me remind you this part you have seen is a small content of the book. There will be series which will form the sections of it.

Dear Can,

In that case, why draw attention to the fact that it is Istanbul in the title? I think I'd find it more interesting if it were called 'Walking The City' without raising expectations about which city. Then, 'discovering' that it was Istanbul (from small internal clues) would add a new dimension.

None of this is said in a spirit of hostility or adverse criticism; it is simply an attempt to be helpful, seeing you asked for views on the project.

Tashi delek,

R.

 

[historicist]

I thought these pictures were very good, I've never been to Istanbul but they definitely don't look like anywhere in northern Europe to me. I was rather pleased not to find the kind of 'authentic london/paris/somewhere' type of pictures you usually get in this sort of thread.

 

[jahnpack]

Dear Can,

In that case, why draw attention to the fact that it is Istanbul in the title? I think I'd find it more interesting if it were called 'Walking The City' without raising expectations about which city. Then, 'discovering' that it was Istanbul (from small internal clues) would add a new dimension.
.

Hi Roger
Thank you for your ideas and time. I think these are good ideas and I will consider them. Since this is a premature project and it will take more than half a year to complete, lots of things can change. I never thought your ideas as a hostile. I really like to discuss and develop things.

Thanks
Can

 

[mani]

Liked the images a lot.