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Continuing on from Volume I, and well into the vibe of the city now, let’s dive a bit deeper and see what else Istanbul can offer our eyes.

In preparing for the trip a bit, I was interested in hiring a tour guide to take us out one day to help find the best spots to shoot. Running photo tours in Vietnam myself, and typically being on the other side of this equation, I know the value of having an insider’s knowledge. After a bit of interneting, I came across Istanbul Tour Studio and and sent them a message. Pleasantly surprised with a rapid reply and their ideas, we set things for our last full day in the city, and I was excited to get on the local track.

First thing in the morning, Sinan, the company’s director and one I had been chatting to, came to meet us at our flat and we headed out to explore!

Taking us to great spots I likely wouldn’t have found on my own, and giving us plenty of local knowledge, history and amazing food along the way, we had an amazing day out and I was able to capture a number of images I really like. Wanna see what we found? Scroll down and let’s go!

[ut_title_divider_2 divider=”bklyn-divider-style-2″ align=”center” font_source=”google” google_fonts=”font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20italic%3A900%3Aitalic” font_size=”30″]An Insider’s Tour[/ut_title_divider_2][ut_image_gallery thumbnail_size=”full” gap=”5″ gallery=”81220,81217,81219,81218″][ut_title_divider_2 divider=”bklyn-divider-style-2″ align=”center” font_source=”google” google_fonts=”font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20italic%3A900%3Aitalic” font_size=”30″]Crossing The Bosphorus[/ut_title_divider_2]

Part of our tour was a brief ride on a ferry across the Bosphorus from one side of the city to the other. I definitely wanted to get on the water at some point (even though it was freezing out!) but I wasn’t that interested in the touristy boats. This one surely wasn’t that. Boarding from a tiny station, I already had a good feeling about it, and when the sun came out for just about the duration of our 3o minute ride, we were in perfect luck!

I was too excited to sit down for long, so I went exploring the decks inside and out and watching the riders whose faces intrigued me.

Though it was brief, it was one of my favorite times and places to shoot on the trip.

[ut_image_gallery thumbnail_size=”full” gap=”5″ gallery=”81223,81221,81222,81227,81226,81224,81225,81228″][ut_title_divider_2 divider=”bklyn-divider-style-2″ align=”center” font_source=”google” google_fonts=”font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20italic%3A900%3Aitalic” font_size=”30″]The Fisherman[/ut_title_divider_2]

An old Turkish proverb that I just made up says never let a fisherman with a great face go without being photographed.

[ut_image_gallery thumbnail_size=”full” gap=”5″ gallery=”81230,81231,81232,81233″][ut_title_divider_2 divider=”bklyn-divider-style-2″ align=”center” font_source=”google” google_fonts=”font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20italic%3A900%3Aitalic” font_size=”30″]A Final Çay & Goodbye[/ut_title_divider_2]

Near the end of our day, our last stop was Balat, a very cool  neighborhood. Unfortunately, it also coincided with some rain starting, so we had to head inside. Fortunately however, Sinan found a very old and cool tea shop that allowed us in (some of them are members only clubs), and we even convinced them to let me take a few shots.

Not something they normally do it sounded like. So with one last cup of hot tea in hand, I snapped a few frames and that was nearly the end of our day and our time in Istanbul. So until next time I’m ready to board a long flight back, this is goodbye for now, but the city will be in my mind and images for the foreseeable future…

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So, Istanbul, so long for now, but I have a feeling I’ll be back again. Perhaps in warmer climes, but certainly back again.

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