Istanbul

Inside in one of the big shopping centers of Istanbul. I used the time to shoot some photos, compared to my wife and my daughter who were eager to go from shop to shop and look around, try dresses and shoes, and so on. In the end, we all were happy; I had some photos and my family some bargains. With my Sony A7S I could shoot high ISO photos in good quality.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/800s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 25600

Coming out of the Grande Bazaar we were caught up by heavy rain showers. No time to buy some fodder for feeding the doves. But they stayed pretty calm and waited for better times, which didn’t come on that day.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/400s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 2500

I was impressed by the big shopping malls in Istanbul. I shot photos in different angles and compositions, as shown on the photo in the post with the gigantic roof made with steel beams.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/6.3
• Shutter speed: 1/8s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 3200

One beautiful, versatile roof of a mosque in Istanbul. I have visited four mosques, each of them was a unique experience. I had to put off my shoes at the entry. Then you go in and walk on a big, soft carpet. The carpets have many colorful embroidery patterns which build a perfect harmony with the artful roofs.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop, Color Efex Pro

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/30s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 25600

Hagia Sofia – a multi-religious building, was an orthodox church, later an imperial mosque. Inside, the sheer dimensions are overwhelming. You walk around, overwhelmed by the thinking about the great minds who planned and constructed that building. I took the photos with awe, and have been pleased that there were no restrictions for shooting pictures.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/125s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 25600

Beneath the artful mosaics and the beautiful lightings, all mosques I have seen are carpeted. These are enormous carpets; there must have been endless hours of knotting for manufacture. It gives a good feel, to walk on those carpets, warm and pleasant. One of the many fascinating things, you see in a mosque.

Post processed with: Aurora 2018, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/15s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 2500

This colorful ceiling of this mosque in Istanbul showed how detailed and elaborated these mosaics are. I think the building time must have lasted many years to bring it to that level, with great workers and architects behind. For this relatively low light environment I used my Sony A7S, the “King of Low Light”.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/13s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 8000

After taking off my shoes at the signed area at the entrance of the mosque, I went in and was astounded again of the atmosphere and the architectural artworks. I was entirely free to take my photos. And I noticed how many believers were inside during the day, compared to the Christian churches, which are most of the time empty if there are no holy masses.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 25600

During my time in Istanbul, I visited many mosques. It was completely new for me, I have never been in a mosque before. The decorations, the build, the mosaics and the lights, all fascinating. And nobody had a problem, that I took photos. It’s always the best to respect a different culture, and your behavior should be according to the rules.  🙂

Post processed with: Dfine2, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/5
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 25600

In this mosque I tried to catch the iron ring with the light bulbs, the beautiful carpet, the pillars with the incredible, colorful and detailed mosaics and the praying people. Before I entered a mosque the first time, I couldn’t imagine how fascinating this experience would be.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/2.5
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 5000