Turkey – Stuck in Customs
29
Mar 2019 : Friday
filed under  Camera Gear, Istanbul, Sony A7R 2, Travel, Turkey

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Fleabag Season 2!

One of my favorite comedies is back on the air with Season 2. I think this gal Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a genius. She also wrote Killing Eve, which I recommend as well.

Daily Photo – The Blue Mosque in Istanbul

As far as religious buildings go, I tend to enjoy taking photos in mosques rather than churches or cathedrals. This is not a blanket rule, of course, because a few cathedrals can be rather stunning. They all get a little boring after a while, though… kind of predictable. But as you can see here, inside the Blue Mosque, the level of design and color blows away most of the rather dreary cathedrals in the world.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-02 16:05:55
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length12.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
28
Dec 2018 : Friday
filed under  Istanbul, Sony A7R 2, Turkey

A Remastering of the Hagia Sofia

Looking at things in a new way

I have learned a lot of this through meditation and just noticing and accepting the world as it is.

Anyway, when I walked into the Hagia Sofia here in Istanbul, I was a little disappointed by the scaffolding. I wanted to experience this place 100% perfect, but, if you think about it, not many places (or people) are. So then I started thinking of ways to make the scaffolding an integral part of the artistic structure of the photo, and I came up with this. I think it’s more interesting than if it was totally clear. I could have done some Photoshop tricks (quite easily) where I flip around the top part of the photo and mask through so there is perfect symmetry, but I really like this better.

Daily Photo – A Remastering of the Hagia Sofia

I was working on a large format book, and this photo will probably go inside. When I started looking at my previous edit, I saw all sorts of mistakes. I thought, hey, those will be easy to fix. They weren’t. I probably spent a good four hours on the clean-up of this bad boy.

A Remastering of the Hagia Sofia

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-03 19:07:42
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time0.6
  • Aperture7.1
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length11.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments
9
Aug 2018 : Thursday
filed under  Istanbul, Turkey

Beautiful Istanbul at Sunset

Upcoming Trek in Spain!

I’m very excited to go on the Camino de Santiago with Kevin Kelly and a group of what I hope to become new friends! I’m doing this in early September. We’re hiking for about a week through the mountains on this rather famous trail. Here’s the path we’ll be taking.

Daily Photo – Beautiful Istanbul at Sunset

I would love to get back to Turkey to take more photos. I only spent a few days here, so just barely enough time to explore the highlights of Istanbul. As you know, I hate to go into “tourist” mode and only visit the places that are popular, but if you only have a short amount of time, I guess that’s what you gotta do. And even going into these places like the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia, my goal was to try to get a unique angle… something a bit different. Fortunately, a friend told me about this epic rooftop restaurant where I could get some epic views of the Blue Mosque as the sun sets. I’d gladly share it with you if I remembered the name!

Beautiful Istanbul at Sunset

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-02 23:20:26
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/800
  • Aperture6.3
  • ISO125
  • Focal Length37.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-2.7

Comments
7
Mar 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  Camera Gear, Istanbul, Sony A7R 2, Turkey

Grabbing a Snack in Istanbul

Reminder on Categories

Remember you can click on the Istanbul Category to see all my photos from this place. I was only here three days, but I tried to make the most out of it! 🙂

Daily Photo – Grabbing a Snack in Istanbul

On my last night in Istanbul, I was really wanting some more night shots, but not around all the main mosques. So I walked down by the seafront to check out what I could see. There was a lot of activity and I thought it was all very safe. I know some people are scared to go to Istanbul, but I wouldn’t give it a second thought. It’s also fun to stop at all these street vendors and have a little taste!

Grabbing a Snack in Istanbul

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-03 03:58:25
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/8
  • Aperture13
  • ISO800
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-2

Comments
26
May 2017 : Friday
filed under  Istanbul, Turkey

No Photos at the Lamp Store

No Photos Tip

You may notice the “No Photos” symbol in today’s photo. Here’s my advice: think of those signs as suggestions. Go ahead, take a photo. Maybe you’ll get in trouble and maybe you won’t. It’s not MY fault they have such a beautiful photogenic store! 🙂 Sometimes in these places you can just give a little money to the proprietor as well… sometimes I think that No Photos sign actually means “Please Tip.”

Daily Photo – No Photos at the Lamp Store

I’ve finally decided to take action with all nine of these lamps that I’ve collected from around the world. For the longest time, they’ve just been sitting around my home… but now, I have a designer working on hanging them all up so it’s a cute little path from the main house out to the studio… I’ll let you know how it goes! This particular photo was from Istanbul.

No Photos at the Lamp Store

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-03 21:12:16
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/400
  • Aperture4
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length13.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments
6
May 2017 : Saturday
filed under  Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, Turkey

Inside the Hagia Sofia

Broadcast from the Hagia Sofia

When I was in Istanbul, I published this live Facebook video while I was there in the Hagia Sofia… Enjoy! 🙂

Daily Photo – Inside the Hagia Sofia

Look, a wonder of the world! At least, it’s a wonder in Civilization. There are many different lists for Wonders of the World, and I never know which one to believe. Oh well, no matter, because this is on MY list. At first, when I went in here, I was a bit bummed out about the scaffolding. But then I decided to embrace it as a moment in time… and I think in embracing it and in the post processing, it came out quite interesting. I think it actually looks kind of cool, and it reminds me of a space station building a starship or something like this…

Inside the Hagia Sofia

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-03 19:07:42
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time0.6
  • Aperture7.1
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length11.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments
2
Jan 2017 : Monday
filed under  Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, Turkey

Banana Veils

Taking photos of Muslims

I think a lot of westerners are scared of doing this. I love it, and have never had a problem. It’s always a good idea to get permission first… and I usually ask the elder male if it’s okay. The culture is more than a bit patriarchal, naturally, but once you get through that, it’s fun photo time!

Daily Photo – Banana Veils

I met these two girls from Saudi Arabia when I was in Istanbul. I walked down a totally random street while being somewhat lost. These girls were holding fruit in front of their mouths and taking selfies. They were there with their dad and brother. I gave them the happy nod, and they gave me one back, so I started taking photos. And then we all got out Snapchat (I’m treyratcliff on there) and I sent them a bunch of Arabic sayings back to their friends in Saudi. It was really fun… very nice people!

Banana Veils

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-03 17:22:10
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/100
  • Aperture8
  • ISO250
  • Focal Length66.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.7

Comments
28
Dec 2016 : Wednesday
filed under  Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, Turkey

The Maiden’s Tower

Back to Istanbul?

It was a hard decision for our upcoming European tour, but we’ve had to mark Istanbul off the list. Not for safety reasons or anything… mostly as a matter of convenience. I’m sorry to my Istanbul friends, but I promise to come back! 🙂

Daily Photo – The Maiden’s Tower

I didn’t have enough time in Istanbul to visit this little island and go inside the Maiden’s Tower. I was lamenting that for a while, but then I decided it actually looks better from further away. I think that photographers think about destinations differently than other tourists. When I consider visiting a place like this, my first thoughts center around “what is the best perspective?” This is usually a strange line of thought because I need to figure out how to get AWAY from the object so that it looks as interesting as possible.

The Maiden’s Tower

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-04 00:17:10
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1.6
  • Aperture5.6
  • ISO400
  • Focal Length80.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.3

Comments
6
Dec 2016 : Tuesday
filed under  Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, Turkey

Entering the Blue Mosque

Photo Tip: Include People!

My first instinct when taking photos of incredible places like the Blue Mosque is to try to get a “clean” shot without anyone in it. I still do that as my “main” photo, but I also try to get shots with some or even a bunch of people in it. I think we shy away from this because it feels like a shot that all the “tourists” get too, but it can still be quite interesting.

Daily Photo – Entering the Blue Mosque

After I took off my shoes and walked inside, this is what I saw. It was majestic! It’s fun to be in a place like this where you know 99% of people are seeing it for the first time too. There’s kind of this collective “awe” energy that is very fun. Everyone is in there depositing good vibes and it makes the whole spectacle more spectacular! 🙂

Entering the Blue Mosque

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-02 16:04:13
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length12.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
26
Nov 2016 : Saturday
filed under  Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, Sony A7R 2, Turkey

Another Country, another Portal

FB Live Goodies

Don’t forget to go to my page to see some of the behind-the-scenes Live Videos from when I was in Istanbul exploring these places.

Daily Photo – Another Country, another Portal

You might notice a repeating theme of doors and portals in my work. It’s a fun little game I play to try to do interesting things with doors and people. I stood here outside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul for about 30 minutes, capturing different natural, organic situations of humans coming and going. This is one of my favorites.

Another Country, another Portal

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-10-02 15:30:13
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/160
  • Aperture16
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length13.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.7

Comments

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