Back to Turkey

Figuratively and photographically speaking. I still haven't finished photos from our trip in late summer to Istanbul. Here are a few photos from our last day, when we visited the Blue Mosque. Still really not sure, even after reading all about it, why they call it the "Blue Mosque". The ceilings were cool, but the bazillion wires that hung down from them to hold the lighting and chandeliers in place were a bit distracting. I thought the Mosque of Mohamed Ali at the Citadel in Cairo was more impressive.

Tourists at the Blue Mosque - Istanbul, Turkey

Blue Mosque - Istanbul, Turkey

Ceiling Details - Blue Mosque

Main Dome from Inside - Blue Mosque

been very busy....

and blogging isn't what pays the bills (somehow, I don't suspect that surprises you).

Finally got a break in a very long weekend and I took the opportunity to start working on my photos from our trip to Istanbul. Still have a way to go, but I've worked through the food and market themed photos... here are a few:

Carpets - Istanbul, Turkey

Lamps - Istanbul, Turkey

Schawarma in the Making - Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Delight - Istanbul, Turkey

The Evil Eye - Istanbul, Turkey

Medusa in the Baslica Cistern

I did think of it earlier...I just didn't generalize from underground and indoors darkness to the darkness after sundown...

The Basilica Cistern was well worth the visit. Pretty cool how they light it in modern times. I'm sure it was an engineering marvel in its time too. All the way back in the corner are two pillars with Medusa heads at their base. I took these photos just moments before hoards of tourists literally gridlocked the walkway around them.

Medusa - Istanbul, Turkey

Medusa - Istanbul, Turkey

Second Medusa - Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul at Night

I wish I'd thought of this earlier...just putting the camera on the ground to hold it still with the 16-35mm wide angle on it, a real small aperture (f22), slow shutter speed etc. Unfortunately, I only started messing with it on our last night there. Here are some night time shots of the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius aka the Egyptian Obelisk, and with the minarets of the Blue Mosque playing a supporting role.

Obelisk of Theodosius - Istanbul, Turkey

Hippodrome - Istanbul, Turkey

Back From Vacation

And our luggage made it too...apparently that is an uncommon miracle when flying though Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

Lost Luggage - Istanbul, Turkey

Lost Luggage - Istanbul, Turkey

Lost Luggage - Istanbul, Turkey