Night Photography Workshop, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia at sunset

Our photography club in Istanbul is very proactive in organising all sorts of activities for us. This was a night photography workshop with Cenk from Fototrek, Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque, from its courtyard

Our first session was in the classroom, where we learned how to set our cameras for the different images we were going to create. The next two sessions were out in the field, firstly in Sultanahmet, and then on and around the Galata Bridge.

Arches of the Blue Mosque

In Sultanahmet, we set up our tripods and waited for the "golden hour" to take images of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

A minaret of the Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia, seen through the entrance to the Blue Mosque

Then we moved into the courtyard of the Blue Mosque to complete the evening.

The Galata Bridge, just before sunset

In our third session, our first task was to photograph the Galata Bridge, just as the sun was beginning to set, before moving on to capture light trails next to the Yeni Camii (New Mosque), plus all the views from the Eminonu side of the bridge.

Suleymaniye and Rustam Pasa Mosques in the evening light

Yeni Camii, New Mosque, with car light trails at sunset

The Galata Tower, with light trails from boats on the Golden Horn

Fish Sandwich boats at night

Finally, we crossed back to Karakoy so we could capture the views from there.

View of the Yeni Camii, New Mosque, from across the water

Galata Bridge, lit up at night

Thank you, Cenk, that photography workshop was great fun.

by Elizabeth Coughlan