Istanbul, Men and Cats (page 4 of 9)

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for this "Istanbul" travel journal. I’m discovering it. As I read through, I get the impression you’re taking more risks than before—those reportage-style portraits, sometimes even quite direct. That’s not always easy, no matter the country. Am I wrong?

For your distortion issues, you might want to check out DXO. Their software can handle development for not just the camera bodies it recognizes (thanks to a very extensive and regularly updated database), but also specific camera/lens combinations. I don’t know the brand of your gear, but I don’t think DXO would have a problem with it. You could try the free 1-month version first and run some tests. Of course, you’ll need to start with native files.

Hi Catherine, Great photos, thanks!...

Hi Jpar 😉

I’ve been taking photography a bit more seriously for the past couple of years. A DSLR replaced my compact camera, and naturally, I’ve “specialized” in street photography. I enjoy practicing it regularly, so that’s all I do when traveling now, and I’ve become more confident about approaching people, chatting for a few minutes, or asking for verbal permission. Here and there, some shots are “stolen,” but rarely, and the subjects are never in a degrading situation. I’ll leave it to the greats to talk about poverty (yesterday I saw an exhibit by Reza—I had to hold back tears).

Unfortunately, portraits can’t be rushed, and I’m often disappointed with the results. The attitude and expressions of my subjects work for me, but technically... 🤪 Portrait photographers spend hours with a subject. Me, I’m on the move, and when I get back, I end up deleting dozens of shots that are often blurry.

Lens distortion haunts me—thanks for the tip! I have a D3300 with an 18-105mm lens.

Thanks Tito! 🙂

Here’s a little selfie while we wait—something different from the cats.



Another lovely travel journal. And a selfie just how I like them. I’m also a fan of your cats!

Thanks for stopping by, M 😉 I’ll pick up on your message after a few days’ break...

My mom told me: "When you were little, you’d always lock yourself in your room when we got back from vacation. Impossible to get you out!" Even now, I still feel the need to be alone and withdraw to relive my trips better. I need to go over them again. Writing a travel journal helps me a lot with that (VF gives us this space, which is great). Then I go back outside and get back into my routines, living them fully. That’s what I did last weekend.

Wednesday, September 23

We take the boat to reach the Usküdar district, located on the Asian side of Istanbul. We wait a few minutes before boarding. In a public garden near the shore, small wooden houses have been built for our feline friends.

Both modern and conservative, the Usküdar district has the feel of a big village with its market, mosques, lively streets, and residential areas.

















On our way back in the late afternoon, we try to visit Hagia Sophia. It’s 5:45 PM, and there’s no one around! I rush into the basilica, but damn... 🏴‍☠️ ... it’s under construction—you can’t see anything. Anyway, it’s too late, it’s too dark, and it’s not even worth coming back.

My mom told me: "When you were little, you’d always lock yourself in your room when we got back from vacation. Impossible to get you out!" Even now, I still feel like being alone and withdrawing to relive my trips better

That urge to stay in that bubble between two worlds a little longer, to extend the journey, head in the clouds, like you haven’t quite landed yet... that’s exactly it! But daily life quickly takes over—just a few days, maybe a week, and it already feels distant!

I really loved those last two series...

(Did you meet Hemingway in Cuba? Post 66...) 😉

When we got back in the late afternoon, we tried to visit Hagia Sophia. It was 5:45 PM, and there was no one left! I rushed into the basilica, but damn... 🏴‍☠️ ... it was under construction—you couldn’t see anything. Anyway, it was too late, too dark, and it wasn’t even worth coming back.

Papj59 mode on: So, didn’t you do your homework on the forum before going there?! It was repeated in every travel journal that everything was under construction.... Papj59 mode off.

Oh no, so that’s not the right plan for next year...😛 Any idea on the forum when the construction will be finished? 😏

(You met Hemingway in Cuba? Message 66...)

Yessss! Crazy, right? He was actually writing his future Nobel Prize work. I told him he’d win it, the Nobel, but he just burst into a big, genuine laugh. He didn’t believe me 😕

Well, didn’t you do your homework on the forum before going there?!

I did, but I didn’t think it’d be *that* intense. And anyway, I wasn’t going to Istanbul specifically for Hagia Sophia 😛

Oh no, so that’s not the right plan for next year...😛 And do we know on the forum when the work will be finished? 😏

If you tell your husband the sites to visit are under construction and the city is teeming with cats, I think you’ll be changing your plans 😄

In Istanbul, I’ve heard these works are never-ending... A bit like the Sagrada in Barcelona! After that, it all depends on the scale of the job. It seems we weren’t lucky, to sum up: -Blue Mosque under construction, dome hidden by tarps. -Hagia Sophia under construction, a little less chaotic than the previous one but still a frustrating visit. -The cistern, without water 🤪 -Part of Topkapi under renovation -The Chora Church completely covered by a tarp.

But the entry fees haven’t changed, and the lines are still just as long!

What can I say, a must-see is still a must-see...

At first glance, it’s true we might postpone the plan... because if we can’t see the must-sees 🤔 Still waiting for the rest though... 😊

Thursday, October 24

On the agenda for today: Topkapi, and we’ll finish the day with a stroll through "our" neighborhood, Karaköy.

Topkapi Palace was basically the modest residence of a succession of sultans for 400 years. It has four courtyards and a harem spanning 4 hectares. I thought we’d have the place to ourselves... Nope. And that there wouldn’t be any construction... Nope again.

The sultan’s cat...



The crowd...



And a few shots of the palace...

Hi Catherine, Your sultan’s cat is absolutely gorgeous!

Oh hey Luc! 🙂 I was just thinking about you because I’m almost at my favorite neighborhood! I’ve loved so many spots in this city, but if I had to pick just one...

I also have another cat whose little black spot under its nose I really loved.

The sultan's cat...

Are you sure that's a cat? https://www.planeteanimal.com/pourquoi-les-chats-tricolores-sont-toujours-des-femelles-563.html

There's a cutie that stuck around in the post...

And I think your photos are a bit dark. Is that how your reflex camera outputs them, or do you add contrast?

You're really sure that's a cat?

Okay, okay, the sultan’s *female* cat, then 😉

And I find your photos a bit dark. Is that how your DSLR outputs them, or do you add contrast?

I know. Yeah, I often add contrast, but it’s because my PC is calibrated that way—I always see them as too bright, so I tend to push the slider too far. When I check them on my iPad, I see the same thing you do. Gotta be careful; it’s tripping me up, even when I’m editing. Some end up in the trash.