Ara Güler is in my opinion one of the best street photographer ever. He is a big part of the reason why Istanbul is part of our world trip. Yet, maybe a bit naively, I never found his Istanbul. Instead of it, I discovered a modern and cosmopolite city. I guess my image of Istanbul was the one of long ago, and I was somehow disappointed by how Istanbul evolved. This was until today when we got away from the touristic areas to enter some less concurred neighbourhood such as Uskudar or Fener. Suddenly, it was all under my eyes, the world of Ara had appeared. (Note : due to the quantity of images, the viewing experience will be improved by clicking on the first one and use the slideshow navigation buttons of the pop up window).
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph
Yanick, these are great photos!! You really found your place to shoot street photography in this city. Enhorabuena!!
these photos look great!
I spent about 8 months in Istanbul back in 2001, what fantastic city and the people. I have been enjoying these very much.
Yanick, these are great, I particularly like the men playing cards and the last image, just wonderful and thanks for the reference to Ara. Great work !!
I love photo #4.
I just came from Paris and I tried looking for Yanidel’s Paris. Found it and loved it.
My Paris ? If it is a lyric and poetic one, I guess it is everybody’s … ;)
Very nice work! You might want to go to Harbiye and Tesvikye up Cumhurriet Cadd as well for another another less touristy experience. When walking up Cumhurriet, the streets on the left are quit charming. Or at least were when I lived there six years ago.
Thanks for the suggestions but we are running out of time … tomorrow we head for Coppadoce.
Also a very beutiful place. Be sure check out the open air museum right outside of Goreme and the morning ballon rides.
Hi Yanick,
These ones really show the spirit of the Güler’s Istanbul. I feel also lucky that i was a close withness of that moments while they have been taken by you. Thank you so much for the trip and your sincere friendship.
Good luck for your next trips,
Emre
Thank you Emre, it was a pleasure to spend this time with you and discover more about the “Istanbul” life ! The fish was pretty good too ;) Cheers.
Tu sais que Ara tient un café à Istanbul au fait ?
J’en avais entendu parler, mais j’avoue que je m’imagine mal débarquer avec mon Leica et commander un Cappucino ;) Quoique …
Quoique ;-)
4 out of 8 wow stunning image.
Wonderful slightshow!
J’adore la fillette sur la trottinette, les couleurs…… C’est cet Istanbul là que j’aimerais aussi voir.
Wonderful pictures. I particularly like your “lady” in red (and in front of red). Also, the last picture has a timeless quality to it.
- Mike
I had never heard of Ara before. WOW, he realy captured life on film. Thanks for the reference.
Yanick, thank you for taking me to Ara Güler – to be honest, I did not hear before – so I’m happy that you pointed me there.
This series is really wonderful, great ‘run’. My compliment!
Ciao Axel
Thank you all for the wonderful comments. There are days and neighbourhoods that are just perfect for SP, yesterday was on of them!
As for Ara Guler, I am glad it made some of you discover him. I strongly recommend his book “Istanbul”, a masterpiece of B&W street photography. Also as mentioned by David (in French), Ara is still alive and owns a coffee shop in Istanbul. I did not dare paying him a visit i must admit.
Just an FYI, Ara is of Armenian decent and not Turkish.
Thanks for the correction.
Hi Yanick,
Being such an acomplished street photographer yourself and 2m tall and too shy to visit Ara Guler as an admirer of his work in a semi-public place like his cafe, that is quite something :) .
“La fillette sur la trotinette” is a great shot imo. I would have had a different “geometrie” from my average eye level and someone else from 1,60 m again a different one. Though this hard to tell with the street descending and the white car’s roof only partly visible. Anyway, few would have such a nice and natural expression on most subjects’ faces, also on this one’s.
Thanks for sharing!
Amicalement,
Simon
I did not know that tallness and shyness are correlated … ;)
Actually, I am back in Istanbul on Monday, so I might go for it. It just had not crossed my mind earlier, his pictures do all the talking anyways.
Not many people understand the impact of height on pictures, but as you mentioned, it is quite drastic. Note that is the base of the “trotinette girl”, the street behind was extremely steep and I believe I bent a bit. In the end, it is probably the view of a normal height person.
Cheers.
“Not many people understand the impact of height on pictures, but as you mentioned, it is quite drastic.”
Drastic?
Il fault pas exagérer :) .
Poor guy :D !
You can always get d TLR Rolleiflex or a Canicon with a tiltable LCD.
I am a fan, but I still think that you have the wrong camera (but in the right color :D ) on your trip.
Going from 35 to 50mm “de-emphasize” this, but it’s less “Yanidel”. You never ever look down on people and the closeness was good. Because you were even nicer (something, that can’t be exaggerated in street-photo) and the subjects saw this even better. Besides it was used enough to not be of bigger value than the M8, the 35mm of which it contains in every shot, if cropping was not a sacrilege. But than again, that might be your Parisian camera ;) waiting there for you.
Do I sound righteous? Pardon, and carry on with the great trip.
Olà!
Hi Simon, please stop, it is hurting me ;) Yes, I do regret many times not having the M9 with my 35mm lens. And I also agree that some shots don’t have the same look as I had before the trip. You are also right on the value of the M8 vs M9, not that much of a difference.
Yet I love the one camera / one lens experience. 46mm allows you to shoot from a bus, a table or keep some distance. Can’t do that with a 35mm, a longer lens would have been needed and the only longer lens that matters is the 60mm Hex (which I would never take on such a trip). I still do look down on people, but I haven’t posted much of these. (except for the Fleeing moments series).
Thanks for the sincere feedback, it always helps a lot !
Cheers, Yanick