Blue Mosque, Istanbul Turkey [July 2002]
Ahh – the Blue Mosque. Stand for a moment in the cool shadows of its elegant beauty and the grey-blue domes will capture your heart and imagination. It is, hands down, one of my most favorite buildings anywhere.
On my first day in Turkey I challenged myself to make an image of the Blue Mosque that also captured something of the rich mystery of Istanbul. I was still very new to photography and the challenge loosened my inhibitions. As my friends and I explored the city, my search for the perfect angle and the right foreground lead us to an amazing roof-top tea house, a tiny side street crammed full of young men playing soccer, and a group of charming older men engrossed in a game of backgammon. This was my first taste of the bold freedom that photography can bring to travel. I was hooked!
Although it is far from technically perfect, this image is my personal Blue Mosque favorite. I took it on our last day in Istanbul. As we walked back to to our hotel through the Arasta Bazzar I looked over my shoulder for a parting glance. I like this image best because it depicts a slice of the everyday life of those who live in the lee of the graceful turrets.
Do you find your camera makes you bold? What great images have you captured along the way?
In joy,
Melinda
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