Istanbul: As Seen By Instagram
Istanbul is an insanely photogenic city — mosques and minarets dotting the landscape, the Bosphorus so much bigger than it looks on a map, the cramped streets filled with meticulously tended buildings, the blood-red Turkish flag waving in the breeze.
So of course I had to get out my iPhone to capture this beauty! Here are my favorite iPhoned and Instagrammed images from Istanbul:
I got weird looks as I leaned over on the tram to get a view of the sunset over the Galata Bridge. So worth it — I love this shot.
One of my favorite things about Turkey is the tulip-shaped tea glasses. There’s no other way to drink tea in Turkey!
The chaotic Grand Bazaar — you will get lost, but that’s part of the fun!
There was a very purple sunset one night in Istanbul — I got a great shot at the Blue Mosque.
Giggity.
Aya Sofya — first a church, then a mosque, now a museum. If there’s any monument you should visit in Istanbul, this is it.
And my favorite shot of the Bosphorus just after a storm, in all of its blue glory.
As I walked through Istanbul, I thought about how much my non-blogger photographer friends would love it. If you’re a photographer and looking for a new city to visit, I don’t think you could find anywhere more interesting to photograph than Istanbul!
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At age 26, I quit my job to travel the world alone. I spent six fantastic months in Southeast Asia and turned my travel blog into a full-time business. Today, I travel full-time, going anywhere that sounds wacky or beautiful or interesting. My goal is to show YOU how you can travel the world on your own -- easily, safely, and adventurously. 
Definitely photogenic! I love the first shot with the mosque and bird silhouettes.
That first photograph is epic. I love how you capture the bright orange sky and the outlines of the birds.
Thanks, Mike. Do you have the Camera + app? It’s the best.
Your photos are providing additional motivation – that’s for sure. I hope I can go visit with friends next year. Thanks for your post, Kate!
Gorgeous photos. That purple sunset is beautiful. I love Instagram but don’t know I should love it or hate it that I now take better pics with my phone than I do with my camera.
Monica, I think it’s the wave of the future — it will be smartphone, DSLR, and nothing in between.
Love them all!!!
Beautiful pictures! You make me Want to go to Turkey
Absolutely wonderful narrative and photographs. I daily read this blog and if there are no new entries, I keep on reading the previous ones which give new perspective every time I go through them. Well done Kate. And thanks for sharing your talent and travels. Very inspiring.
Thank you, Afaq!
Love this
I am currently putting together my photo post on the Aya Sofia. Istanbul is just full of things worthy of being photographed.
I loved your Aya Sofya post — I’ve got one of my own coming up!
I’ve added it to my list, its funny cause just this last weekend I spent hours at the book store lost in travel books and found myself wishing I could visit Turkey and now as I read your posts I know I have to go!
There is something about Istanbul and the iPhone camera. They are a match made in Heaven! When I was there in October I took some of the best photos of my life on my iPhone and actually submitted them to be be published because I got so much good feedback from them. What’s funny is that some of them are very similar to the ones you have posted here. I guess good eyes see alike, too
Haha, isn’t that the way with Instagram? Pure taste!
Wow! Amazing collections…….