Istanbul – My Fourth Continent

Istanbul had been on my mind for some time. Drawn to the city, I followed the work of many street photographers. I was fascinated by the way they capture this extraordinary city — its people, its colours, its contrasts, and those fleeting moments that tell a story without a single word. I wanted to experience it for myself, camera in hand, and discover what I would see through my own lens.

And Istanbul surprised me. Positively, and in so many ways.

A rooster crossing a wet, blue-and-white Istanbul street in front of local shops and cafés on a rainy day.

There is an incredible rhythm to this city. Life unfolds everywhere, often all at once: people rushing through narrow streets, shopkeepers going about their day, street vendors weaving through crowds, unexpected encounters, colourful shopfronts, and beautiful little moments that might disappear a second later. Around Galata Tower, in particular, I found myself constantly reaching for my camera. I constantly found something happening: another face, another scene, and another story to notice.

A crowd fills a lively Istanbul shopping street beneath a large cluster of red, pink and blue heart-shaped balloons, surrounded by colourful historic buildings and shops.

Pedestrians crossing a crowded cobblestone street near Galata Tower in Istanbul, with a yellow taxi approaching between shoppers and colourful storefronts.

I took countless photographs. Some shots I composed with care, others I rushed, capturing them in the midst of chaos before the moment faded. Not every frame is perfect, and perhaps that is part of the beauty of street photography. Sometimes the energy, the spontaneity and the feeling of being there matter more than technical perfection. I wanted to bring home not just pictures of Istanbul, but a little of what it felt like to walk its streets.

A man and woman walk along a narrow, shaded street in Istanbul, with Galata Tower rising above the sunlit buildings in the background.

A large John Wick mural painted on a shop shutter in Istanbul, beside a local store displaying household goods on the pavement.

We have also been sharing our Istanbul journey on YouTube. This series has already published two videos, and we will release the third and final episode this Saturday. This time, we turn our attention to food — another essential part of experiencing a city so rich in culture, history and everyday rituals.

A man gestures while talking to a flower seller at a colourful outdoor flower stall on a sunny Istanbul street.

After returning, I found I had taken far more photographs than expected. Istanbul still offers much more to discover.

Of course, our visit had its share of drama, too. Heavy rain and flooding hit Istanbul while we were there. We stayed safe in our hotel, but many people struggled on the flooded streets, and tragically, there were fatalities.

Amid all this, we also saw something deeply moving: the solidarity of Istanbul’s people, who came together to help those in need, including rescuing cats and dogs caught up in the floods.

Between the street photography, the food, the city itself and the unexpected events, this visit gave us far more than we had imagined.