“Hello, maybe I sit and speak English with you?”“Sure, go ahead.”“Yes, you like take pictures?”“Yeah, I take pictures of people on the street for my blog.”“Eh…me too. I like take pictures. Make pictures for work on cruise ship. We have cruise, good dinner, and afterwards traditional Turkish dancing. If you want, you come tonight?”… Read More

After coming out of the Dolma Palace, the incredibly ornate palace where the sultans used to live, I started talking to this family. I said, “What’d you think? So beautiful right?”“It is, but I couldn’t spend more than a couple hours in there. I much prefer the Hagia Sophia. There’s so much to absorb and contemplate in there, whereas this is more… Read More

“Excuse a me. Can you make a photo for us?”“Sure. Where you two from?”“We are a from Russia. And you, where are you a from?”“San Francisco.”“Cooo-ooo-oool. We will be a friends on facebook.”… Read More

“I’m on holiday from the UK.”“What do you think of Istanbul?”“Well it’s quite brilliant isn’t it?”“It sure is, do you have any favorite parts about it?”“All of it really, we’re only here for 3 days and I just wish I had more time with everything because it’s all so grand and beautiful.”… Read More

As I was talking to the 17yr old kid in a park near Taksim square, these other 2 kids came up and wanted me to take their picture. After I did they started talking to the 17 yr old I had been talking to in Turkish. After a minute or so he said “We should go” and we started to walking away. They,… Read More

“What are you up to tonight?”“I go to Tekyon club, is gay bar, want to come?”“I’m not gay, and I’m probably just going to walk around and take pictures, but thank you.”“Oh, I thought you were gay because of your sweater.”“I’m just an artist and I like to be colorful. I’m from San Francisco and we like… Read More

“You look happy.”“Yes, happy!”… Read More

“I came here 17 years ago from Nigeria.”“What brought you here?”“It was a special calling. I have a special relationship with Jesus that has opened up the world on another dimension. Do you know him my friend?”… Read More

“We have much history here in Turkey. My favorite building, the Blue Mosque, older than America. Culture here very rich.”… Read More

This kid was here all day selling grilled corn at a street food stand. There are lots of these types of stands but they make the corn and let it sit, he waits until you get there and grills it fresh while you wait…so good!… Read More

“Originally I’m from Liberia. I’ve been traveling to make my art. Most recently I was in Egypt but the political situation got too bad so I came here. I did not really know anyone but people here are very nice.”… Read More

“I study visual design in South Korea but I come to Istanbul for holiday. I take pictures!”… Read More

“We are medical students and models visiting from Nigeria.”… Read More

I asked her dad if I could take a picture of this beautiful little girl and he shook his head yes. After the picture I said, “Thank you very much” and he said…“Thank you so much.”… Read More

“I’m from Montana so I know beauty, but this place is on a whole ‘nother level!”… Read More

“I’m in a completely different place from where I started my life, I have a job where I get to travel the world. My parents struggled just to make ends meet. My mom had a problem with alcohol and my dad smoked like a chimney. Me, I’ve never smoked or drank in my whole life.”… Read More

Right before I left the bazaar I saw this kid playing with this thing that looked like a yo-yo. He would swing it around and then flip it on his head. I got a picture right after he landed one. I said thanks, and then a guy came up and said, “Not thanks, give him $5.”… Read More

After I gave the first girl left, this girl motioned for me to give her money, I motioned for her to share with the first girl, she shook her head no and motioned for me to give her money. My conscience told me it was the right thing to do. I take her smile as an affirmation of that. Read More

As we were leaving the Bazaar 2 young women came up to me and started motioning that they were hungry and wanted money for food. I didn’t give them anything and got in the car. They kept knocking on the window and as the car started to drive off I felt sick in my stomach so I told the driver to stop so… Read More

My mom loves to shop so as after we had been walking through the Grand Bazaar for awhile she just started dancing…Atlanta style!… Read More

“Every piece in here is handmade, one of a kind. Turkish craftsmanship is the best in the world.”… Read More

“I make best jewelry in whole country honey. You buy for mother and girlfriend. They be very happy.”… Read More

“Everyday I wake up smiling because I live here in Istanbul.”… Read More

“My favorite thing about Istanbul is the nature. You cannot beat the beauty of the Bosphorous. The natural beauty of the city is where I get inspiration to make my jewelry. I make everything I see in nature. I make what inspires me, not what I think people will want.”… Read More