September 21, 2026 - September 25, 2026
Istanbul — the city where Europe meets Asia. On this photography tour, you discover layers of history, culture, architecture and everyday life through the lens of your camera.
We will photograph the great mosques in perfect morning light, dive into the chaos of the spice bazaars, capture street scenes in the vibrant neighbourhoods of Balat and Kadıköy, and experience the Bosphorus at sunset. Our Turkish-speaking coaches open doors that are normally closed to tourists.
Street photography, architectural photography and reportage — Istanbul offers it all in one compact, intensive photo trip. Small group, central hotel, personal coaching.
This trip will be led by: Zer Erdogan who speaks Deutsch, English
The architecture, the food, everything in Istanbul tells a story. The city is busy & fast, and never stops. But when you need a break from all this fervid life, there is always a nice garden, a small tea house or a mosque where you can sit, breathe and relax.
East meets West and old meets new in vibrant Istanbul, Turkey. Historically known as Constantinople after the Roman Emperor Constantine I, Istanbul was for years the centre of the Roman Byzantium and Ottoman Empires. Home to many of the most recognizable images of the country of Turkey, such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, Istanbul is not to be missed.
Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous city as well as its cultural and financial center. The mosques, bazaars and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip. On a trip to this gleaming, modern city you can immerse yourself in nearly 3000 years of history from Roman ruins to Byzantine marvels, Ottoman treasures and modern amusements.
This adventure is designed not only to guide you to the most photogenic locations carefully planned for the best light, but to aid you in mentally visualizing a scene before capturing the decisive moment. Our aim is to raise your awareness and spark your creativity so that you not only go home with images to be proud of, but use your newfound skills to improve and expand your photographic technique in general. Apart from the technical aspects of learning your camera settings and capabilities, you will learn how to turn an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by using your own creativity.
Arrive at the hotel & check-in. Attend the welcome presentation with overview of the trip, Istanbul specifics and the full program. Dinner followed by an early sleep.
We'll begin our day early with a visit to the old city – Sultanahmet. After breakfast, we will view one of Istanbul’s (and the world’s) most impressive buildings – the awe-inspiring Hagia Sofia. Walking around the mosque, with its unique blend of Christian and Muslim architecture and artwork, we’ll practice our new photography skills. Then we will enter Blue mosque to see the vast interior.
After a delicious lunch, we will continue to explore the Hippodrome and domed Basilica of St. Sophia, which has inspired architects and religious leaders for over 1,500 years.
And finally the Grand Bazaar, built in 1457, is not to be missed! It is impossible to visit all 4400 shops in the Grand Bazaar, but we will definitely capture some amazing photos there! As we explore and walk through the bazaar, we will have the opportunity to taste the best sweets, especially Turkish delight and pistachio baklava! Trust us, they are to die for.
Then we will explore the Spice Bazaar, where the scent of hundreds of spices permeates the air.
Then we will cross the famous Galata bridge, where you will see many fishermen. From here, you will witness a beautiful silhouette of Istanbul in the background. It’s truly a magical moment. We will finish the evening at Karakoy district, with a nice dinner and sunset shots of the Karakoy bridge and the Eminonu mosque.
We will start our day by taking the historical underground funicular tram to go to Galata. We continue with a walk at the Istiklal street, visiting two churches there. We will have a photography basics training with lots of exercises around Galata tower to prepare you for this trip. Photographing the narrow streets of Galata with a wide angle lens can be fun. You might even want to give a fisheye lens a try.
After Galata, we take the steep “Commodore” stairs down to Tophane to visit the local mosque. Then we will see Karakoy, which is an up-and-coming area in Istanbul and hosts a plethora of cafes and boutique shops throughout its narrow cobbled streets. The area is perfect for photographers looking for a younger, edgier scene in Istanbul. You will be awestruck by the elaborate street art on display. In fact, one of the streets is named after a prominent street artist, “Leo Lunatic.”
We will leave early to visit Balat / Fener area, which is a street photographer’s paradise. Here you will smell history and see the real Istanbul. There will be elderly people sitting in front of their houses, cheerful children playing in the streets, and small shopping places on every street. Mosques and churches are next to each other there. None of the residents of Balat will question your desire to photograph them. Wander the streets of Balat full of colorful houses, get lost and simply fall in love with Istanbul.
After a tasty lunch, we will cross the Bosphorus with a ferry to see Kuzguncuk, which is a trendy new area with beautiful houses, giving plenty of opportunities for street scenes and environmental portraits. After dinner, we will end the day in Uskudar, to position ourselves perfectly to take photos of the iconic Maiden’s Tower from the best location.
On the last day of our program, we will have breakfast followed by a final review of your photos. While our program ends after the review, we recommend you to stay at least a day or more to enjoy the weekend in this beautiful city. Maybe for shopping or maybe for trying the famous Turkish hamams. If you’re interested in continuing your stay in the same hotel, let us know and we can get a quote at a preferential rate for you.
We will stay at a comfortable highly rated hotel (~3 stars) in the modern center of Istanbul, for easy transport to all the shooting locations. You can see representative photos from the previous hotels.
** If you decide to come earlier and / or leave later, we can arrange extra nights at preferential rates for you from the same hotel
Language: Deutsch, English
Zer Erdoğan was born in Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş. Her educational journey began in a village primary school, continued through secondary school and high school in Bremen, Germany, and concluded at university in Istanbul.
She started taking photos during her university years.
For her, it wasn’t about mastering the technical aspects of photography; it was more about being able to see and capture the moment.
She especially enjoys photographing people on the street—their posture, their expressions. Because even as someone simply walks, they carry with them their sadness, hope, longing, regret, and, if they have it, their love. Whenever she sees a stance or an expression that tells her something, it becomes a photograph for her. She feels like it becomes part of her—it becomes her energy.
She believes a photo should also communicate what she sees. That’s why she reads a lot about photography.
Zer has been doing professional street photography for many years. She is also the founder of @mystreetbnw and @mystreetwomen accounts and curates in many hubs. Moreover she is a jury member in many photography competitions.
For her, photography is a passion. That’s also why she usually carries her camera with her.
