Unsplash Around the World: Turkey 🇹🇷

With an array of diverse landscapes and a vibrant cultural heritage, Turkey serves as an endless source of inspiration for photographers like Yunus Tuğ, Esra Afşar, Ahmet Hamo, Tolga Ahmetler and Engin Akyurt.

Find out why you need to add Istanbul to your travel bucket list from those who know it best, as each contributor shares the impact living there has on their photography.

Who are you & where are you from?

Yunus Tuğ:  My name is Yunus, I was born and raised in Adıyaman, a city in the southeast of Turkey. I moved to Istanbul for my university education and I have been living here for about 10 years.

Esra Afşar: My name is Esra Afşar, and I am from Istanbul, Turkey.

Ahmet Hamo: I'm Ahmet, born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. My life evolved in a completely different direction when I immigrated to Istanbul, Turkey 11 years ago after my childhood was shadowed by war. After this difficult transition, I started to rediscover myself in a new city. I've always loved to travel. Getting to know different cultures, meeting new people, and exploring the world appeals to my soul.

Tolga Ahmetler: My name is Tolga Ahmetler. I was born in Antalya but lived most of my life between Mersin and Istanbul. 

Engin Akyurt: My name is Engin Akyurt. I was born in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Where is your favorite place to take photos in Turkey?

Yunus: Since I love traveling, exploring nature and camping, I hitchhiked around 50 cities in Turkey. Among my favorite cities that I see as natural wonders are Rize and Trabzon, which are the northern cities of Turkey.

Esra: Istanbul is always my favourite place to take photos because it has lots of different kinds of photography options such as street photography, architecture, landscape, nature and so on.

Ahmet: Turkey is a country with a different beauty in every corner. Therefore, it is quite difficult to choose a single place to take photos. Still, there are some special venues, each offering a different atmosphere and captivating me every time: Cappadocia, Hagia Sophia, and Istanbul.

Tolga: I always find Istanbul to be the most captivating city for photography in Turkey because of the constantly changing nature and its history. Besides that I find the southwest part of the country very pleasing to photograph.

Engin: In Turkey, I especially love photographing Istanbul. This large and chaotic city offers unexpected moments every day, every minute. Outside of Istanbul, my favorite places are in the southeastern regions of Turkey, including the Mesopotamian region. At the top of this list is the city of Mardin. It's a place where four different languages are spoken, and people can live together peacefully. When you look at Mesopotamia from afar, the earth gives you a feeling as if you're looking at a sea or an ocean. Mardin is truly a valuable city in terms of human history. It's definitely worth seeing.

What do you love most about Turkish culture? 

Yunus: I love the hospitality, sincerity and different food culture.

Esra: Delicious cuisine.

Engin: What I love most about Turkish culture is that people don't necessarily plan too far ahead. Instead, they focus more on making daily plans, which often results in daily surprises, whether good or bad.

What is your must-see in Turkey for visiting photographers? 

Yunus: Istanbul for its streets, diverse people, cultural and historical beauties. For nature and green forests, I recommend the cities of Rize, Trabzon and Artvin in the Black Sea region.

Esra: The pools of Pamukkale.

Ahmet:  It may be one of the most special locations on earth! Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary, located on the historical Silk Road, is a colorful structure formed as a result of the natural erosion of the soil with the withdrawal of water in this region, which was an inland sea millions of years ago. In my opinion, everyone should see this natural wonder place, which started to form ten million years ago.

Tolga: Go to Cappadocia first, and then visit the mediterranean cities such as Antalya, Mersin and Mugla. Don’t forget to visit Rize and Artvin if you love nature and deep dark forests. 

What is the one thing you’d like people to know about your country?

Yunus: Since it is a very rich country in terms of climate diversity and culture, I can say that it has an interesting aspect for everyone.

Ahmet: I want them to know that Turkey is not just about beautiful beaches and historical monuments. Turkey is also a country to be known for its hospitable people, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. Turks are world-famous for their hospitality. If you go to a Turk's house as a guest, he will try to accommodate you in the best possible way. He will serve you his best food and will do his best to make you comfortable. Turkey's culture is also very rich. Turkish cuisine is also very tasty.

What's your number one hidden gem in Turkey? 

Tolga: It's not a place but the journey itself. I always love to travel by ferry at sunset from Uskudar to Karakoy ferry ride in Istanbul. I recommend everyone to do it because the views and the experience you will get is almost surreal!

Engin: My number one gem in Turkey is the non-touristic spots of Istanbul.

What advice would you give to someone visiting Turkey for the first time?

Ahmet: Make sure you plan and consider your interests and the season. And explore! Experience hospitality, discover flavors, bargain. Don't forget that Turkey is full of beauties waiting to be discovered!

Tolga: Explore beyond the tourist hotspots, while Istanbul’s iconic sights like Hagia Sophia and Galata Tower are must-sees, don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and explore the lesser known neighbourhoods.

What is the best time of day to shoot in your country?

Yunus: Spring is the best time, between April and July. 

Esra: Personally, the best time to shoot is sunset. Everything looks more beautiful and photogenic at sunset.

Tolga: I think the best time of day to shoot in Istanbul is sunset. That gives everything a warm glow which I like very much.

Engin: The most suitable time for photography in Turkey will vary depending on the region you're in. You should decide based on the culture and nature of the place you're visiting.

What's your favorite photo you’ve taken in Turkey?

What effect does Turkey have on your photography? 

Yunus: Since each region of Turkey is very different from each other, it is possible to take photographs in various areas, for example, the Anatolian region is suitable for cultural and historical monuments, old streets and various people, the Mediterranean region is suitable for warm climate, holiday photographs, and the Black Sea region is suitable for natural wonders and green forests. is happening. Therefore, it contributed to my development in every aspect of photography.

Esra: I think it can be an advantage that we are a country with four seasons because it is very enjoyable to take various photographs in every season.

Engin: Being a photographer in Turkey has been particularly beneficial for me, especially in the realm of documentary photography. The coexistence of Eastern and Western cultures has helped me develop my skills in communicating with people

Are there any areas in Turkey you’d love to capture through your lens? 

Ahmet: Mount Nemrut — I would love to capture the statues of gods at sunrise or sunset at this ancient site, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Esra: I would like to visit the villages in Turkey and photograph the natural and rural life and daily life scenes there. 

Describe your country in one word.

Yunus: Various
Esra: Captivating
Ahmet: Heaven
Tolga: Dynamic.
Engin: Chaotic

See you next month with our next around-the-world location!