Chiaroscuro in Istanbul
by James Conley
Straddling Europe and Asia, the duality of Istanbul is both obvious and limitless. But what struck me as a flâneur in Istanbul was the literal chiaroscuro of light. Despite the often heavy clouds over the city, the light in Istanbul is strikingly harsh, with deep shadows and bright highlights. The light mimics the dual nature of Istanbul's inhabitants, requiring nothing more than observation.
The Misbaha prayer beads are traditionally used to keep count while saying the names of God, or the Tasbih of Fatimah prayer.
A group of men talk beneath the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Anıtı in Sarachane Park, Aksaray, Istanbul. Among others, the sculpture depicts Sultan Mehmed II on a flying horse.
A doorman reads a newspaper outside the ParisTexas fashion store near the Galata Tower in Istanbul.
