Istanbul, Turkey 2025

$200.00 – $2,295.00

Description

Vibrant Cityscapes, Street Photography, Architecture 

May 4-8, 2025

5-DAY WORKSHOP – $2295

MEET AND GREET ON May 3, 2025 AT 7:00 PM in the lobby of the **recommended hotel in Istanbul, Turkey

Five days of the beautiful, vibrant and colorful city of Istanbul is hardly enough, but we will make the most of our time, hitting the lively streets and alleys, clock towers, walls, castles, minarets and dungeons.  But we won’t stop there – we will capture the culture and architecture of her many museums, lighthouses, piers, fountains, arches, fortresses and mansions.  Expect to spend time taking in the scene at the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Galata Bridge and take in views of the city from Galata Tower.  We will make our way to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Theodosius Obelisk and of course, the famous Sultan Ahmet Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

This workshop will be led by one of BPSOP’s newest instructors, James Kerwin.  James is an Istanbul-based, award-winning photographer who shares his passion for storytelling through his lens. He has spent over a decade capturing the beauty of neglected and heritage architecture. His award-winning photography has gained international acclaim, including wins in the ND Awards and Chromatic Colour Awards in 2017, as well as a second-place finish in the International Photography of the Year competition’s Architecture category in 2018. His 2019 photo “Circle of Trust”, taken in Beirut, was shortlisted for the 2021 Architectural Photographer of the Year. James is the author of Fabrica – A Journey Into Decay and Abandoned Lebanon and sells large-format plexiglass pieces across Europe. Here is a link to his bio on BPSOP, where you can learn a little more about him and also see more of his work.  

https://bpsop.com/instructors/

James is very excited to be joining the BPSOP team and he can’t wait to share his beautiful city with those of you lucky enough to be registered in this SOLD OUT workshop.  If you have questions about the workshop or just want to get to know James a little better, feel free to reach out to Lisa and she can connect you with him.  

We will find no shortage of fantastic photography subjects in Istanbul and these 5 days will fly by. Here’s a detailed itinerary and what to expect on this workshop:

Day 1: May 4, 2025 – Galata Bridge, Street Photography & Sultanahmet Highlights

  • Morning:
      • Sunrise Shoot at Hagia Sophia: We will shoot the stunning architecture and early morning light, capturing the building’s majestic exterior and intricate details.
      • Afterward, we will explore the surrounding gardens, focusing on various perspectives of the Hagia Sophia.
  • Late Morning:
      • Grand Bazaar Exploration: We will capture the vibrant street scenes and market life.
      • Café Eyfel: We will take a break here, enjoying coffee while photographing the lively streets and market atmosphere.
  • Afternoon:
      • We will continue exploring the Grand Bazaar, capturing the architecture and bustling environment.
      • We move towards Galata Bridge to photograph fisherman lined up across the structure and look for great vantage points to capture softer light as it hits them. 
  • Sunset:
    • Galata Tower Reflections: We will shoot the tower’s silhouette against the water, especially during golden hour or sunset when the light is soft and reflections are ideal.

Day 2: May 5, 2025 – Büyük Mecidiye Camii & Üsküdar

    • Morning:
      • Sunrise at Büyük Mecidiye Mosque: We will capture the mosque with the Bosphorus in the background, perfect for the soft early light.
  • Breakfast/Brunch:
      • Feriye Café in Ortaköy: We will enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast and photograph the stunning view of the Bosphorus and Bosphorus Bridge.
  • Late Morning/Early Afternoon:
    • Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque: We will explore and photograph the mosque’s striking architecture in a peaceful setting.
    • We move to Kadikoy – by Ferry! Here we visit a bustling local area and we visit another market and grab dinner as a group later that day.

Day 3: May 6, 2025 – Maiden’s Tower & Rooftop Dinner

  • Morning:
      • Sunrise at Maiden’s Tower: We will photograph this iconic landmark from the Üsküdar shoreline, with the Bosphorus and city skyline as our backdrop.
  • Afternoon:
      • Üsküdar Market & Bazaar: We will capture street life and vibrant market scenes in this less touristy area.
  • Late Afternoon/Evening:
      • Marmara University Faculty of Theology Mosque: We will photograph the mosque’s clean, modern lines and geometric architecture.
  • Free Evening

Day 4: May 7, 2025 – Hidden Gems of Balat

  • Morning:
      • Exploring Balat: We will photograph the colorful streets, historic homes, and hidden courtyards of Balat.
      • 9am opening time at: Saint Stephen’s Orthodox Church: We will capture the unique iron structure and vibrant interiors of this church.
  • Late Morning:
      • Brunch in Balat: We will enjoy a traditional Turkish meal in a local restaurant.
  • Afternoon:
      • Balat Markets & Küçükpazar: We will photograph the vibrant markets and atmospheric alleys.
  • Late Afternoon:
      • Spice Bazaar: We will capture the historical architecture and vibrant market scenes.
  • Sunset/Blue Hour:
    • Suleymaniye Mosque View: We will photograph the mosque at sunset, with the city in the background.

Day 5: May 8, 2025 – Taksim and Istiklal Street

  • Morning:
      • Arif Paşa Apartment: We will photograph this iconic building with its unique architecture and stunning staircase.
  • Late Morning:
      • Street Photography in Taksim and Çukurcuma: We will capture the dynamic urban life, street performers, and architectural contrasts of these areas.
  • Late Afternoon:
      • Free Time: We will have some free time to relax before our final evening shoot.
  • Evening:
    • Süleymaniye Mosque for Architectural Shots: We will capture the grandeur of the mosque during the blue hour.
    • Farewell Dinner & Rooftop Shoot at Seven Hills Restaurant: We will wrap up the workshop with a final dinner and shoot, capturing the illuminated domes and minarets of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Day 6: May 9, 2025 – Departure Day

NOTE(s):  

  • Students are responsible for making reservations for their own accommodations during the workshop.  
  • Check the latest guidance for vaccinations required to travel abroad:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html 

We will have a Meet and Greet on May 3 at 7 PM in the lobby of the **Recommended Hotel where we discuss student goals and objectives, and Bryan will provide an overview and rough agenda for the workshop.

**Recommended Hotel:

Radisson Hotel President
Old Town Istanbul
Tiyatro Caddesi No: 25
Beyazit, Fatih
Istanbul, 34126, Turkey
+90 (212) 5 166 980
https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-old-town-istanbul/contact

**You can stay at the hotel or lodging of your choice, but the **Recommended Hotel is where we will gather for the Meet and Greet and where we will gather before and after photo shoots during the workshop.

To sign up for this workshop, click on the link above to make a deposit and secure a place in the workshop. To get additional information or ask to be on the waitlist, send an email to Lisa Phillips at [email protected].