Turkey is a country shaped as much by tension as by harmony, where continents, cultures, and history collide. Straddling both Europe and Asia, it balances secularism with religious tradition, and rapid urban development with ancient ways of life.
In its streets, landscapes, and people, the constant pull between old and new is ever-present, providing endless inspiration for generations of photographers—both Turkish and international—who have sought to capture the complex essence of this unique and fascinating land.
1. Golden Horn fish dock, Istanbul, Turkey, April 7, 1965 – Charles W. Cushman
A white pelican perches on a post in the harbor, a man smokes and gazes out over the water, barrels and buoys scatter the foreground: a wonderful moment of everyday life in 1965 Istanbul, immortalized in rich Kodachrome tones by Charles W. Cushman.
Though not a professional photographer, the American, Cushman, created over 14,000 color images documenting mid-century life around the world. His archive, uncovered decades later, is now regarded as a vital visual record of the era. This image, with its gentle hues and layered composition, offers a rare and intimate view of Istanbul at a moment of transition, poised between tradition and transformation.
– Discover more of Charles’s work here.
2. Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, October 29, 1923
This iconic photograph captures Mustafa Kemal Atatürk addressing the Turkish Grand National Assembly during the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. Marking the official end of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of a modern, secular nation-state, this moment embodies Atatürk’s vision of sweeping political and social reforms.
As the republic’s founding father, Atatürk spearheaded efforts to secularize government, promote nationalism, and implement modernization programs that reshaped Turkey’s identity and governance for decades to come. This image captures a moment of Turkey’s transformation and its commitment to republican ideals, a legacy now contested in the country’s shifting political landscape.
3. Sunrise, Cappadocia – Igor Sporynin
At dawn in Cappadocia, hot air balloons rise above surreal rock formations, known as ‘fairy chimneys’. This has become one of Turkey’s most iconic vistas, and for good reason. The area’s natural wonders are paired with layers of human history: from ancient cave dwellings to Byzantine churches carved into stone.
Though photographs of this scene are now ubiquitous, the photographer, Igor Sporynin, elevates it with his eye for light and composition. The grassy foreground and rocky outcrops anchor the viewer in the moment, guiding the eye naturally across the landscape beyond, its textures and unulating forms beautifully enhanced by the soft morning light. A fitting tribute to one of the most uniquely beautiful places on earth.
4.“Silent Overseer” Istanbul – Ayhan Kheyri Amirkhiz
Expertly framed and timed, this image captured by Turkish photographer Ayhan Kheyri Amirkhiz, (which was selected as the third prize winner of our Street Photography Award in March 2024), is iconic in its own subtle way. Though no landmarks are visible, the atmosphere is unmistakable: the late afternoon sun bathes Istanbul in warm light, casting long shadows over the Bosphorus barely visible byeond. Silhouetted figures stand beneath a structure, and above them, a cat ambles along, outlined in perfect profile, watching over them.
Cats are a ubiquitous and beloved presence in Istanbul, seen in doorways, streets and cafés, quiet observers and companions to daily life, an informal yet fitting symbol of this captivating city.
5. Yozgat, Turkey, 1990 – Nikos Economopoulos
In 1990, at a political rally in Yozgat—a city in central Turkey—organized by supporters of the late statesman İsmet İnönü, the country’s second president—tensions were high and violence seemed imminent. Amid the mounting unrest, Greek photographer Nikos Economopoulos captured a moment of surreal calm: a butterfly landing gently on the shoulder of a stern-faced attendee. The resulting image became one of his most iconic, an arresting metaphor for fragility in the face of looming conflict.
Quiet, candid, and deeply human, the photograph exemplifies the Magnum photographer’s gift for finding poetry in seemingly unlikely places and endures as one of the most memorable photojournalistic images ever captured.
– Discover more of Nikos’ work here.
6. “Life in Borcka”- F. Dilek Yurdakul
In the village of Borçka, in Turkey’s Black Sea region, corn remains a staple of life. This image shows a woman using a traditional wheel to strip corn cobs, part of an agricultural tradition that stretches back generations. It’s a small act, but one that speaks volumes about continuity and self-sufficiency.
Beautifully captured by Turkish photographer F. Dilek Yurdakul, who has spent the last decade documenting life in her homeland, the image is rich in atmosphere. The protagonist is spotlit by soft natural light, her red headscarf and the golden corn standing out against the dim room like a Renaissance painting. A quiet homage to rural life in Turkey.
Discover more of F. Dilek Yurdakul’s work here
7. “The Aquatic Ceremony”, Bitlis, 2014– Yusuf Eminoğlu
A remarkable scene, children and buffalo escape the harsh winter chill in the steaming thermal waters among the snow-covered landscapes of southeastern Turkey. Photographed by Yusuf Eminoğlu and awarded third prize in our Black & White Award in January 2025, the composition is a triumph: mist rises around playful figures while a lone horseman stands silhouetted on the periphery.
It’s a scene of elemental contrast. Heat and cold. Movement and stillness. A fitting tribute to a timeless rural ritual, and a reminder of how photography can make the fleeting feel eternal.
8. Bursa, 2025 – Laurin Strele
Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, has long shaped Turkey’s spiritual landscape through its emphasis on inner devotion, poetry, and ritual. In cities like Bursa, once a major Ottoman capital, Sufi communities continue their centuries-old practices. Though Sufi orders were officially banned in 1925 during the secular reforms of the Turkish Republic, many survived underground, and today they endure as subtle but powerful threads of Turkey’s cultural and religious identity.
This striking image, by award-winning Austrian-born photojournalist Laurin Strele, captures not performance — as is often the case with photos of Sufis, who are renowned for their unique ‘whirling’ ceremonies — but presence: a quiet symbol of a fascinating, ancient tradition.
– Discover more of Laurin’s work here.
9. “Bosphorus Sunset”, Istanbul – Yusuf Onuk
Turkish photographer Yusuf Onuk captures the Bosphorus at sunset, with the European side of Istanbul silhouetted against the fading light. Just visible through the haze, are perhaps Istanbul’s three most famous landmarks: the Hagia Sophia and two great imperial mosques, which together echo the city’s layered past, from the Byzantine to the Ottoman Empire.
The Bosphorus itself, a narrow strait dividing Europe and Asia, has always been more bridge than border. This luminous, peach-hued scene captures that confluence of geography and culture which defines Istanbul, a place where light, land, and history all meet.
10. “Street Scene”, Antalya – Eduardo Ortiz
Under the late afternoon sun, a man balances a tray of simit—a popular sesame bread ring found across Turkey—on his head, while others smoke, stroll, or gaze out over the blue Mediterranean, where in the distance, a tall ship sails away.
Captured by Chilean-born photographer Eduardo Ortiz, this image is a masterclass in framing, each figure layered like chapters in a story unfolding simultaneously. Though taken in Antalya, one of Turkey’s most popular resort cities, the scene resonates far beyond, evoking the rhythms of daily life across the country: textured, communal, and deeply rooted in shared public spaces.
– Discover more of Eduardo’s work here.
All images © their respective owners