By Sana Panjwani
Mention Turkey and thoughts immediately jump to Turkish coffee, Turkish delights, fezzes and the Hagia Sophia.
These images are intricately woven into just about everyone’s minds when it comes to talking about the gorgeous nation that so neatly straddles eastern Europe and western Asia, making it the ultimate crossroads between the East and West.
Needless to say, Turkey has much more to offer than delectable treats. Once again Instagram comes to the rescue, going beyond the travel guides and giving us a chance to discover Turkey through the most authentic medium – the eyes of its people.
1. Tuba Satana – @istanbulfood
Peppered with well-shot, well-lit compositions, this foodie feed’s mouth-watering pictures are bound to make you fall in love with greens and vegetables.
Run by food writer and photographer Tuba Satana, Istanbul Food is “about supporting and emphasizing the real, local, genuine food and its people.”
Satana believes that a country’s cuisine is the window into its culture and she strives to spread that notion through her writings and pictures. Her promise to followers is providing them with a guide to the “real food in Istanbul,” and boy, does she deliver.
2. Ekrem Yazici – @zarifadam
Ekrem’s Instagram account outlines images of faith, prayer and meditation in contrast with the rolling landscapes of Turkey.
“There’s poverty, desperation, contemplation, playfulness, love and beauty,” states a review in CAPA, The Global Education Network. “It’s about capturing moments that make up the human experience.”
There’s beauty even in despair, and that can be seen in his shots of stray animals, proletariats and in the silent moments his monochromatic images capture.
3. Istanbul City – @istanbulcity
Focusing on the architecture and landscape of Istanbul, this Instagram feed is the collective effort of multiple photographers who all contribute to the ever-increasing album of Istanbul’s lively scenes.
From famous landmarks and colorful buildings to waves crashing at the bay and vantage shots of the city, the account is the equivalent of an online album for all the Turkish travel guides ever written.
4. Sezgi Olgac – @sezgiolgac
A jazz singer, writer, avid traveler and photographer, Olgac’s Instagram feed is filled with vibrant images of Turkey that encourages you to dig a little deeper and discover a side of Turkey that cannot be adequately captured in travel guides.
With her work used in a Guardian article, Olgac snaps the most trivial moments and presents them as images full of life, connoting that every moment lived is worth sharing.
“I owe a lot to the inspiring streets of Istanbul,” says Olgac. “Living in such a multi-layered city fills my soul with the passion and the creative spirits I need every day.”
5. Mustafa Seven – @mustafaseven
Showcasing beautifully captured images, this profile features a heavy use of filters, all in an effort to further highlight the idiosyncrasies in life.
Each image holds a story which Mustafa aims to share with the world, emphasizing that the people we meet in travel are just as intrinsic a part of the country’s culture as its places and landmarks.
6. Serkan Demirci – @sserkan34
An extremely talented nature photographer, Demirci runs his own photography website, giving people a wider window into his world of imagery in Turkey.
While showcasing a heavy use of filters, his shots include intricate displays of architectural highlights set against contrasting landscapes, creating an all-together surreal image.
His images portray the beauty he sees in Turkey every day, inviting followers to view his beloved country through his eyes.
7. Aylin Dicl – @hellomaydear
An actress in life but a street photographer at heart, Aylin Dicl’s Instagram account is laden with quirky, interesting shots – from crows filling the sky to neon cars to graffiti walls.
Aylin takes every image in stride, presenting the supposed good and bad together and accepting the whole picture. Scan through her gorgeous feed to see Turkey through her eyes – vibrant and alive.
8. Ahmet Erdem – @ahmet.erdem
Born in Istanbul, this 35 year old photographer has been passionate about imagery since 2006.
Exposed to the world of imagery through his career in advertising, Ahmet’s feed is filled with beautifully shot images of “his girl” – Istanbul – and beyond.
The sharp focus and vivid portrayal provides his 680k followers with a dynamic view of Turkey, one that is rarely seen in the media.
9. Ara Guler – @araguler
Nicknamed the “eye of Istanbul,” Guler is a Turkish photojournalist who’s been in the business since the fifties.
Although not as active on Instagram as one might hope, his 40 posts are all in black-and-white, focusing viewers attention’s more on the actions of the images as opposed to the surroundings, suggesting that people are a bigger inspiration of his work.
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