After a bumpy start to our stay in Istanbul—our hostel was shut down by police due to a burglary and rioting right outside—we settled down with new friends and got to sightseeing. This historic city, a melting pot of different cultures, was all we hoped and we spent six days exploring the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar and more.

Photos taken with a Canon 5D Mark III.

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Galata, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

New Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

New Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

New Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

New Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

New Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Spice Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Spice Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Heavy metal, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Heavy metal, Istanbul, Turkey

Europe, Travel, travel photography, Canon 5D Mark III, Photography, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Galata, Galata Bridge, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern,

Heavy metal, Istanbul, Turkey

Next photo gallery: the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal!

6 Responses

  1. Emily

    What camera gear did you use to take these photos? I recently spent a week in Istanbul on a three week backpacking trip. I brought my DSLR since it’s all I have, but I’ve been wanting to get something compact for my future travels. These photos are excellent and look like the quality I want, particularly in the Basilica Cistern (I couldn’t get anything nearly as good as yours in the low light!)

    • Mark Johnston

      Hey Emily, I shot almost everything on a Canon 5D Mark III with a 24-70 2.8. However, by the end of the trip I was hating the weight of the thing — as I’m sure you might have been — and often times it’s size seemed to intimidated potential subjects. So if I was to do it all over again I’d buy the Sony Alpha 7RII with the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 and Sony 24-70 f/4. A much lighter and back/shoulder friendly combination with comparable (if not better) image quality. And if my dream travel kit is out of your budget, there’s plenty of earlier Sony Alpha models to choose from that are selling now for far less.

  2. jamal

    Hey,
    I am really impressed with what you guys did. I moved to the US 4 years and have saving 25k every year and i love to travel around the world. i can’t view a lot if the pics on your website and i was wondering if you guys have a Facebook page or anyway i can view your pics….thank