Is there anything that I should consider while using my camera in Istanbul?

Zeren Ozdamar
31 March, 2016

I would be careful about using my camera to take pictures of police forces. They may feel intimidated and decide to take your film roll or wipe the data in your camera. I would not recommend making it obvious that you are taking pictures in Fatih, especially in the neighborhood of Carsamba which is infamous with its extremely conservative residents. That's all I can think of. Other than these, I don't think there is anything more to what you would usually consider before clicking in a western metropolis like New York City or Dublin. 

Just a few phrases in Turkish you may find useful:

"Cekme!" (approx. pronounciation would be "checkmea") means "Don't take a picture/shoot a video!"

"Fotografinizi cekebilir miyim?" is the polite way to ask "Can I take a photo of you?"

"Fotografimi cekebilir misiniz?" means "Could you take a photo of me?" , also a polite form of asking.

 

Camera Photography Local Culture Etiquette
Zeren Ozdamar

made in Istanbul, served in Cleveland, lived in Japan, tries in Eskisehir. blooming cinephile. speaks turkish and english. studies japanese.

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