The Istanbul Sunset She Carries in a Maiden’s Tower Reflection
The sunset is not behind her. It is caught in her sunglasses. A Maiden’s Tower reflection glows across the lenses while the woman holds a pipe near her lips, smoke softening the portrait. The sea, the tower and the orange light become a tiny Istanbul landscape carried on her face.
Istanbul is beautiful, BE. But what about the people who live here? We do not always deserve this city, especially when every careless day leaves another mark. The photograph is warm and luminous, but that thought sits behind it.
I had left most of the pipe outside the frame. Bringing it fully into view might have made the photograph more interesting, but the reflection in the sunglasses would have become smaller. I chose the reflection. A Maiden’s Tower reflection can hold an entire evening when the light is this kind.
The photo shoot date was October 29, 2013, the date it was added to the website was December 14, 2020, and on June 28, 2024, the photo was updated with its high-quality version.
I took the photo, added it to the site 7 years later, and replaced it with a high-quality version 4 years after that.
And let me tell you a secret. On August 11, 2026, I am revamping my website and translating all the texts into English. I came across this beautiful photo again =)
I have no idea why I wrote these 🤣
BE
