"Isolation"

The world was a strange place to be in when Covid-19 hit. Soon after the pandemic started I felt the need to document the anomalous times for future generations. I hiked the streets of Istanbul, boarded ferries and peeked at the empty Bosphorus when in lockdown. I photographed the isolated streets and made videos documenting the experience.

I visited three important areas of the megacity which are normally extremely busy, Taksim/Beyoglu, Galata Bridge/Golden Horn and Bosphorus/Kadikoy to capture the atmosphere caused by the isolation and the silent confusion in the air.
"Locked" - I was photographing on and around the Galata Bridge in Istanbul to document the isolation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. I saw this rusty lock on the railing serving no purpose, except for possibly a wish, and felt that it was meaningful in the lockdown days. The empty bridge, Golden Horn and the Galata Tower are in the background.
"Locked" - I was photographing on and around the Galata Bridge in Istanbul to document the isolation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. I saw this rusty lock on the railing serving no purpose, except for possibly a wish, and felt that it was meaningful in the lockdown days. The empty bridge, Golden Horn and the Galata Tower are in the background.
"Bosphorus-Not Lake" - The Bosphorus is never totally empty. There are always little boats, big boats, fishing boats, yachts, freighters or ferries. I was very surprised to see it empty for the first time in my life during a weekend lockdown.
"Bosphorus-Not Lake" - The Bosphorus is never totally empty. There are always little boats, big boats, fishing boats, yachts, freighters or ferries. I was very surprised to see it empty for the first time in my life during a weekend lockdown.
"Taksim in Isolation" - Taksim is the transportation hub in Istanbul, very unusually empty in this photograph due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
"Taksim in Isolation" - Taksim is the transportation hub in Istanbul, very unusually empty in this photograph due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
"Bare Beyoglu" - Always very busy Istiklal Street in Beyoglu is like the main street of a ghost town during the Coronavirus pandemic. The empty simit cart says it all.
"Bare Beyoglu" - Always very busy Istiklal Street in Beyoglu is like the main street of a ghost town during the Coronavirus pandemic. The empty simit cart says it all.
"Ferry" - Ferry is a big part of life in Istanbul. It carries people accross and up and down the Bosphorus.It is very unusual to see a ferry empty like this during the day.
"Ferry" - Ferry is a big part of life in Istanbul. It carries people accross and up and down the Bosphorus.It is very unusual to see a ferry empty like this during the day.
"Quiet Kadikoy" - Kadikoy square on the Asian side of Istanbul has multiple ferry landings and is always packed, except on one of the isolation days.
"Quiet Kadikoy" - Kadikoy square on the Asian side of Istanbul has multiple ferry landings and is always packed, except on one of the isolation days.
"Lonesome Bull" - The Bull Statute is a meeting spot on a main junction in Kadikoy. It's usually packed. A few people and a stray dog are all I could see on an isolation day.
"Lonesome Bull" - The Bull Statute is a meeting spot on a main junction in Kadikoy. It's usually packed. A few people and a stray dog are all I could see on an isolation day.
"Sundown in Lockdown" - The sun sets at rush hour in the Kadikoy square. Only a few people pass by. The rest are waiting out the pandemic at home.
"Sundown in Lockdown" - The sun sets at rush hour in the Kadikoy square. Only a few people pass by. The rest are waiting out the pandemic at home.
"Empty Seats" - The new type ferry carries nobody on the outer seats and just a few inside as it passes by the Haydarpasa train station alongside nearly empty classical ferries.
"Empty Seats" - The new type ferry carries nobody on the outer seats and just a few inside as it passes by the Haydarpasa train station alongside nearly empty classical ferries.
"Fun Times Are Missed" - The street in Cihangir full of restaurants and bars is normally very busy. All establishments are closed giving the street an unusual ghost town atmosphere.
"Fun Times Are Missed" - The street in Cihangir full of restaurants and bars is normally very busy. All establishments are closed giving the street an unusual ghost town atmosphere.
"Lonely Bridge" - Galata Bridge spans the entrance to he Golden Horn in Istanbul. Both the Bridge and the water are isolated during the Coronavirus pandemic. The beaten railing hosts hundreds of people fishing in normal times.
"Lonely Bridge" - Galata Bridge spans the entrance to he Golden Horn in Istanbul. Both the Bridge and the water are isolated during the Coronavirus pandemic. The beaten railing hosts hundreds of people fishing in normal times.
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