Compilation & Critic over 2012 photos

Here are 10 photos that were shot in the first 9 months of 2012. It is really difficult to go and find old pictures of mine. When I started back in 2008, I immediately realized I needed a good storage place and a smart archiving methodology. I was taking 2000 shots a month, at least. And I was too lazy to go over the photos and delete the unnecessary ones. So, it ended up with a "big" external hard-disk and archiving in a daily basis. Now I had my photos in safe, however another problem occurred: How will I find a photo? Nowadays, its much easier for me actually. I shoot with IPhone 7, all my photos are backed up and thanks to smart applications that I can find them easily and edit them as I wish. :)

The point that I want to emphasize is digital technology helps photographers a lot, when used in correct way. I am trying my best to find some photos that I can share with you, talk about them a little and criticize them from the future! ;)

The first photo is dated 28 April 2012. I guess this is the buffet across Galata Mevlevihanesi, which the road in front leads you to Galata Tower. As I had my camera and bag with me all the time, I freely shot everything I saw. 

It is very recognizable in all photos how the camera and lens combination do not work properly. Both the camera was a beginner DSLR and the lens I mostly was using (Canon 17-40 mm) had a maximum aperture of f/4. I understood it too late that I needed more ISO and a quicker lens. :(

The following 3 photos were taken on 29 April 2012. First, you see the Galata Tower from an angle of a narrow street. I remember I really had difficult times to fit the frame with everything I want inside. Although the lens was a 17-40 mm, the result was 28-65 mm on a 1.6x crop beginner DSLR. In addition to more ISO on the camera and quicker lens, I also need a non-crop camera to have better results from the lenses that I will use.

Again the ISO and f/4 problem can be seen here. I was inside of a small boat, crossing Bosphorous, and there wasn't sufficient light. But I was trying everything to learn, so why not trying to take this one. :)

A long exposure practice!! The weather was hell, raining, smoke, night. But the lights were there. I am sure the result would be as I like with a camera-lens combination that I have in mind now. :)

This was taken from the European side of Istanbul on 3 July 2012. What a lovely city with lots going on anytime. Summer has its own rhythm! You can see people enjoying the sea in different ways. :) It was in the morning and there was a little fog on the air and on the sea. Again the result is not what I like today, but those days every try was good. 

Marvelous Baykus Beach, Kilyos, Istanbul on the evening of 3 August 2012. It is owned by Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. It is just half an hour out of the city to Black Sea coast (on European side). I discovered it that year and spent a lot of time the following couple of years, alone and with friends. The problem at this photo is that it is not sharp. I didn't had a tripod with me and tried to decrease the shutter speed to 1/15 or 1/10. The camera sensor was not supporting good enough over 400 ISO, and my maximum aperture was f/4. So, as I have described above many times, the technical inefficiencies are obvious. However, to obtain a good tripod and carry it for some occasions, is not a bad idea at all!!

Another marvelous view of Bosphorous from Suleymaniye mosque front garden, dated 17 August 2012. I guess you can see the lacking parts of the photo, after the descriptions above. :)

Sile pier, Istanbul, 16 September 2012. It is always a good to have a daily trip to Sile for resting, enjoying seaside or even swim, if you dare. Because, this side of the Black sea coast has very dangerous waves and unstable sand. A lot of people drown here every year, so best advise is to sunbath and just freshen yourself on the shore. 

Gokceada is the biggest island of Turkey on the Aegean Sea. The history about the island itself has to be read and learnt. We went to the island with my buddy Ugur for a weekend, just to be on the roads with our motorbikes. We stayed at the back side of the island, which was much more quieter. We didn't expect to see anyone, since it was the end of the season (29 September 2012). But an old fisherman came from somewhere and started fishing on the shore. What a beautiful sunset view for the man and what a bad result for me!!

     

We spent a weekend with my family at Gazelle Hotel, Bolu, Turkey. I think this one, dated 6 October 2012, was shot with a tele-zoom lens. The front part is nice and sharp enough. However, the background is a mess. I don't take zoom shots that much, but if I have to, I have to remember to buy a quality zoom lens. Lenses are really good investments. Camera is losing it's value very quickly, however a lens is always the same. Unless you break it :) Don't hesitate on investing to lenses!!!