Francisco Seco: Exploring a new city through photography
One of the best ways to learn a new city is to wander the streets photographing people’s daily lives. Letting yourself be surprised, carried away by the circumstances of the day. The weather, the mood. The excuse to tour a city without the rush of breaking news, or the concentration required of an assignment, is a gift to any photographer.
Immediately I could see the gift I’d been given moving to Turkey, the mix of cultures, religions, traditions from two continents that make Istanbul a special – and complex – city.
I was based previously in Brussels, so much of my work centered on European political affairs. That means news conferences, meetings, summits, lots of handshakes.
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/1600 | ISO: 160
A fisherman casts his line into the Bosphorus next to Galata bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Francisco Seco is AP’s chief photographer based in Turkey as of Oct. 1, 2021. He grew up in southern Spain and was previously based in Brussels.
The Shot is a monthly series showcasing top photojournalism from staff photographers at The Associated Press. Each month, AP photographers will share the stories behind some of their iconic imagery.
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Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/6400 | ISO: 100
A woman walks past a giant Turkish flag at the Galata bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Here, I’ll have the chance to explore not just politics but also the Turkish economy, migration, climate change, daily life, coronavirus developments and local traditions.
Already I am in love with the light here. I’ve been spending time by the sea as the birds fly over, documenting how the waterways define the people and their lives: Fishermen on the Galata Bridge or in Karakoy promenade, the ferries crossing the Bosphorus, passers-by feeding seagulls, a couple chatting intimately at the entrance to the Golden Horn on a rainy day.
Along the way I meet people like the barber and his client, who advised me on places to visit in Istanbul and explained the curiosities of its history.
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/400 | ISO: 125
A man drives a motor truck among pedestrians at the Galata bridge as the sun sets in Istanbul, Oct. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 100
A coffee maker, prepares coffees in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/500 | ISO: 160
A barber shaves a client at Karakoy district in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Usually I prefer street photography, but sometimes I get permission to enter people’s private spaces. While the first photos won’t be useful because the people are too conscious of my presence, eventually they forget I’m there and go back to their business. That’s when the moments happen for me.
There are many days when I come home after a long walk and I haven’t made a good photograph. But those days are still successes because I have learned more about my new home. Best of all, I’ve just arrived and still have so much more to discover.
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 169mm | F-Stop: 5.6 | Shutter Speed: 1/1000 | ISO: 160
Ferries sail along the Bosphorus as the sun rises in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/2500 | ISO: 1000
A young girl plays with a cat in Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/5000 | ISO: 160
Backdropped by the historical Suleymaniye mosque, passersby walk along Galata bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/2000 | ISO: 100
People feed seagulls while commuting in a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/320 | ISO: 100
Sellers attend to customers in a street market in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 35mm | F-Stop: 2 | Shutter Speed: 1/800 | ISO: 160
A vendor talks to clients in a street market at the Eminonu district in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 200mm | F-Stop: 2.8 | Shutter Speed: 1/6400 | ISO: 100
Greek Orthodox faithful kiss a wooden crucifix after being retrieved in the Golden Horn during the Epiphany ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/400 | ISO: 100
A fishmonger peels prawns as he waits for clients in a street market in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/4000 | ISO: 1000
Muslim women offer their prayers in Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/400 | ISO: 1600
A music band perform during a street rally while celebrating on the eve of Turkey's Republic Day in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/3200 | ISO: 1600
People wave Turkish flags and light flares during a street rally while celebrating on the eve of Turkey's Republic Day in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 35mm | F-Stop: 1.4 | Shutter Speed: 1/800 | ISO: 1250
Whirling dervishes perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Konya, central Turkey on Dec. 17, 2021. Every December the Anatolian city hosts a series of events to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Model: Sony ILCE-1| Lens: 50mm | F-Stop: 1.3 | Shutter Speed: 1/200 | ISO: 400
Pedestrians walk across Golden Horn Metro bridge near the Suleymaniye mosque, background, as the sun sets in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Produced by AP News staff. The sponsor was not involved in the creation of this content.