Little Prince in Istanbul
ISTANBUL – Around Yeni Cami, Eminönü
As I promised to a Turkish friend of mine, I want to add a comment to this photo.
Even if Turkey usually looks “exotic” to a Western visitor, this country is also a very complex reality where everything changes from a place to another, even in the same city. So in Istanbul you can find many scarfed women as well as many modern girls wearing the same clothes of their similars in the rest of Europe, USA or Australia. Mini skirts are certainly less than scarfs, but they are there too :) And more in general, a metropolis like Istanbul summarize all the different souls of Turkey and people change as you move from a place to another.
So even if it’s normal that whatever is foreign to our habits and customs looks exotic and so interesting, Turkey is not only scarfed women, bazars and minarets that most of photographic reportage by any tourist and many professionals show you.
Anyway, I find this image quite representative of a few things:
for what I know, most of boys are dressed up like that in celebration of their circumcision, that is something traditional even more than religious.
And his mother is dressed typically as that part of Turkish women that consider themselves pious:
Islamic veil (but keep in mind that simple foulards are also very popular and their use comes from the tradition rather than from religion) and above all, very long dress or coat down to the feet.
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Deborah Parkin
lovely shot – like the dark edges that frame it
Anita Donohoe
The young boy is dressed up in celebration of his circumcision. Most likely, he is on his way to visit the Mosque, which is part of the ritual.
thelightseeker
Yeah, Anita, that’s exact. I was going to write something about this photo but I didn’t have the time. Thanks for your explanation: in fact I was a few meters away from Yeni Cami, big Mosque in Eminönü. Little prince for one day ;)
Dan Cahill
I like the picture very much. I agree with Deborah. Ilike the dark edges also.
mayuphoto
Great shot! Looks like they are in a different space living in a same time. Very unique photo. Love it.
Adela Hriscu
Original catch!
thelightseeker
Thanks Danny, Mayuphoto and Adela for your appreciation! It means a lot to me :)
Sorin Reck
Great shot!
thelightseeker
Thank you too, Sorin!
Barbara Rahal
very nice capture and treatment!
inge
like the ‘work’ u’ve done to it,bl/white … and nice shot