Istanbul: Above the Minarets & Turkish Lamps

Few cities in the world provide a skyline quite as cinematic as Istanbul. Spanning continents and centuries, the city's layered history comes alive from its rooftop terraces—where minarets, waterways, and terracotta roofs stretch as far as the eye can see.

To capture the energy and visual drama of the city, Tamara took part in a classic Istanbul rooftop experience, creating an incredible set of portraits that moved from breezy open-air panoramas to the intimate warmth of traditional craftsmanship.

The Shoot: From Open Skies to Mosaic Glow

  • Framed by the Galata Tower: The shoot began high on an open terrace, with the ancient stone cylinder of the Galata Tower rising directly behind the rooftop. Dressed in a dramatic, sweeping magenta gown, the subject stood against patterned Turkish kilim rugs, pairing medieval stone architecture with vibrant, flowing motion.

  • The Swarm of Seagulls: Moving across the terrace to overlook the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, the scene opened into one of Istanbul's most iconic visual traditions. As dozens of seagulls swept through the air around the low seating and patterned cushions, the dynamic movement against the sweeping water and cloudy horizon created a timeless, cinematic atmosphere.

  • The Mosaic Lamp Studio: Heading downstairs brought an immediate shift in atmosphere. Leaving the breezy skyline behind, Tamara stepped into an interior surrounded by hundreds of handcrafted Turkish mosaic lamps and stained-glass lanterns. The warm, radiant glow of deep blues, ambers, and rubies offered a cosy, kaleidoscopic contrast to the dramatic heights above.

A woman in a red satin dress surrounded by colorful, ornate Turkish lamps hanging from the ceiling of a wooden interior.
A woman in a long, elegant, satin burgundy dress posed on a red patterned Persian rug on a terrace. Behind her, the Galata Tower with scaffolding, and other historic buildings are visible under a cloudy sky. She is smiling confidently, holding out th
A woman in a long, magenta satin dress standing on a rooftop terrace with potted plants, surrounded by buildings and a historic tower in the background, cloudy sky.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a pink blouse, standing outdoors with a historic tower and buildings in the background on a cloudy day.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a fuchsia dress sitting outdoors in front of a table with pottery and fruit, with green trees and buildings in the background.
A woman in a deep red, satin, floor-length gown sitting outdoors on a patterned rug with plants in the foreground. Behind her are old buildings and a historic tower under a cloudy sky.
A woman in a long pink gown on a rooftop garden with plants and flowers, with historic buildings and the Galata Tower in Istanbul in the background.
A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a pink top, standing outdoors with an urban background.
A woman in a pink dress standing on a colorful platform near water, with seagulls flying in the cloudy sky behind her.
A woman in a pink dress standing outdoors near a body of water with ships in the background, and clouds overhead.
Woman in a flowing pink dress standing outdoors near a body of water with seagulls flying around, under a cloudy sky, with a city and a hill in the background.
A woman with long dark hair, wearing a purple or magenta dress, smiling with her hand on her head, standing outdoors with a cloudy sky and seagulls flying in the background.
A woman in a pink dress sitting on a colorful, patterned couch with Persian-style cushions, holding her arm up while birds fly overhead near a city skyline and river, with food and drinks on a table in front of her.
A woman in a pink traditional dress is sitting on a colorful, patterned carpet on a rooftop with a city port in the background. She is smiling with her arms outstretched as seagulls fly around her. There are plates of fruits and traditional items on
A woman in a pink dress sitting on a sofa with colorful patterned pillows, outdoors by a river, with seagulls flying and standing nearby, and a mountain in the background.
A woman in a vibrant pink dress sitting on a traditional patterned rug with Persian pillows, surrounded by seagulls, with a city waterfront and boats in the background, and various fruits on a table in front.
A woman in a long, red satin dress standing in a room filled with colorful Turkish lanterns hanging from the ceiling, with a wooden door and brick walls in the background.
A woman in a red satin dress sitting in a room with wooden walls and colorful Turkish mosaic lamps hanging from the ceiling.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a maroon dress surrounded by colorful hanging mosaic lamps in various shapes and sizes, inside a store or marketplace with wooden walls.