The commuter crowd was pushing forward towards the gang plank to catch the six o’clock ferry to Kadikoy, shuffling a few steps at a time in the chill January air, it hadn’t started to rain yet but within the hour it would.
In the crowd just to my right and a few steps in front I caught sight of the girl’s profile, that kind of face in a crowd that draws your attention and your gaze lingers a moment longer than perhaps it should.
The photographer’s eye is always twitching, alert for incoming light, shape or form, a habit that never switches off and perhaps only other photographers understand.
I climb the steps to the upper deck and there she was again, the crowd and headed inside for the warmth but she sat alone with her thoughts, framed by the ambient glow, a canvas complete.
She didn’t seem to notice me make the picture, my discretion paramount, as a street photographer I don’t like to be sneaky, I don’t like to intrude, just to record the scene, there is always good reason and intention.
It was 6.03 pm on the 13th January 2010 and seconds later the scene had changed and the ferry was cutting through the Bosporus swell.
I was very leased with the resulting image, one of my favorite Istanbul street photographs, I am not one for clever captions so this was known simply as “The Girl on the Ferry”
Then serendipity strikes yet again, some nine years after the image was made and shared several times on my social media pages, The Girl on the Ferry sent me a message; Hey that’s me in the picture.
I read the message with trepidation, please don’t hate the picture I kept thinking, with a contented sigh of relief she loved the picture.
Then in June almost a decade later we met in an Istanbul coffee shop where I presented her with the printed image, The Girl on the Ferry is Eda and she’s an artist.
See also Istanbul Street Photographer, A Social Media Story
Istanbul street photography now features heavily on my Instagram Feed
A massive thank you to my friends who have just bought me coffee via this brilliant idea Buy Me A Coffee
Bloggers who are amazing-Thank you:
Great photo! How wonderful you were able to connect!
Thank you Katelon 🙂
Well that’s cool!
It was. Absolutely 🙂
A wonderful story to go with a striking photo. And a happy ending too!
Much appreciated Michael
Thank you
I love the story behind the photo, and the follow-up meeting!
Thank you Stuart
I love taking pictures of people ( or rather pictures with people in )- my family reckon I will be arrested one day.. but to wait for people to leave so you can get a picture of scenery is to miss recording real life. How great your lady was so pleased you had recorded a moment of her life.
Oh don’t worry about being arrested-all part of the job!!
I spend a lot of time waiting for people to fill the scene, rarely waiting for them to leave.
Thanks for the comment
Great photo and story. Thanks for sharing. Allan
A beautiful picture John. So nice you got to meet up with Eda and present her with a print.
Thank you Simon
It really is a lovely story
My pleasure-thank you
Thanks Allan
What a great story!
Thank you 🙂
I do love this and the stories, both implied in the shot itself and in reality afterwards.
I would like to do more of people and storytelling photography myself but do find it difficult to get over the (possibly imaginary) conflict that may arise from being ‘caught out’ and taken for some pervert or having some surveillance purposes in these times of heightened fears.
It must be harder now than it was. Or perhaps, with everyone expecting to be surrounded by people using cameras on phones etc, for their own social media purposes, it’s actually less feared than I think?
Anyway, great picture!
Thank you.
Yes I know exactly what you mean.
There are ways of dealing with this and going about things in a certain way. Just takes a little time and patients to find the right approach I think.
It’s always a moment of panic when someone “finds” themselves (nearly always pointed out by someone who knows them!) on your Instagram etc! Glad this one turned out ok. Great capture.
I am pleased to say I have never had a negative situation.
Thank you
What a cool way to meet – glad she liked the picture. It’s amazing how connections can be made by such unlikely chances. 🙂
Yes absolutely Ann.
Thank you
What a beautiful image. I love the contrast of not only light and dark, but of hues – her red hair and the reddish railing against the blueish fog of the background. Stunning!
Thanks Holly
Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together, even when there’s no plan 🙂
those are the best plans!
Wonderful photo and story. It’s great that you were able to meet — and of course, an artist would understand the photographer’s impulse. Thanks for visiting my blog and your like on today’s post. I look forward to exploring more of your work.
Thank you so much.
Yes once we were chatting and found so much in common. Lovely.
A beautiful real life story
Thank you so much
Great photo and wonderful story! This habit you mention–“a habit that never switches off and perhaps only other photographers understand”–is a gift, the gift of seeing and catching the moment. It lasts a lifetime… Thanks for sharing your gift, John.
Very nice of you Daniel
Thank you
Great image and story!
Thank you Glen
Beautiful story for this photo!
Thank you so much.
I have just discovered your fascinating blog and eager to read more
The Teapot and the Postbox
wonderful writing and photography; I am smitten — and a follower 🙂
Thank you my friend 🙂
Good luck with the axe wielding daughter Axe throwing, It’s a bit like darts only more dangerous
Thanks John
What a great story!
Thank you so much Janet 🙂
Absolutely love this bit of wonder and beauty you’ve introduced to my morning by way of your gorgeous process story!!! Thank you for sharing this
Thank you Lia for those inspiring words-it’s my pleasure
Good luck with the weft Untangling the Weft
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
Thank you as ever my friend
What a lovely story behind the photo. 💜
Absolutely it is. Thank you 🙂
It was amazing! And title of your blog is also simple yet cute. 🌻
Thank you.
Not unlike myself 🙂
What you mean by that?😬
Sorry, my silly English sense of humor! I meant I am simple and cute!
Oh no worries, I got it now.😂
Absolutely fascinating story. And love the photo. 💜
Thanks so much.
Interested in stories from Transylvania so will be returning to your blog shortly https://supernaturalhippie.com/
Cool. I am going to be writing about my first trip there soon and what I did and saw day by day. 🙂
Great-look forward to it
What a fabulous story, I know all too well that feeling of trepidation in attempting the candid shots, however I have also learned to ask for photos more recently.
Thanks Andy
I do both, all depending on the situation and have no preference.
Love the idea of sticking to one focal length-best of luck with this Andy’s Cool Images
Wow, such a fascinating encounter. Thank you for sharing your magic!
Thank you Sophia-its my pleasure.
We speak the same language I think 🙂
I think so! *flower*
Great story! Love those Bosporus ferries……
Thank you.
Who can resist them 🙂
Very nice capture and a great story.
Thank you so much.
Keep searching those back roads-they really are the best places
the best photos are the candid ones! nice capture
Nice to meet you thanks for stopping by.
Loved the story story and happy you were able to connect with Eda🙂