4 days workshop in Istanbul, 20-23 August 2025

lt-Street workshop with Blake Andrews & dirtyharrry in Vancouver

20 - 23 August 2025

Istanbul , Turkey

4_days_workshop_with_dirtyharrry_in_Istanbul_August_2025

THE MYTH

Around 657 BCE, Megarian settlers were preparing to establish a new colony. As was customary, they sought guidance from Pythia, the priestess of the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi and they received a cryptic prophecy: 'Settle opposite the land of the blind' . Confused but trusting the oracle, the Megarian leader Byzas and his followers sailed northeast, eventually reaching the Bosporus Strait. There, they noticed an existing settlement at Chalcedon ( modern-day Kadıköy, on the Asian side of the Bosporus ). Byzas observed that the land directly opposite Chalcedon — on the European side — was far more defensible and rich in natural resources. Wondering why anyone would have chosen Chalcedon over the opposite peninsula, he declared that the founders of Chalcedon must have been blind for not recognizing the superior location. Thus, Byzas believed the oracle’s riddle was fulfilled: they were to settle 'opposite the land of the blind'. There, they founded Byzantium.

WORKSHOP SYNOPSIS

It 's hopefully the 23rd time that dirtyharrry travels to Istanbul, the timeline starts back in 2002. A lot of things have changed since then, a lot of things have always changed since the birth of the city bridging the West & the East. The initial settlement of Βυζάντιον became Augusta Antonina, Nova Roma, Κωνσταντινούπολη, قسطنطينيه , modern day Istanbul.

Join for a 4 days photography workshop inside the - so called in the past - City of Cities, that never fails to bring new surprize with its unique background and its constant transformation.

The workshop will develop in 3 parts :

DAY 1

Presentation and general intro discussion in the evening

DAYS 2 - 3

'Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee' ( Muhammad Ali )

With appetite for improvisation, we’ll explore the streets of Istanbul and make pictures in various neighbourhoods in the Historic Peninsula, the Peran & the Asian side. We 'll discuss about the trials, challlenges & possibilities of photographing in public space. We 'll shoot whatever moves and might make a break to shoot whatever doesn't move too.

DAY 4

Presentation & review of the material made during the workshop. The review will focus on topics like :

Single images' critique ( content, composition )
Critique on a body of work ( editing, sequencing on a personal storytelling direction )
Inspiration & photographic practice, discussion on photobook design & production