Photographing the Bosphorus from a moving boat
Which side to sit on, when the light is best and how to keep a picture sharp when the deck is moving.
Published
A cruise is one of the best platforms for photographing Istanbul — and one of the trickiest. The boat moves, the light bounces off the water and the best views pass in a minute.
Pick your side
Going north, the European shore is on the left side of the boat; coming back south, the Asian shore is. If you can move around the deck, follow the shore you care about. For the late afternoon, the low sun lights the Asian shore and backlights the European one.
Beat the motion
Use a fast shutter speed — on a phone, tap to focus and hold still rather than zooming. Brace your elbows on the rail. Wide shots forgive movement far better than long zoom shots do.
A polarising filter, if you carry one, cuts the glare off the water and deepens the sky.
The shots to wait for
Ortaköy Mosque framed by the bridge behind it; the Maiden’s Tower against the sunset; the walls of Rumeli Hisarı climbing the hill; Galata Tower over the rooftops. Have the camera ready a minute before each comes into view.
Put the camera down once
The colour on the water is often best just after the sun has set. Take the picture — then spend a few minutes simply watching.