24 hours in Istanbul with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR

Welcome to Istanbul: Ortaköy at first light

What makes Istanbul special for photography is its coexistence of worlds. It is a place where you can literally stand between two continents and witness the past and present in a single frame. But beyond the landmarks, what truly defines Istanbul is its constant sense of movement and contrast. Light changes quickly, scenes evolve from quiet to chaotic within minutes and each neighbourhood carries its own rhythm and character. That makes it an ideal place to photograph whatever the time of day, because the city never tells the same story twice.

I started the day in Ortaköy before dawn, one of the most beautiful sunrise spots on the European side, allowing me to capture Istanbul at its quietest, before the city wakes up. The streets are less busy, the light is softer and the Bosphorus feels almost still. One of the most unique aspects of the area is the proximity of three different religious landmarks: Ortaköy Mosque, Ayios Fokas Church and Etz Ahayim Synagogue, which together reflect the multicultural identity of the city.

As the light gradually changed, I started looking for more creative compositions, making use of the camera’s vari-angle screen and using low angles to capture the reflection of the mosque in a puddle, creating a mirrored effect that adds depth and a more abstract feel to the scene. It shows that a small shift in perspective can completely transform a familiar location. The zoom flexibility of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR lens instantly made it easy to fine-tune the composition quickly, especially when working with reflections where alignment is critical.

Top tip: Start before sunrise. Some of the most atmospheric moments happen before the city fully wakes up. Early morning light also allows you to photograph popular locations with fewer crowds.

Colourful closeups at Emirgan Park

After sunrise I continued a short distance along the Bosphorus to Emirgan Park, one of the most vibrant locations in the city, especially in spring when it’s filled with thousands of tulips. Here, I shifted my focus to more intimate details, capturing closeups with a shallow depth of field to isolate subjects and create softer, more atmospheric backgrounds.

Versatility is such an important part of travel photography. Moving seamlessly from long exposure architectural images to closeup nature details without changing lenses makes the experience both efficient and creatively fluid. As someone used to working with pro Z series cameras, I quickly found the Nikon Z50II familiar in both handling and performance and enjoyed how compact and lightweight it felt. Paired with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR, it created a practical, flexible set-up, ideal for travel and street photographers and content creators who want to document a wide range of subjects on a single trip without needing to change lenses or carry heavy kit.

Top tip: Slow down and focus on details. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the scale and number of landmarks, but some of the most compelling images come from smaller elements, colours, textures, patterns and the way light interacts with them.

Istanbul’s heart: The Historic Peninsula

By late morning I had arrived in the Historic Peninsula just as the city was coming to life, and the light began to fill both the streets and interiors. Within a relatively small radius, there are mosques, churches, museums, bazaars and famous inns, each with its own character, detail and atmosphere. More than just architecture, there is a living, breathing culture surrounding these spaces, which makes photographing here both inspiring and challenging.

Rather than trying to capture everything, I chose to focus on architectural elements and the intricate details that define the city’s visual identity, exploring both wide compositions and closeup details, and testing the lens in more demanding conditions, especially in low-light interiors, where soft natural light filters through high windows and highlights textures and patterns. The VR performance and fast aperture were particularly useful, allowing me to capture handheld without needing a tripod, and the lens handled low light confidently while maintaining sharpness and detail, making it very versatile in mixed lighting conditions. Moving between bright outdoor spaces and dim interiors can often slow you down, but here the combination of a fast aperture and effective stabilisation made it possible to keep photographing fluidly. Ultimately, I didn’t feel limited by the environment, which is essential when working in a location as visually dense as the Historic Peninsula.

Top tip: Capture handheld in low light. Understanding your camera and lens’s capabilities can open up many more creative possibilities without relying on extra gear.

Balat: Where old meets new in full colour

What was once a quieter, more local neighbourhood has become one of the most visited areas in the city, known for its colourful houses, narrow streets, and layered character. Alongside Balat’s historical depth, you’ll also find cafés, small restaurants and boutique shops that have gradually become part of the neighbourhood’s evolving identity, creating a visually rich environment that’s ideal for street and documentary-style photography. I arrived early in the afternoon, when the streets were at their liveliest and the colours felt even more vibrant under the stronger daylight. Walking the cobbled streets feels like stepping into a different rhythm of Istanbul – more intimate, textured and full of visual surprises that offer a completely different perspective compared to the more monumental parts of the city. Here, the focus shifts from grand architecture to everyday life.

What stood out to me most in Balat was how well the lens handled colour and contrast. The tones felt natural yet vivid, which is especially important in a location where colour plays such a central role. The versatility of the zoom range also allowed me to adapt quickly to different scenes without breaking my flow.

Top tip: Slow down and observe. Cities reveal themselves gradually, and sometimes the best images come when you stop walking for a few minutes and simply watch how life unfolds around you. Some of the strongest travel photographs come from small details, gestures or moments between people rather than iconic buildings alone.

Bustling Beyoğlu

By late afternoon I’d moved into Beyoğlu just as the streets were becoming energised with the transition from day to evening. If the Historic Peninsula represents the historical soul of Istanbul, Beyoğlu reflects its modern rhythm: louder, faster and constantly moving. This is no truer than around İstiklal Avenue, one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the city, with multistorey buildings, a historic tram, hotels, cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, music, crowds and nightlife that stretches until dawn. It’s an area that’s especially interesting photographically because of how quickly the atmosphere changes as you move through it.

In Karaköy, I photographed Yeraltı (Underground) Mosque, one of the most visually striking locations in the area, with its geometry, symmetry and dramatic lighting creating a completely different mood compared to the chaos outside. Here, I focused on lines and perspective, using the lens’s different focal lengths to emphasise the architectural depth of the space.

What impressed me most during this part of the route was how adaptable the set-up felt in constantly changing environments. Within a short period of time, I moved between crowded street photography, indoor low-light scenes, architectural compositions and fast-moving moments. The compact size of the camera and the flexibility of the lens made it easy to stay mobile and unobtrusive, which is incredibly valuable in a place as busy as Beyoğlu.

Top tip: One of my favourite images from Beyoğlu captures the nostalgic tram using a panning technique to create a sense of motion and energy, reflecting the area’s nonstop rhythm. By following the movement of the tram with the camera at a slower shutter speed, I was able to keep the tram relatively sharp while allowing the surrounding crowd and street to blur into motion.

Crossing the Bosphorus

I boarded the historic Şehir Hatları ferry that would take me from Eminönü to Kadıköy, from Europe to Asia, just as the light was beginning to soften over the Bosphorus. For most people living here, crossing from one continent to another is part of everyday life, but for me, the ship has always been one of the most special experiences in the city. Sometimes, especially early in the morning, dolphins will swim next to the boat, while evening offers the chance to watch the changing colours of sunset and, of course, one of Istanbul’s most iconic ship rituals: feeding the seagulls, as they dive through the air to catch pieces of simit, a type of bagel.

This part of the journey gave me the chance to test the autofocus capabilities of the Z50II in a much more dynamic environment. Using the bird detection autofocus mode together with 3D tracking meant I was able to follow the unpredictable movements of the seagulls surprisingly effectively. Capturing birds in motion from a moving ship can be challenging, but the camera responded quickly and helped me keep up with fast-changing scenes.

Top tip: Rather than trying to control a scene, let the movement guide you – and keep your camera ready, as the best moments often disappear in seconds.

Sunset and stillness on Kadıköy’s waterfront

By the time I arrived in Kadıköy, it was just before sunset. Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, Kadıköy is one of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods. But despite all that energy, the coastline has a completely different rhythm, especially towards the end of the day, and for many people, the waterfront becomes a place to pause. That balance between movement and calm is exactly why I wanted to include this stop in my journey, as it is a great place to capture a quieter and more reflective side of the city.

Top tip: Use a wider focal length to include both the subjects and the surrounding environment to help the viewer feel part of the scene rather than isolated from it.

Üsküdar after dark: Goodnight, Istanbul

As night drew in I made my way to Üsküdar, one of the city’s oldest settlements, to photograph one of Istanbul’s most standout and almost mythical landmarks: Maiden’s Tower. Recently restored, it continues to be one of the city’s most recognisable symbols, especially after dark when it becomes illuminated against the Bosphorus skyline. I stabilised my camera against the waterfront railings and used a longer exposure to soften the water and create a calmer atmosphere across the Bosphorus. At the same time, a ferry crossed through the frame adding a subtle streak of motion.

Top tip: Spend time observing movement rather than focusing only on the landmark itself. Ferries, reflections, silhouettes and changing light conditions often add more emotion to a frame than the architecture alone. Also, finding a stable surface can open up creative possibilities without needing a tripod.

Figen’s final thoughts…

After spending 24 hours photographing across Istanbul with the Nikon Z50II and the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR, what impressed me most was how naturally the set-up adapted to different situations throughout the day. From blue hour cityscapes and crowded streets to low-light interiors, ferries, fast-moving moments and night photography, it consistently felt flexible and easy to work with. For travel photography especially, I think that balance is incredibly important. A camera should allow you to focus on observing and experiencing a place rather than constantly thinking about equipment.