Whirling Dervishes of Beyoğlu, Istanbul
A whirling dervish performance in one of Istanbul’s few remaining Sufi dervish houses.
Khaplu Palace, Royal Residence of Baltistan
Built in 1840, Khaplu Palace is the finest surviving example of a royal residence in Baltistan, a provincial autonomous region in Pakistan’s north east. The palace was constructed with the help of Kashmiri and Balti craftsmen and combines the local architectural style with influences from neighbouring regions including Tibet, Kashmir, Ladak and Central Asia.
Turkmenistan’s Gates of Hell
This giant burning gas crater in the middle of the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan is known as ‘the gates of hell’! It was created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern.
Memories of the Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara
When I posted this on Instagram in September 2019, I received a beautiful message from Azeema Nur, a photographer and Bukharan who currently lives in California, about her childhood memories of this mausoleum,
The gift of photography
I was so happy this morning to receive a WhatsApp from my friend and colleague Aisuluu Kozhomkulova with some heart-warming news.
The Ruins of Konye Urgench in Turkmenistan
In eastern Turkmenistan, not far from the Uzbekistan border, lies the ruins Konye-Urgench. The city dates all the way back to the 4/5th century but today only a few buildings constructed between the 11th and16th centuries remain.
Ayten Tiryaki, master calligrapher and illuminator of Istanbul
Through a contact at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, I had been put in touch with a calligraphy and illumination Hodja (master) living on the Asian side of the Bosporus.
Florence, from above
Some aerial shots of Florence’s Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and its iconic ‘duomo’ designed by the early Renaissance master architect Brunelleschi.
The Hadži Kurt Mosque in Mostar
In the Hadži Kurt Mosque, I met Ilma, a young red-headed women with bright blue eyes. She told me about the history of this small Ottoman-era mosque.
Luigi Bevilacqua, Venetian Textile Makers
On the Grand Canal in the Santa Croce neighbourhood, is Luigi Bevilacqua’s weaving workshop, a textile business that dates back to 1875.
Gianni Basso's 'Antica Stamperia', Venice
In the labyrinthine depths of Venice’s Canareggio neighbourhood is Gianni Basso’s ‘Antica Stamperia’, a printing press workshop still faithful to 18th century techniques.
Tabriz's Grand Bazaar
A photographic journey through the largest covered market place in the world.
Ashgabat, the otherworldly capital of Turkmenistan
Four days in undoubtably the most surreal place I have ever visited.
Lorenzo Sarubbi's Florentine Press House
On a tiny little workshop on a narrow road that connects the Palazzo Pitti with Santa Spirito, Lorenzo Sarubbi makes prints from antique engravings. Here, you can find prints of historical maps, cityscapes, flora, fauna and much more.
Roberto Ugolini, Florentine shoe maker
Opposite Brunelleschi’s imposing Basilica di Santa Spirito in Florence sits Roberto Ugolini’s shoe making workshop. I first noticed Roberto’s workshop 19 years ago when I visited Florence as a student.
The train from Podgorica to Belgrade
A couple of years ago an intrepid friend of mine spoke of a train journey through the Balkans that sounded like no other. She described a line that connected present day Podgorica in Montenegro to Belgrade in Serbia crossing a spectacular mountain range.
Kashgar, ancient Silk Road trading hub
A selection of photographs from the ancient Silk Road trading hub in the westernmost corner of China’s Xinjiang Province known to the Uyghur community who live there as the Republic of East Turkestan.
Ceilings of Iran
Images of the spectacular ceilings that can be found in Iran and the mosques, mausolea, madrasahs and palaces they belong to.
Ceilings of Uzbekistan
Images of the spectacular ceilings that can be found in Uzbekistan and of the palaces, mosques, madrasahs and mausolea they belong to.
Then & now: The Mausoleum of Oljaytu
Some historical lithographs and photographs of the magnificent mausoleum of the the Mongol general Oljaytu recently came to my attention via an Instagram post by Fartash Tours that included a photo I took of the mausoleum in 2019.