Amazing Amasya, a photo from Amasya, Central Anatolia

Photographer's Note

This is a picture from Amasya, a small city in north-central Anatolia, about two hours journey from the Black Sea.

Amasya is an ancient city. This area by the Yeşilırmak (Green River) has been populated by a number of cultures for at least 7500 years. Among those who ruled this area during Antiquity were the Hittites, the Pontian Greeks, a Greek civilization living on both sides of the Black Sea, and the Roman empire.

Today Amasya is mainly known for the Ottoman style buildings built along the river, the Pontian tombs hewn out of the mountain-sides on the southern bank of the river and the mummified bodies of Medieval local rulers and children shown in the local museum.

According to Wikipedia 22 000 foreign tourists had visited Amasya this year up to September. During the day and a half that I spent there last week I saw just two obviously foreign visitors and my impression was that most tourists to Turkey have not yet discovered this little gem. It is a charming city well worth a visit.

I visited Amasya already in 1971 and yesterday dug through my archives of slides to find my pictures from those ancient times. You can see one of them as a workshop to give you some idea of how the city has changed in these 41 years. I plan to give you another comparison of old and new Amasya in a forthcoming upload.

fabbs99, mohammad_H, ourania, bayno, Highmountains, saxo042, kato, kordinator, jhm, abmdsudi, tyro, Glint, mkamionka, williewhistler, bukitgolfb301, worldcitizen, Graal, ayferaldanmaz, gervaso, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

TopGeo (38220) 2012-10-10 7:58

Hello Gert! Superb capture of this moment . Great soft light, nice warm, pastel colours, sharp details of the BG of buildings, beautiful FG scene. Beautiful picture, full of light and with extraordinary quality, brilliant composition, very good sharpness, colour, tones and amazing elements. Bravo! Thanks for sharing
best regards
Georgios

Bergenphotos (3326) 2012-10-10 8:26

Hej hej Gert.

This is a nice typical Turkish scene. I don't think the Turkish mountains are as known as they should be. This looks like a very peaceful village, so on the other hand, maybe it's a good thing they're not overcrowded with tourists so that they can keep these traditional faceades seen in the background.

Hilsener fra Norge,
Fredrik

fabbs99 (17179) 2012-10-10 8:57

Hi Gert

The Ottoman style buildings built along the river look awesome in style and design.The ladies sitting on the bench by the river add charm to the whole scene.It is well composed and nicely balanced. Very well done, TFS.

Best Regards
Farhat

mohammad_H (10178) 2012-10-10 9:01

Hi
Very beautiful scenery, a place to relax and enjoy the scenery
Beautiful homes and beautiful colors and similar Jza
Good resolution
Goodnight

mesutilgim (0) 2012-10-10 9:54

Hello dear Gert,
Nice capture from Amasya on Yesilirmak.
Good pov and good pictorial layout. Many interesting notes.
This scenery reminded me to my first visit to Amasya in 1964. As a University student travelling in Anatolia each summer and as often the case, not much pocket money, I spent two wonderfull nights in the caves at the hillslopes (visible behind the houses here) . And afterwards I learned that those was been rockgraves of the Pontus kings ! Anyhow it was quite comfortable in warm August nights.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ourania (51103) 2012-10-10 9:58

Hello Gert,
a very well composed photo, with great depth and perspective and a very interesting view on both banks of the river. The two scarved women offer human interest and an unbeatable sense of mystery. The houses look renovated and well kempt compared to the lovely and atmospheric view of your workshop picture. The management of light and shadow is great, the colours are delightful and the atmosphere seems more than tranquil, almost still. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, gave a great evening,
Ourania

bayno (18348) 2012-10-10 10:14

Ciao Gert,
I noticed that is a shot of a few days ago, very nice place and nice architecture, good management of light and sharp, I like the composition with the two women and the railing in FG, wonderful colors too...
good evening...
Valter

Highmountains (2674) 2012-10-10 11:09

Wonderful composition Gert. The photograph captures the essential charm and quietitude of the place. Perhaps more tourists would bring more money and business into the area, but would the uniqueness of the place be preserved ? Change is inevitable - even for the two ladies who are sittong on the bench, enjoying the peace and the silence, as water in the river flows by...
Thanks for sharing this beautiful photograph.

saxo042 (38078) 2012-10-10 11:53

Hej Gert,
En mycket avsp舅d och stillsam bild, h舩 r蘚er lugn och ro. Den ra sjalen 舐 naturligtvis ionfallande, speciellt som den kontrasterar mot det synnerligen gra gr舖et. En mycket intressant j舂felse med bilden du tog f 41 蚌 sedan. Var hittade du restaurangen p� den tiden?
H舁sningar
Gunnar

ACL1978 (7511) 2012-10-10 12:35

I love examining these shots separated by time, Gert - I have one of my own I'll likely share soon. It's fascinating to see how little the contours of some places change over the years, even as the details all do. Amasya, judging by this modern shot, seems to have done it right, updating without losing the sense of history and beauty of the place. The buildings seem well restored, while the wall has been updated and this lovely understated bridge connects the sides of the river. I had not heard of this place until you posted this, but your shot makes me want to visit!

Andrew

kato (11630) 2012-10-10 22:37

Hello Gert,

You're capturing well this small city by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting and impressive to see the Ottoman style buildings along river. It's interesting when it compares with the building of the photograph of 41 years ago, it turns out that it is modernized. And, the handrail with beautiful craft is made newly in the front promenade.

Kind regards,
mikio

kordinator (8738) 2012-10-11 0:34

Hello Gert
Very nice place and nice architecture.
Excellent management of light and sharp details.
I like the composition with the two women on the bench in the foreground.
Nice capture from Amasya.
Great job.
Kind regards
Sa啾

mjdundee (4663) 2012-10-11 3:28

Hej Gert,
They have obviousely replaces most buildings there except the one on the far left which looks only refurbished. Good note and nice work to digg deep in your archives. TFS.
Thomas

jhm (211738) 2012-10-11 4:49

Hello Gert,

I like the iron handrail with different motives.
Also the houses in background care for a realistic picture.
Perfect perspective and depth picture.
Excellent panoramic view about these area.
Nice composition, good captured. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

abmdsudi (95869) 2012-10-11 5:01

Hi Gert
A scenic and peaceful small rivertown with tons of history and thanks to your notes and the additional photo. An antique photo for comparison on how the town has been redeveloped systematically to current state. This dominant Ottoman style buildings nicely laid out with two visitors enjoying the scene adding a little vitality to this rather quiet sight. The touches of vivid red and patches of fresh green add some interest and the visual aspect of the shot. Excellent shot, TFS
Kind regards

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-10-11 5:48

Hi Gert,
Very picturesque old town along the river. I like the composition and the colors. Well taken!

Daniel

siamesa (28231) 2012-10-11 7:28

Bom dia Gert

Really this city is amazing. The houses are lovelies and the composition is very beautiful.Very good note.
Abra輟s
maria

tyro (30513) 2012-10-11 8:13

Hello Gert,

I've been studying this picture together wirh your workshop one in an effort to work out exactly which house is which! Of course, as you say, the two pictures were taken from slightly different viewpoints but the scene is certainly recognisable.

But what a change in 41 years! The whole place looks so much brighter and smarter. Even the water in the river looks cleaner and less muddy.

A lovely composition in which the line of riverside houses, the river itself and the little bridge lead us way off to the left into the distance where our eyes settle on the tall thin spire against the distant mountain. Lovely vibrant colours in the foreground (especially the lady's headscarf), tailing off to softer tones in the distance. Lovely lighting, perfect exposure and excellent sharpness. And, of course, considering the technical differences, your picture from 41 years ago is also wonderful.

But how lovely to be able to compare two pictures taken from almost exactly the same viewpoint but separated by over 40 years - and by the same photographer!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

eldancer1 (36343) 2012-10-11 8:58

Very nice documentation of the daily life of people. Nice catch of the ladies enjoing what looks like a beautiful day. Good lighting and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

Nicou (193814) 2012-10-12 0:51

Hlelo

sueprbe vue et sc鈩e ces personnage sur ce banc, qui admirent la vue ces voiles rouge et noir et la perspective la vue sur ces facades de maison quelle compo fantastiuqe.

Bravo et amiti�

Nicou

Glint (6171) 2012-10-12 3:15

Hello Gert,
this is one to please Gunnar with that bright splash of red.An attractive image of an interesting place. Your composition withe the diagonal line of the paving works well. I found the workshop interesting too as itbetter shows just how close the rock behind the houses are.
Bev

robmal (2439) 2012-10-12 7:57

Hello Gert,
this is an excellent cityscape shot with amazing colors and beautiful composition, great POV and sharpness, congratulations.

notrap (7812) 2012-10-12 9:37

Hallo Gert,
was f�r eine h�bsche Alliteration "Amazing Amasya", das knte ein Experte f�r Tourismuswerbung erfunden haben.
Das Foto bekommt einen besonderen Wert durch den Vergleich mit der alten Aufnahme, sehr interessant.
Viele Gr�e
Elvira

mkamionka (75113) 2012-10-12 13:33

Hi Gert,
lovely place with interesting architecture. I like the old photograph in the workshop it is of such great quality. It is always a great satisfaction to visit places which are less popular among foreign tourists. I have this feeling sometimes too moving from one country to another and having the possibility to visit places beloved by locals. Although I never lived in such exotic country.
Great presentation, very well done,
M

williewhistler (16606) 2012-10-12 14:04

Hello Gert,
the figures on the bench add a great deal of interest to a very well composed scene.
The design of the riverside buildings have their own charm,it`s a very pleasant photograph.
Kind regards Les.

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2012-10-13 15:08

Hi dear Gert

Another calm, peaceful and wonderful image!
Ya very well considered and carculated framework.
Sucarf by lady is reflecting typical Turkish image.
Your intetion is very very wise and deep. Top quality shot as usual. Thanks for your sharing and have a good Sunady!

Takero from Tokyo

worldcitizen (16226) 2012-10-13 19:36

Hello Gert,
Nice comparison of old and new photos that you have posted for us. I like to compare photos this way, and see how things look after many years. In this newer photo there is a wider view, which lets us enjoy the details in the foreground such as the lovely fences, and the people sitting and relaxing. I like the architecture of the buildings, and the foot bridge on the left side, too.

Graal (103040) 2012-10-14 5:15

Hi Gert,
an interesting place and town in Turkey. Unusual buildings by river. Good complementary WS, well informations also. Nice presentation.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

ayferaldanmaz (1085) 2012-10-15 14:13

hi gert,
two great documentary seperated by 41 years.. changes are immediately recognizing with still the same beautiful riverside houses of Amasya. with the human figures as always your perfect style, awesome shot.. tfs, my compliments!
have a nice week
cheers,
ayfer

Disabled_A (0) 2012-10-16 11:49

Hej Gert,
you show to us an interesting (and a little unusual to me) perspective view filled with so many details which help me easily imagine what it felt like there at that moment.
The weather looks nice, too!
and I am impressed by the inclusion of the "red element" (kerchief) ;)
Excellent photo which conveys a very good relaxed mood.

kind regards,
Elena

gervaso (28415) 2012-10-17 9:41

Hello, Gert!

Beautiful picture, full of details, like the houses almost over the river and with beautiful architecture! Very good colors too! Wonderful composition! Good job!

serp2000 (47063) 2012-10-17 10:31

Hi, Gert,
Good play the words. I like this view, just a typical architecture of the south Europa. Attractive composition, perfect DoF!
Serghei

thebest (4276) 2012-10-18 2:44

Hello Gert,

A very nice relaxing image - excellent sharpness & natural colours - the ladies red scarf is attractive against the black railings & greenery.

Kind regards,
Dawn.

jemaflor (148214) 2012-10-19 2:21

Hi Gert,
Well composed with people and red clothe on the head of the old woman, Good pov on these houses and the river, Light is well captured.

kasianowak (17676) 2020-02-19 8:16

Have I mentioned I love comparing your old and newer photos of the same place? :-) I agree with what you said in your recent upload. These houses have been beautifully renovated and the atmosphere of the city seems nice. I still prefer the old view, but only a little bit. And I bet women didn't have to wear head scarves in 1971...
Obviously 22 thousand tourists is not a lot... or they stopped coming after September. :-)

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-08-06 12:16

Gert, the elegant houses on the opposite side of the river comprise one or two storeys. The two ladies are talking sat on a public bench. It is an excellent viewpoint to relax and observe the activity on the water. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

mcmtanyel (69195) 2022-04-15 21:33

Hello Gert,
On the one hand, I like the renovations to the buildings. On the other hand, the photo from 41 years ago reveals more authentic looking buildings. I can't make up my mind as to which version I like better.
Regards,
MT

ikeharel (114569) 2022-05-24 3:27

Hello Gert,
A moment of meditation for the two ladies, probably local's. The found a great POV over the railing to the far side houses across the river.
Also we can see a nice architecture designed houses on the edge above the water.
A fine outcome.
Good afternoon,
Ike