Who is wearing the trousers here ?, a photo from Istanbul, Marmara

Photographer's Note

Istanbul is still cigarette-friendly:
a taxi-man opening his window putting the client in a cool air stream, to smoke a cigarette seems to be a normal attitude here !
So to all fervent smokers, Istanbul is the place to be ! :)

Even women got here the same smoking right as men, no distinction, and it's even not that much considered as less female behavior !

Of course, a bit strange to us but not that strange if you learn that even several Mosques here in Üskudar were dedicated to women during the Ottoman regime. More then we can imagine, women are actually wearing the trousers in Istanbul ! :)

Taken by rainy weather near the Üskudar ferryboat premises, blindly low POV, they didn’t notice.

pebbles, kurzan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

noborders (1010) 2007-10-20 9:40

Of course, this photo is not as easy as your last post with the Nevsehir market, but I think that it fits well in the ensemble of your own general view of Istanbul and Turkey, which is very personal, original and sometimes, different (IMO, all persons sitting in public places are interesting to observe...).

It adds to the large collection of TE photos about the people in crowded Istanbul - we can only guess about the life of this couple, if they are just partners in selling flowers or else, what is their background...

I dared tempting a small WS, as it seemed to me that the wrinkles on the face of the woman are a bit too deep, dark and sharp, I hope that you don't mind : just light changes... - Cheers, C.

[workshop] [compare] +

lestans (17258) 2007-10-20 12:51

Wow!! how ugly becomes a woman so much smoking! How many wrinkles! And I can guess the smell
No, no: better avoid cigarettes!
;-)
Interesting every day scene....
Ciao!!

Livia

scyntilla (1844) 2009-02-11 0:18

Hi Henk,
That is an old photo of yours I know but I am relatively new here and I was besotted with your India photos. A quick word about the couple here. I am 100% sure they are gypsies. Their women are the ones with the proverbial trousers. They run door-to-door small manual errands like fixing pots, selling flowers, picking up old clothes, ect.

Most flower sellers and street musicians (the trubadour style travelling ones) in Istanbul are gypsies. They have always been a joyful bunch, dance as soon as the rhythm is on (even before the music starts), fight among themsleves the fiercest of fights but make up in a short time by dancing and smoke a lot and always cherish their wives-husbands and above else pamper their children who work on the streets. Contradiction? No. That is their life-style; on the streets. Leave a scrap metal around, in an hour it is gone and recycled thanks to our gypsies. I have a strong belief that they are originally from India. Research points in that direction.

I hope that bit of info does not take away the meaning you intended out of your beautiful shot.

Best,
Petek