The ancient side streets of Istanbul often lack sidewalk space. It never existed. Pedestrians must share narrow side streets with vehicles. I use this simple fact to create an atmospheric image that conveys a sense of place. I used a very long focal length – 400mm – to compress space. The 15 or so people in this photograph, while widely spaced, seem here to be walking close behind each other, adding a sense of crowding that is appropriate to Istanbul. I shot back down the street from the top of a hill, which arranges the people in clumps stacked from the bottom up into the middle of the frame. They seem oblivious to the sole car that rumbles past them. The scene is abstracted by a flow of shadows, creating silhouettes and obscure figures full of mystery, and providing an atmosphere that offers a taste of a very old and exotic city.