Militaire ceremonie bij de Yıldız Hamidiyemoskee in Istanbul before 1914

This black and white photograph shows a military ceremony at the Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque in Istanbul, captured by Sébah & Joaillier. Imagine standing there with the photographer, framing that incredible architectural scene, the long lines of soldiers... The light, shadow, and texture captured so clearly feels alive. It's not just documentation, it's a way of seeing, a way of thinking about space, time, and history. I think about the photographer’s eye: how the light and shadow interact, carving the depth. There is a tension between capturing a moment and constructing a narrative. It makes me wonder about the photographer's own narrative of how it all connects together, a narrative of how an image gains meaning and shifts. Photographs like this have a way of sparking the imagination. It becomes more than just an image; it's a conversation, a meeting point for us all.