Another Sailing Ship, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.

Whenever I visit the incredible coastal stretches that bring Turkey’s mainland together with the Mediterranean, the Aegean, or the Black Sea in the north, I come away with one overriding impression: a soaring rocky mountain range over clear blue sea is a thing of beauty. This picture was taken off the deck of a small sailboat in the waters near Fethiye. I decided to go for a textured treatment to add a sense of history and culture – thanks to Flickr user Skeletalmess for the textures.

Something a little bit different – we’re in America for a couple of months here, and I just had the chance to take some pictures out at this half-abandoned train yard in West Virginia. I’ll be working on some more pictures here to post up in a gallery on http://www.joshwentzphotography.com.

The handcraft traditions of Anatolia are many and varied. Here in Ankara, a copper tray, a carved wooden shutter, and old floral embroidery share the stage with tribal Turkmen carpets and late Ottoman upholstery.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/8, 1/100 sec. Thanks to Shadowhouse for the overlaid textures.

Antalya Door Detail, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.

Looking upwards, a view of rotting wooden balconies and vintage plaster door details on an old Ottoman style house in Antalya.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/9.0, 1/30 sec., jpeg processed in Camera Raw with a texture added in Photoshop.

Two Doors With Stairs, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.

Street scene in the Cappadocian town of Avanos, central Turkey.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/13.0, 1/30 sec.

Patara Pillars, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.

This is one of my favorite sights to see in Turkey. Driving along the Mediterranean coast, your car passes tomato-growing greenhouses before arriving at the tiny village of Patara. On the other side of the village, grassy fields and hills emerge, broken only by a few pillars, cows, and the odd amphitheater. Driving up the dirt path towards the ruins, my wife was stopped by an older village woman in the traditional headscarf. Julie rolled down her window. “Have you seen my goat?” asked the woman. “I lost him right around here.”

Continuing on a few hundred meters down the road brings a sandy parking lot into sight. Walk towards the sand and you will discover a 20-kilometer stretch of white sand that is also a nesting site for – what else – loggerhead sea turtles.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/22, 1/20 sec.

Passing In The Street, originally uploaded by Josh and Julie.

This picture was taken in the older area of Ankara within the castle walls, where a little girl was seated selling bracelets and keychains as an older man passed her on the street.

The girl is covering her face because to the right and out of the picture, a local photography club was passing by on a photo walk, and she didn’t want her portrait taken. People around the world have various reasons for shying away from a camera – once in Ecuador, I had a woman approach me in a market and ask me not to take pictures because her friend was afraid her soul would be stolen away. In conservative Muslim cultures, including those found in parts of Turkey, married women in particular will cover their faces or turn away because for them or their families, modesty requires it. A photographer needs to know and understand the people around him, and respect their feelings or beliefs.

I know this girl a little and often buy bracelets from her for my own children when passing by. She was laughing while covering her face, and I think her reason is one that can be understood by anyone in any culture when faced with a strange camera: she was embarrassed. Cultural beliefs may be different from place to place, but underneath some things are just human nature.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/7.1, 1/40 sec.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/5.6, 1/400 sec.

Old houses and young children on the back streets of Ulus, the old town at the center of Ankara.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/5.0, 1/25 sec.

And this is the way they like to send the bride to her new home in style. When Eren asked if my car could be the bridal car for his wedding, I think he forgot to mention they’d be sacrificing a chicken on the front right wheel.

This picture was taken just before I left to drive home; fortunately someone had thought to say, “You might want to clean that up – the police might have questions for you.” Mehmet Abi broke out the hose and soon I was heading home, free of any suspicious markings or poultry parts.