THE SULTAN'S QUARTERS
TOPKAPI PALACE, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Image Number 557
The Topkapı Palace was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years (1465–1856) of their 624-year reign. It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's cloak and sword. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, and covered a large area with a long shoreline. The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers. They contain large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as Ottoman treasures and jewelry. However the greatest treasure may well be the spectacular tiling in the principal rooms.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The image was taken with a tripod mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 800. Exposure of 1/15th of a second and aperture F3.2. 45mm Phase One lens with focal plane shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.