Releasing a Seagull at Hagia Sophia

Black-and-white photograph of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as seen from a quiet waterfront square. In the foreground, a solitary figure in a timeless coat releases a seagull from cupped hands, just as the bird lifts into the air. Hagia Sophia's grand domes and slender minarets rise in the mid-ground, rendered in sharp detail with dramatic, high-contrast lighting. The scene feels documentary and timeless, with film-grain texture and slight vignetting around the edges. The light is directional—early morning or late afternoon—creating gentle rim light on the figure and the seagull, while deep shadows sculpt the stone façade. The composition balances the human gesture with monumental architecture, evoking a quiet moment of release against Istanbul's historic skyline.