Some vendors at Chorsu Market love the camera, but others do not. I tried to convince this cauliflower seller, but his message was clear. Sometimes, you must respect the "no" and move on.

Chorsu Market is one of the oldest and busiest in Central Asia. It's a maze of fresh produce, spices, meats, fabrics, and everyday street life, all under its iconic blue dome. Locals come here daily, and for a photographer, it's a goldmine of character, color, and honest human moments — even when the moment means not taking the shot.

​Under construction since 2018, this impressive new landmark rises next to the historic Hazrati Imam Complex—the religious heart of Tashkent and one of Uzbekistan's most important Islamic sites. The Hazrati Imam Complex houses ancient mosques, madrasas, and the famous Uthman Quran, considered one of the world's oldest copies of the holy book.

Once completed, the new center will serve as a mosque and a cultural and educational hub for the region. The main building, which is 145 meters long, is topped by a striking 64-meter-high dome that already defines the modern skyline of the capital.
Inside, the complex will include a museum with five themed halls covering everything from pre-Islamic heritage to the Timurid Renaissance, as well as a library that will house more than 100,000 manuscripts and digital archives.

Unlike many parts of Western Europe, churches are often deconsecrated or repurposed as secular spaces. Uzbekistan has seen a religious revival since gaining independence in 1991. After decades of Soviet-era restrictions, people here have once again embraced religious practice, particularly Islam, which is deeply woven into the country's identity and history. 

​This image was taken just steps from one of Uzbekistan's most revered religious sites: the Hazrati Imam Complex. The turquoise dome is part of one of its historic buildings and a centuries-old ensemble of mosques, madrasas, and mausoleums.

The complex is also home to the Uthman Quran, believed to be the world's oldest surviving manuscript of the Koran, dating back to the 7th century. Built on the burial site of Hazrati Imam (also known as Kaffal Shashi), a respected Islamic scholar and poet, the complex has long been a center of religious life in Tashkent. It continues to serve as a place of worship and a symbol of Uzbekistan's Islamic heritage.

Framing the dome between modern and traditional structures, I focused on geometric shapes and soft light to offer a quieter, more abstract view of a place steeped in spiritual history.

​This former madrasa, once a center of Islamic education, now serves a different purpose. Its historic cells have been repurposed into small shops selling traditional crafts, ceramics, and textiles — part of a broader trend across Uzbekistan where heritage sites are preserved but adapted for cultural tourism.

While souvenir shops can add charm and accessibility to historical sites, they quickly become repetitive when every shop offers the same products. What starts as authentic can easily feel over-commercialized. As Uzbekistan welcomes more visitors, it still needs to find the right balance between showcasing its rich heritage and preserving each site's uniqueness.
In the background, the blue-striped Center of Islamic Civilization dome is still under construction. I chose this composition carefully — one of the few places where I could frame the new dome cleanly, without cranes or construction fences.

The richly tiled dome in the foreground belongs to the older structure. Together, they create a visual contrast between preserved tradition and a modern effort to shape the future of Islamic scholarship in the region.

Located in the heart of Uzbekistan's capital, Chorsu Bazaar is one of Central Asia's oldest and busiest markets. Fresh produce, meats, and dairy are available inside the iconic turquoise-domed building. Outside, the atmosphere continues with rows of open-air stalls selling spices, grains, textiles, and household goods.
While wandering through the market with my camera, these two spice vendors waved me over and asked if I'd like to take their picture. The result is this candid moment—a quiet pause in the bustle of one of Tashkent's most colorful places.

During our visit to the old harem in the Tosh Hovli Palace in Khiva, we came across a remarkable moment: a group of local women performing traditional music and dance. They wore colorful ikat robes with beautiful headdresses and shawls. They brought the quiet courtyard to life with songs, laughter, and movement.

The palace, built in the 1830s by Allakuli Khan, was used as the home of Khiva's ruler. The harem was the most private part of the palace, where the Khan's wives, concubines, and female staff lived. Each of his four official wives had her own decorated room, all built around a central courtyard like the one in this photo.
The harem's design includes detailed tilework, painted ceilings, and finely carved wooden pillars, showing the skill of the local builders and artists. 

Today, this space is no longer private but open to visitors. It's a place where history is kept alive through music, dance, and culture.

Ayaz Kala 3 is part of a group of ancient desert fortresses located about 90 km northeast of Khiva, in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. The site sits in the Kyzylkum Desert and was once part of the Khorezm civilization, which ruled this region centuries before the rise of the Silk Road.

Ayaz Kala 3 likely had a residential or ceremonial purpose, unlike nearby Ayaz Kala 1, which served more as a defensive structure. The fort, made of mudbrick, was built between the 4th century BCE and the 7th century CE and was designed to give shelter and security to nearby farming communities.

Today, the area is quiet and undeveloped, with expansive views over the desert and very few visitors. It's a good place to stop if you're interested in the region's ancient history and want to experience what's left of a once-powerful civilization, without the crowds.
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Our journey through Uzbekistan started in Khiva, and we were genuinely impressed by this ancient Silk Road city. Surrounded by thick mudbrick walls and filled with minarets, madrasas, and open squares, Khiva is one of the best-preserved historic cities in Central Asia.

This photo shows a small but striking detail: a man selling balloons near the base of the Kalta Minor Minaret. The bright colors of the balloons contrast with the patterned turquoise tiles behind him—a mix of everyday life and historical architecture.

The Kalta Minor, or "Short Minaret," was commissioned in 1851 by Muhammad Amin Khan, who planned it to be the tallest minaret in Central Asia. Construction stopped when he died in 1855, and the tower was never completed. Today, its wide, tiled base is one of Khiva's most recognizable landmarks—proof that even unfinished projects can leave a lasting mark.

We're heading east on an overnight flight between time zones and sunrise. That quiet moment above the clouds, when the world fades to blue and orange, always feels like the true beginning of a journey.

This is the first frame in a new story.

On our way from Mashpi Lodge to Hacienda Zuleta, we stopped at the Museo de Sitio de Tulipe, a quiet archaeological site in the cloud forest northwest of Quito. These stone structures are considered part of a ceremonial water complex built by the Yumbo people, a pre-Inca civilization that lived in the area from around 800 to 1660 CE.

The pools may have been used for ritual bathing, seasonal ceremonies, or astronomical observations, but their exact purpose is still debated. Surrounded by bamboo and palms, the site feels both sacred and forgotten. In black and white, the stones' texture and the forest's stillness speak louder than color ever could.

While exploring the trails around Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador's cloud forest, I came across this spectacular bird—the Toucan Barbet. Its bold colors and thick, curved bill make it almost tropical and cartoon-like, yet it blends perfectly into the dripping green surroundings.

This species is found only in the cloud forests of northwest Ecuador and southwest Colombia, making it a special sighting. It lives mainly in the mid and upper forest layers, feeding on fruit, insects, and small creatures.

Its colorful plumage isn't just for show—it plays a role in communication within pairs and family groups. Watching this one perch quietly in the rain, fruit in its beak, felt like catching a private moment in the life of a rainforest resident.

Based on its colors and shape, this is a masked flowerpiercer. It's known for its vivid blue plumage, black face, and slightly hooked bill, which it uses to pierce flowers and sip nectar. They also feed on fruit and insects, perching on juicy snacks like the one I photographed.
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That said, I'm not a birding expert—this is my best guess based on field guides and online references. If anyone recognizes it differently, I'd love to hear from you!

While in the cloud forest at Mashpi Lodge, northwest of Quito, we encountered an intense moment—two hummingbirds locked in mid-air, wings blurred, eyes sharp. It wasn't a peaceful scene. This was a territorial clash, a split-second reminder that nature is full of energy, competition, and instinct.

The area is home to over 20 different hummingbird species, all adapted to life at altitude. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing them to fly in every direction—even hovering or moving backward. With heart rates that can exceed 1,200 beats per minute, their lives are lived at full speed.

This moment lasted less than a second. But it captured life's high tension and fast pace in Ecuador's cloud forest.