Istanbul Revealed at Daybreak in Assouline Title

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NEW YORK, NY - Photographer Jean-Michel Berts focuses his camera to the mysterious and ancient city of Istanbul in the latest edition of Assouline's "Light of" Series. "The Light of Istanbul" is a magnificent homage to the city that captures its aura of enchantment through atmospheric black and white photographs taken at daybreak.

Through Berts' lens, Istanbul is revealed in moments of dreamlike serenity-when deserted streets and waterways are wrapped in a mystery all their own. "Istanbul, a universal beauty where poet and archeologist, diplomat and merchant, princess and sailor, northerner and westerner screams with same admiration," says Edmondo de Amicis. "The whole world thinks that this city is the most beautiful place on earth."

Following the success of "The Light of Paris," "The Light of New York," and "The Light of Tokyo," lensman Jean-Michel Berts turns his masterful eye to the ancient city of Istanbul. This exotic destination is revealed in Berts' otherworldly black and white photographs, taken at dawn. The city's renowned landmarks and hidden corners are captured as never before, framed by Berts' camera obscura. With an evocative text by Alessandra Ricci, "The Light of Istanbul" is a spectacular volume on this enchanting city.

Jean-Michel Berts has been a photographer since the age of 16. With his first Rolleiflex camera he became sensitive to the effects of light. Using methods created by Ansel Adams, Berts makes photographs with 10-minute exposures, a technique combining overexposure of the film and underdeveloping of the negative, creating very rich textures. "I always try to give my photographs a feeling of timelessness," says Jean-Michel Berts, "I never know the photograph I'm going to make, the photograph comes to me, it finds me."