The great irony of the city, of course, is that it can be such an isolating place, not a community of coordinated populations living in close proximity so much as a loose collection of solitary figures keeping distance in work and in daydreams. Perhaps that also describes something of the city’s appeal: If you’re going to be alone why not be alone together. Carolyn McLaughlin sends these pictures from Istanbul, a city of more than 14 million people, each one the only one. — DB

Catching anchovies and sardines is a popular pastime on the Bosporus in Istanbul.

A kebab seller in an open window awaits customers at lunch time.

A woman waits for her ferry during the evening commute across the Bosporus from Istanbul’s Asian side to the European side.

A young vender sells roasted corn on a stick to fishermen and tourists in Kadikoy, a park along the Bosporus in Istanbul.

In a restaurant window, a woman pauses from making “lachmacun,” a thin dough topped with minced meat, minced onions and tomatoes, and spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, and cinnamon.

A man retreats for respite from the crowded streets to an open air cafe overlooking Istanbul on the European side.

A seagull keeps watch on the rooftops of Kadikoy.

Carolyn McLaughlin, a photographer based in Istanbul, is an EthnoTraveler contributor.