In this era when millions of people are taking millions of photos all the time, it’s a pleasure to sit back and sift through an artist’s collection. Samm Cohen works in multiple mediums, with a passion for paintings that stretch the boundaries between a flat canvas surface and the space that surrounds it, using everything from broken mirrors to papier-mâché to extend her solid grounding in classic brushwork into new and often startling visions.

Photography is also a venue for Ms. Cohen, whose joyful approach to travel and documentation is best described by the artist herself:

“I love to travel! I love photography! I have been fortunate to see London Tower holding itself against the wetted sky, the Buddhist flags of the Monkey temple waving, Angkor Wat’s tall, proud stone facades, the uneven bricks of The Great Wall, hot sand of the Sahara in view of the ancient Sphinx, Gaudí’s Seuss-like structures lining the streets of Barcelona, and the blue waters contrasting with monolithic rock off Australia’s Great Ocean Road. … More importantly, I have seen the people in these enthralling cultures during both work and leisure, the growth of the natural and man-made habitats, and the beauty that exists around the world.”

Here’s my selection of twenty photographs from Ms. Cohen’s journey to Istanbul, in late-November 2015. I’m feeling very lucky to explore such a beautiful city through the eyes of this highly creative visitor.

As noted by the artist, “These are all ‘untouched’ photos of the trip, which are also available in cropped and refined versions, along with many more.” For additional photos from Istanbul and many other locations, contact Samm through her website http://www.SammCohen.com or page https://www.facebook.com/sammcohenart.

All photos © Samm Cohen 2016